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Leader's page and Student's page best viewed left/right side together Leader’s notes: Acts 9:32-11:18 Lead this page from the front Invite various ladies to read out each Bible reference as you get to it Compare Acts 1:8 Jesus speaking immediately before His ascension with Acts 9:31 from the end of our last Lesson. What have you found? They have reached part of the goal. Now what’s next? In perhaps 10 years at most, the infant church has grown - building blocks have been put in place which will characterise it forever. Ask the ladies if they can recall stories in Acts which mention items in the list opposite - use the references below to check information or to nudge memories. Suggest the ladies write down the historical story or reference to have it for the future. Meeting together 1:13-14; 2:1, 2:42,46 Presence of the Holy Spirit 2:38 Outreach preaching - to Jews, half-Jews, to a Gentile ‘god-fearer’ 3:11-13; 8:4-7, 8:25, 8:26-29 Teaching 2:42; 3:12-26; 5:42; 7:2-53 Prayer 2:42; 4:23-24 Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist, Sacrament, Lord’s Table 2:42 Persecution 4:3; 5:17-18, 5:40; 7:54-59 Healing 3:6-8; 5:12 Administration 6:2-4 Oil of encouragement 9:17, 9:27, 9:31 Conversions 2:37-41; 4:4; 6:7; 8:35-38 Discipline 5:1-11 Doctrinal truths - principles to stand on 5:27-32; 8:18-24 Now 9:32-10:48 we travel with Peter 9:32-35 Lydda is about 30 miles north-west of Jerusalem 9:36-43 miraculous healing in Joppa (See map page 3) 9:43-10:48 a major new departure Verse 43 does not have many words, but their importance is great. Peter stayed with Simon the tanner. “A tanner was involved in treating the skins of dead animals, thus contacting the unclean according to Jewish law, so he was despised by many”. Peter had seen Jesus mix with tax collectors and sinners. Now he does the same. “Peter’s decision to stay with Simon shows already a willingness to reject Jewish prejudice and prepares the way for his upcoming vision and mission to the Gentiles”. Both quotes from the NIV Study Bible 1985. Student's page: Lesson 18 A major new departure Acts 9:32-11:18 Compare Acts 1:8 Jesus speaking immediately before His ascension and Acts 9:31 from the last meeting. What have you found? In perhaps 10 years at most, the infant church has grown. The following 13 building blocks have been put in place which will characterise it forever. 1. Meeting together 2. Indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit 3. Outreach preaching - to Jews, half Jews, to a Gentile ‘god-fearer’ 4. Teaching 5. Prayer 6. Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, Eucharist, Sacrament, Lord’s Table 7. Persecution 8. Healing 9. Administration 10. Oil of encouragement 11. Conversions 12. Discipline 13. Doctrinal truths - principles to stand on In Acts 9:32-10:48 we travel with Peter Acts 9:32-35 Who did Peter walk to see? How was Aeneas healed? What else happened? Acts 9:36-43 How did Tabitha/Dorcas help people? What else happened? Is this a ministry you could have? Acts 9:43-10:48 My translation has just 12 words in 9:43, but why are they very significant? Page 40 Leader's notes: Continue leading from the front. Ask the ladies to read Bible verses and then answer the questions. Again, it would be good if they wrote their answers in their books. Acts 10:1-8 What do you know about Cornelius? - Centurion in charge of 100 men in the Italian regiment - lived in Caesarea (see map page 4) - devout, God-fearing (worshipping the God of Israel), stationed in Caesarea, gave generously and prayed regularly - one afternoon about three (a regular Jewish time of prayer) he had a vision of an angel calling his name as he prayed, verses 30-31 - he calls the visitor “Lord “ This didn’t happen to centurions! But, being a soldier, he obeyed the given order - Cornelius sends servants, with a ‘deeply religious’ soldier, to Joppa Acts 10:9-23a Perhaps read this story to the ladies Depending on time read the following sections yourself, or get ladies to read them one at a time. Share answers where applicable Acts 10:23b -33 Preliminaries . They share how they got to be there 10:34-35 Peter shares what he had only very recently learned 10:36-38 He revises what they knew or may have heard about 10:39-43 He tells the way of salvation through Jesus Christ of Nazareth 10:44-48 Reactions in the hearers, and in Peter Holy Spirit comes on new believers Peter’s team and local Joppa people are all amazed Peter wanted new believers baptised in the name of Jesus Christ, and it seems they were Peter stayed with them a little while longer Acts 11:1-18 News spread. Peter explained what had happened in Joppa and Caesarea so that even the Jewish believers understood and praised God. In terms of how the church had grown, what had now happened ? “I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also”. Jesus in John 10:16. Does He still want this? Please read Acts 11:19-12:25 for next time. Student's page: Acts 10:1-8 What do you know about Cornelius? 1. 2. 3. 4. How does the angel reassure Cornelius? What does he tell him to do? Acts 10:9-23a A vision given by God in order to teach a very big change in thinking. But look at 10:28-29. Peter had understood. Sometimes God asks us to make changes to our thinking – changes are not always easy, but sometimes are very necessary. Acts 10:23b-33 We read this earlier. The people needed to get acquainted! How warm a welcome do you think it was? Why do you think that? Acts 10:34-35 Peter underlines what he has so recently learned. Keep learning! Acts 10:36-38 Peter reminds them of the story of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Acts 10:39-43 Pick one important piece of information from each verse, which together make the way of salvation. Acts 10:44-48 What are the five reactions/events in Cornelius and friends, in the believers who had come from Joppa, and in Peter himself? Acts 11:1-18 Back in Jerusalem – What was the first reaction of Christians there? How did this change after Peter’s explanation? Why? Thank God, because that means we can all be accepted, especially verses 17-18. In terms of how the church had grown, what had now happened? “I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also”. Jesus in John 10:16. Rejoice as you trace God’s hand in this true history 9:32-10:48. Play your part today. God was with Peter. He will always be with us as we obey His will for us. Page 41

25 lesson plans for children, young people and their teacher. Lesson 20 Jesus’ life and teaching Bible reference – verses from Matthew and Luke. Jesus was a refugee as a child. He was displaced with His mother Mary and Joseph into Egypt. The family ran from king Herod’s threats to His life. When Herod died, they returned to make a new home in Nazareth, Matthew 2 verses 13-23. “Nazerat” is today among the southern hills in the Lebanon range, Northern Israel. Jesus had a difficult start to His human life but God was in complete control. Jesus was Who God wanted Him to be. And He was where God wanted Him to be. Have two students read the verses that summarise Jesus’ childhood: “The child (Jesus) grew and became strong; He was full of wisdom, and God’s blessings were upon Him”, Luke 2 verse 40. “Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favour with God and people”, Luke 2 verse 52. We are going to look at six snapshots (see note 20 below) of the life of Jesus. They will give us a general idea of what went on. Divide the class into three or six groups. With three groups, every student acts twice. With six groups every student acts once. Ask one group to move to the front of the class. Explain that every time you change snapshot a different group will come “to the pretend stage” at the front. They will act for everyone to see, just what you are saying from the Bible. Every numbered sentence below can be acted out. Every sentence the actors must decide for themselves whether to work on their own, or in twos, or in bigger groups. Different acts will need different numbers of people. Snapshot 1: Jesus’ baptism (the group at the front act as you speak). (From Luke 3 verses 1-23; Matthew 3 verses 1-17). 1. John the Baptist was a preacher who lived by eating what he found growing in the desert area of the river Jordan. 2. Many people came and listened to him preaching. 3. Some were very sorry to have broken God’s rules for life.They showed it by being baptised by John. 4. John reminded them Isaiah had prophesied this would happen. 5. One day Jesus came. He asked John to baptise Him. Jesus had not disobeyed God – His life showed people what God expected of them. 6. After John baptised Jesus a voice came from heaven saying, “This is My own dear Son, with Whom I am pleased”. 7. Jesus was praying quietly. 8. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove (bird) came from heaven to Jesus. Everybody who saw this and heard about it wondered Who Jesus of Nazareth really was. Note: 20 A snapshot is like a photo. It is “a short explanation or description that tells you what a particular place or situation is like”, Macmillan School Dictionary, 2004. p.74 Snapshot 2: Jesus’ temptations (Change the group of actors at the front). (From Luke 4 verses 1-13; Matthew 4 verses 1-11). 1. Jesus was led by the Spirit away from other people, into the desert. 2. For 40 days and nights He did not eat food, so He was hungry. 3. The devil came to Jesus and tempted Him with three different ideas. 4. “If you are God’s Son, command these stones to turn into bread, starting with this one!”, the devil said. 5. Jesus replied: “God wants us to live on His word, the scriptures. It is more important than bread to eat”. 6. The devil took Jesus to a mountaintop. He showed Him all the great kingdoms in the world. 7. The devil offered this greatness and glory to Jesus. All Jesus had to do for it was to kneel in front of the devil. 8. Jesus said, “No, I will not!” He knew only God should be worshipped. 9. The devil moved Jesus to stand on the highest point of Jerusalem’s Temple. He said,“ Jump. Scripture says angels will catch You before You hit the ground. All these people will see and believe that You are the long expected Messiah”. 10. Jesus said, “No! Scripture warns us not to test God”. The devil left. 11. Angels came and helped Jesus recover from this battle with evil. Through His whole life Jesus beat the devil, and evil spirits, simply by trusting and obeying God’s word in the Old Testament Scriptures. Snapshot 3: Jesus starts His ministry (Change to a new group of actors). (from Luke 4 verses 16-29). 1. Jesus went into the synagogues (note 20 below) to worship and to teach. 2. The people who heard Him praised Him. Crowds joined them as they brought their friends. 3. In Nazareth’s synagogue the leaders gave Him the scroll of Isaiah to read to the people. 4. He stood up to read. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has chosen Me to bring good news to all types of people”. 5. Jesus sat down. People looked at Him waiting for what He had to say. 6. Jesus said, “What Isaiah looked forward to, and said would happen, is coming true. It is true today in Me”. 7. Some of the listeners agreed with Him. Others did not. 8. Jesus continued, “All through history only a few people have understood what God is doing – and not always the people you expect. I am not surprised if I am misunderstood here at My home”. 9. Some people became very, very angry with Jesus. They dragged Him out of the town. From the top of the hill they tried to throw Him to his death. 10. God protected His Son. He was able to walk away to safety through the noisy crowd. From this time onwards people took sides ‘for’ or ‘against’ Jesus. Some believed He was the Son of God. Others could not accept it. 20 “A building that is used by Jewish peoplefor religious services”, MacMillan School Dictionary, 2004. p.75 Snapshot 4: The Kingdom of God has come (Change the actors). (from Matthew4 verse 17. Note that Matthew usually writes of the Kingdom of Heaven, while Luke writes of the Kingdom of God. It is the same Kingdom). Have all the students read the verse aloud together: “From that time Jesus began to preach His message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near””. 1. Every place Jesus went He preached in the synagogues. He preached the Good News about the Kingdom. He healed people who were sick. (Matthew4 verse 23). 2. Jesus walked miles from village to village. Always He preached the Good News about the Kingdom. He usually healed people too. (Matthew 9 verse 35). 3. Jesus told parables, (see note 20 below) like the man who found a very wonderful pearl(note 21) treasure in a field. He was so happy he sold everything he had so he could buy that field. Jesus wants people to know how wonderful it is to find and enter the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 13 verses 44-46). 4. When Simon Peter – one of His followers – recognised Who Jesus really was, Jesus told him, “I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. You know the way to enter it”. Jesus was pleased that Peter had understood correctly. (Matthew 16 verses 16-19). 5. Jesus warned religious people that instead of praising their own religious traditions they should respect God’s Laws. He said, “The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who live the right way”. (Matthew 15 verse3; Matthew 21 verse 43). 6. Jesus promised that before the world ended, this Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, giving everybody a chance to enter the Kingdom. (Matthew 24 verse14). Have all the students read again Matthew 4 verse 17, to finish this snapshot: “From that time Jesus began to preach His message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near””. Snapshot 5: Jesus’ Kingdom was His rule in peoples’ lives – not places (Change the actors at the front. Give everyone an opportunity to act.) (From Luke 5 verses 1-11; Luke 5 verses 27-32). 1. Two fishing boats were by the lake where Jesus was teaching. The fishermen were checking and washing their nets nearby. 2. Jesus asked Peter to put his boat in the water but to keep it next to the side. Now Jesus could teach the crowds from His seat in the boat. 3. At the end Jesus wanted the men to sail out into the water and once more throw their net to catch fish. Peter and the others argued it was a waste of time. They already had a bad day with no fish. Notes: 20 “a simple story with a moral or religious purpose”, MacMillan School Dictionary, 2004. 21 “A small round jewel that is white and shiny”, MacMillan School Dictionary, 2004. p.76 4. But the men did what Jesus said – and they caught so many fish they had to call their friends to help them bring the fish to land. 5. Peter began to think about Who Jesus really was. Jesus called him, “Come, follow Me and see”. Peter did. So did some other fishermen. 6. One day Jesus’ group walked past Levi sitting at his table collecting taxes. Jesus asked Levi to leave it behind and follow Him. He did. 7. Levi introduced many of his friends to Jesus at a dinner party in his own home. Religious people pointed their fingers at Jesus and said He was wrong to mix with such ‘bad’ people. 8. Jesus replied that He had come to this earth for the special purpose of calling all types of people to follow after Him into His Kingdom. 9. Jesus taught His disciples that the Kingdom was the most important part of their lives. It was more important than food to eat, or clothes to wear, or even working to make the future secure. He said if they put His Father’s Kingdom first – before all other things – then His Father will provide everything else that is needed to live, (Matthew 6 verse 33; Luke 12 verse 31). 10. Later Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the message they had learned from Him. The disciples heard the words of Jesus. They also saw the way He lived His life. They preached everywhere they went, “The Kingdom of God has come near you”, (Luke 10 verse 9,11). Jesus was not interested in people’s race, colour, tribe or nationality. He was looking for people of all types who would be His disciples anywhere. Snapshot 6: Jesus was not the kind of Messiah people were expecting (The last change of actors. Make sure all who want to act have time). (From John 6 verse 15; Matthew 14 verses 22-32). 1. Many people who came to hear Jesus wanted Him to be their leader. They wanted to overthrow the Roman occupation of Israel. Jesus knew this and so He often went away on His own. His ideas of King and Kingdom were different to theirs. 2. One day as He stopped teaching He sent the people home and sent the disciples off in a boat across the lake. 3. Jesus went up on a hill to pray alone. It was night time. 4. The boat was halfway across the lake, sailing against the strong wind. It was difficult for the disciples in the boat. 5. Jesus began to cross the lake. He came near the disciples’ boat. He was walking on the water! 6. The disciples thought He was a ghost and were afraid.. 7. Peter shouted, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come out on the water towards You”. Jesus did so. Peter started to walk out of the boat but then became more afraid. 8. Jesus reached out and saved him from sinking. “How little faith you have”, Jesus said. “Did you think I would let you drown?” 9. They both got into the boat. The boat with everyone on board reached the other shore in no time at all. 10. The disciples all began to worship Jesus saying, “Truly You are the Son of God”. They did not know anyone else who could walk on water! p.77 Jesus did not want to force His Kingdom on to anybody. It was a Kingdom of people whose hearts were responding to Jesus. He could do amazing miracles. He could also lead an army if He wanted to. (He did not want to). But He had come to earth for a different reason. He wanted to show people that His Kingdom was not what people thought it would be. (All actors sit down). Have students read the text once more: “From that time Jesus began to preach His message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near””, Matthew 4 verse 17. Remember to teach the ACTIONS and VIDEO overview found and demonstrated on the homepage and introductory lesson. p.78 78

My notes for teaching the Old Testament, by Mama Brenda. Leader’s notes: Lesson 16 - Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther This timeline of dates (on page 57 opposite) will help some ladies to understand the sequence of events. Some ladies will find it confusing. Encourage as necessary! If you are not used to thinking with figures in reverse order, then Before Christ/BC figures are confusing because they go backwards. Talk through the list opposite. In the history we have seen so far, we have noted the exile of the Northern Kingdom to Assyria. Habakkuk 1:6 talks of the rise of the Babylonian Empire, therefore before the events of 607BC and 605BC, but followed by the downfall of Jerusalem and three deportations to Babylon in 605BC, 597BC and 586BC. As a vassal state Judah had to pay tribute money. It therefore paid Nebuchadnezzar to leave some people there who would provide income. Nebuchadnezzar liked to use the best people in his conquered territories to introduce fresh ideas and strengths into his authority structure. Let the ladies scan as a class for any names they recognise in the timeline - Daniel? Ezekiel? Nebuchadnezzar? Esther? Ezra? Nehemiah? Now we move on……… Work through Daniel together Classical Babylonian literature was written in a complicated script, but normal communications in multiracial Babylon were in Aramaic, which was written in an easily learned alphabetic script. Aramaic, albeit in a later version, was the language Jesus would usually have spoken. Student's worksheet: Lesson 16 Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther 721 B.C. The northern kingdom finally fell to Assyria and most people were taken into exile there. 607 After 300 years in power Assyria was defeated by Babylon. 605 Egypt was crushed by Babylon at the Battle of Carchemish. Babylon had become the master of the world. Judah had been a vassal state of Egypt, and then became a vassal state of Babylon. The Temple was looted. A group of young potential leaders were taken to Babylon, including Daniel. 597 Ten thousand religious leaders and royal family members were deported from Judah to Babylon, including Ezekiel. See 2 Chronicles 36:6-7; 2 Kings 24:14-16; Daniel 1:1-3. Ezekiel begins preaching in 593BC. 586 Nebuchadnezzar’s army destroyed much of Jerusalem and there was the final deportation of people from Judah to Babylon, although a remnant went to Egypt. See Jeremiah 39:11-12; 40:1-6. 562 Nebuchadnezzar died. There was a struggle over the succession. Belshazzar took over in 553 B.C. 539 Cyrus of Persia took over Babylonia. Darius the Mede in Daniel 5:31 may have been Cyrus’ name in Babylon or may have been the name of Cyrus’ governor in Babylon. He is not the same person as Darius I - see three lines down here. 538 The first return to Jerusalem was authorised by Cyrus. Judah had become a Persian province. 521 Darius I came to the throne 516 The Temple was completed - great celebration 486 Xerxes I came to the throne 480 Esther became Queen of Persia in the reign of Xerxes. 464 Artaxerxes I reign begins. 458 Ezra sent to Judah by Artaxerxes. 445 Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem with Artaxerxes’ approval. Jerusalem’s walls rebuilt. 424 Xerxes II 423 Darius II We are going to look at three people who lived in or around Babylon, but neither they nor their family came from there, but from Judah. Daniel arrived in Babylon in 605BC as a young man of about 16 years, with a group of specially chosen young men - specially chosen for their strength, health, good looks, knowledge, good sense and ability to cope - to be specially trained in Babylonian culture and language - to be specially fed on the finest food and wine from the king’s kitchens - for three years, with the possibility of becoming advisers in the royal court, Daniel 1:1-5. The four we read about are all from the tribe of Judah. So we have four young men, uprooted from their culture and families; given Babylonian names; looking towards Babylonian education, major tests to see if they were good enough for what the king wanted; facing another alternative if not. Page 57 Leader's notes: Lesson 16 - Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther The book of Daniel is not in chronological order as you can see from the chart. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was the first ruler in Daniel 1-4, followed by Belshazzar in Daniel 7, 8 and 5, see verse one in each of these three chapters. The Babylonian Empire ends and the Medo Persians take over in Daniel 6, 9-12. We are not looking at some of the famous stories, but they are mentioned in the chart - see if the ladies can find them - chapter 3, chapter 5, chapter 6. Daniel was totally convinced that the Lord is sovereign. On to Ezekiel. Student's worksheet: Lesson 16 - Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther. Daniel 1:6-14. In this situation these young men, led by Daniel, decided not to eat the rich food, some of which would have been forbidden by their own religious food laws. Daniel talked carefully and reasonably with the man whom the king had appointed to look after them, winning his approval for a ten-day test. Daniel 1:15-16 They passed the food test. Daniel 1:17-20 They passed the three-year test. Daniel 1:9,17 God gave Daniel respect from the man in charge, all four of them the ability to learn well, and for Daniel, the ability to understand visions and dreams. (Does he remind you of Joseph?) Daniel 1:21 Daniel was still a court adviser aged about 82. Ezekiel mentions Daniel as righteous, Ezekiel 14:14, and wise in Ezekiel 28:3. The book of Daniel has history and dreams. It has inspired people and caused many, many books to be written about the interpretations of the visions. It covers the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar of Babylonia, and Darius and Cyrus of the Medo/Persian Empire. Babylon Medo/Persia Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar Cyrus/Darius chapter 1 deportation chapter 7 Daniel’s chapter 6 den of lions and new lifestyle dream of four beasts chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar’s chapter 8 Daniel.’s chapter 9 Daniel’s dream - dream of a ram and prayer and statue of four metals a goat meeting with Gabriel chapter 3 - gold image and fiery furnace chapter 5 the writing on the wall chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar’s 2nd chapters 10, 11, 12 vision dream dream and madness Babylonian Empire ends The key phrase for understanding Daniel is that ‘the Lord is sovereign’. Meanwhile Ezekiel arrived in Babylonia in 597BC part of a major deportation from Judah. Daniel was already an adviser at court by this time. Ezekiel 1:3 Ezekiel was from a priestly family. Ezekiel 24:15-18 he was happily married. Ezekiel 3:24; 8:1 he lived in a house of his own, about 50 miles from Babylon. Ezekiel 1:1-3 God called him to be prophet while he was working with other exiles, digging a shipping canal, the River Kebar, five years after they had arrived in Babylonia. Page 58 Leader's notes: Lesson 16: Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther. Work through the section together, eliciting the information from the ladies as they find the references, if you have the time. Key ideas for understanding Ezekiel are ‘God’s holy name’ and the restoration of believing Israel so that the world will know ‘that I am the Lord’. Ezekiel 36:16-38 On to Esther. Cush can be “the upper Nile region”, “Ethiopia”, “both sides of the Red Sea”, or “part of the Arabian Peninsula”. It can also be spelled Kush. Translators make their choices. Student's worksheet: Lesson 16 - Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther. After his call Ezekiel was unable to speak except with direct words from the Lord, Ezekiel 3:26. He was meticulous in recording the dates events happened. Here they are translated into dates we can understand. Ezekiel 1:3 God called him to be prophet in 593 B.C. From 593 - 588 B.C. Ezekiel preached about God’s judgement on Jerusalem, chapters 1-23. The only hope he gave the people from God was for the exiles to live at peace with themselves and with God during their exile. Ezekiel 24:1-14 In January 588 B.C. God told Ezekiel that the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's forces had started, a siege which would end with the fall and destruction of the exiles’ holy city. Ezekiel 24:15-19 In 588 B.C God told Ezekiel that his wife, ‘the delight of your eyes’ would die. He was not to shed any tears, not to do the usual mourning rituals. He was to act out at the death of his wife the way the exiles were to behave over the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 24:20-24. They were not to mourn openly. Ezekiel 24:25-26 The first exiles arriving after the destruction in 586 B.C. would verify what Ezekiel had said. Ezekiel 25-32 God, through Ezekiel, pronounced a series of judgements on seven nations April 587 - April 585 B.C. January 585 B.C. The first fugitives from Judah arrived, Ezekiel 33:21-22, and Ezekiel was able to speak normally again. Ezekiel 33-48 are pictures of encouragement for Israel. Ezekiel acted out many of his messages, and drew bold pictures verbally and in his actions. Key ideas for understanding Ezekiel are ‘God’s holy name’ and the restoration of believing Israel so that the world will ‘know that I am the Lord’. Ezekiel 36:16-38. Esther became Queen to Xerxes in 480 B.C. after the deaths of both Daniel and Ezekiel, and 58 years after the first Jews went back to Jerusalem, sent by Cyrus. Just a note of interest - Esther 1:1 Xerxes ruled over Cush. ‘Let’s have a celebration’ could be the subtitle for the book of Esther. Business and politics at the Persian court often involved large, grand feasts. Page 59 Leader's notes: Lesson 16 - Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther. The validity of the book of Esther has been questioned because God is not mentioned in it. But God’s actions can be seen throughout the book!! Work through the story together. Esther 1 Xerxes and his nobles spent six months planning a military campaign against the upcoming Empire of Greece. This was followed by the feast of 1:5. No expense was spared 1:5-7. Xerxes was a considerate host 1:8. His queen, Vashti, was giving a banquet for the ladies. On the seventh day of his feast, Xerxes sent his seven eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti, wearing her crown, for Xerxes to show off her beauty. She refused (which was not done in that culture!). He was furious. 1:13-22 A quarrel between a king and a queen became the talk of the town! Three examples to follow – Daniel, Ezekiel, Esther - all exiles - all in a land that did not feel comfortable to them. All stood firm for God. Student's worksheet: Lesson 16 - Daniel, Ezekiel and Esther. Esther 1 Queen Vashti refuses to show herself off at a feast and causes a gender storm in the citadel at Susa. Esther 2 A lonely king, Xerxes, is talked into having a beauty contest to find a new wife. Esther, a beautiful young woman, a Jewess who had been raised by her uncle Mordecai, wins. Another feast. Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king. Esther 3 An important official threatens the Jews in Persia, but verse 15 the local people were bewildered that the Jews should be threatened. Esther 4 Mordecai persuades Esther to get involved. verse 14 “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Her reply is “And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 5 She goes to the king and is allowed in. She invites the king and the important official, Haman, to a feast the next day. Offer accepted. They attend and are invited to another feast given by Esther the next day. Haman is furious with Mordecai and builds gallows to hang his enemy. Esther 6 Sleepless night for the king and he sends for the history of his reign to read. He reads of Mordecai and the plot to kill the king. Xerxes asks how Mordecai was rewarded. He was not rewarded. Haman is asked how the king should reward someone he wishes to honour. He thinks that the king is thinking of him! But no! Esther 7 After the second feast Esther appeals for her life and those of her people. Haman is hanged on the gallows he built to hang Mordecai. Esther 8 Mordecai becomes the chief official to Xerxes. Esther pleads for her people and Mordecai words another edict to go to every corner of the Empire revoking Haman's edict against the Jews. It is dispatched quickly in every script and language of the Empire. Esther 9 Many influential people went out of their way to be helpful to the Jewish community. The feast of Purim is established to remember these events in Susa and the whole Persian Empire. Three people. All exiles. In a land that did not feel like home. Being what God wanted them to be. Stay true to YOUR beliefs wherever YOU find yourself. Esther 4:16 “If I perish, I perish.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, “Our God is able to save us from it (the fiery furnace). But even if he does not want to, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17. Don’t set out to antagonise those who disagree with your beliefs – rather be courteous and wise: Like Daniel with the man in charge of training him, Daniel 1:8-14 Like Esther dressing in her royal robes to go to the court, Esther 5:1-3 Remember that God is sovereign – Daniel; and God is holy - Ezekiel. Please read Ezra 1:1-4; 2:68-3:13; 4:5, 7:8-10; for next time. Page 60

Originally preached between Christmas 2004 and Easter 2005 at Grace Community church, Morval, Cornwall, and one each at Scorrier Chapel also in Cornwall and the NoSuMu conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Contents: Jesus the eternal God Jesus the God Who lived among us Jesus the God Who died as man Jesus the man Who lives as God Thinking about the Lord Jesus Jesus the Lamb on the throne

Leader's page and Student's page best viewed left/right side together Leader’s notes: Acts 11:19-12:25 Lead from the front again, keeping the whole class together. For the map search, remember there are two towns named ‘Antioch’. 11:26 Paul had studied Jewish law under Gamaliel in Jerusalem. He was a very knowledgeable man. When he realised the truth about Jesus, he had to reorganise his own thinking. He now knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the fulfilment of lots of Old Testament prophecy. He had to work his own way through to a Christian theology. We find it in his letters. Peter wrote of Paul’s writings in 2 Peter 3:15-16. Difficult things are not wrong – they simply need to be studied well. For discussion: ‘Is encouraging infectious?’ ‘Why?’ Ideas ladies, please! Revise Ananias encouraged Saul, Acts 9:10-19 Barnabas encouraged Saul, Acts 9:26-30 Barnabas is encouraged by what he sees happening in Antioch, He also encourages all of them with his teaching, Acts 11:22-24 Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find Saul and brings him back to Antioch so they can teach together and encourage the new believers. Ask Do you find it easy to accept encouragement? and absorb it? Do you find it easy to see if someone is discouraged? Do you then find it easy to encourage someone? Share your experiences, or use this one of mine. (Also in the opposite notes) A long time ago, when I was less experienced in having folk stay with us and when our two children were still little, we had a man and his wife coming to stay. I was scared at the thought. She always seemed so in charge and they lived on a more expensive level than we did. Before they arrived I was reading my Bible and talking to the Lord about this. It came into my mind – I believe God put the thought there – ‘she needs help and encouragement – reach out’. I asked God to help me have the right things to say. He did, of course. We had a good and helpful time together. We are still good friends. Challenge Encouragement is not preaching or having all the answers – it is coming alongside. Encouragement is a job all of us can do. Student's page: Lesson 19 Converted persecutor becomes teacher, plus different persecution! Acts 11:19-12:25 Acts 11:19-24 Help each other find some of the places mentioned, map page 4. 11:19 God used the persecution! Where did people go with the message of Jesus? Who did they speak to? 11:20-21 Other people went where? and spoke to? with what result? What happened to Peter in the previous Bible chapter? 11:22-23 From Jerusalem the church leaders – the apostles – heard news, and sent Barnabas to investigate. Barnabas, the encourager, encourages and is himself encouraged. He is strengthened as he tries to put strength into others. Acts 11:23-24 A wonderful summary about Barnabas. What four or five things are said about him? Change the words to ‘she’ and ‘woman’. Then ask, is this true of you? Acts 11:25-26 Barnabas has a job for Paul. 11:25 Where was Paul? See again the map on page 4. 11:26 What was the job? The Christians in Antioch lived so like Christ, and/or talked so much about Him, that the locals call them ‘christianoi’ - Christians. Now that is a definite challenge for us. Discussion about encouraging. It does not say so in the Book of Acts but I am sure some of the encouraging and teaching was not in the formal meeting times but in personal conversations Paul and Barnabas had with individuals around them. Group teaching and one to one chat encourages. What do you think? How and where does your encouragement happen? A long time ago, when I was less experienced in having folk stay with us and when our two children were still little, we had a man and his wife coming to stay. I was nervous at the thought. She always seemed so in charge and they lived on a more expensive level than we did. Before they arrived I was reading my Bible and talking to the Lord about this. It came into my mind – I believe God put the thought there – ‘she needs help and encouragement – reach out’. I asked God to help me have the right things to say. He did, of course. We had a good and helpful time together. We are still good friends. Encouragement is not preaching or having all the answers – it is coming alongside another. Page 42 Leader's page: Acts 11:27-30 two issues. Try reading the Bible’s true story aloud together. It may be a challenge! 1. Prophets, prophecy and gifts The office of prophet was a recognised gift to some in local churches, as were many others . Ephesians 4:11-12 says Christ gives the gifts to build up believers and churches Romans 12:6-8 we have different gifts according to God’s grace 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, and 12:28-30 say the Holy Spirit gives the gifts the two Givers mentioned are both within our God – the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – so God gives. 1 Peter 4:10-11 gifts are given by God’s grace so we can serve others and bring God praise Notice carefully these guiding truths about spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:11 the Spirit distributes each gift as He determines “It is the same and only Holy Spirit Who gives all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have”, Living Bible. 1 Peter 4:10a use the gift you have received to serve others Ephesians 4:12 gifts are given to build up the local church 2. Social gospel. Emphasise that this is not an ‘either/or’, but ‘both together’ for all genuine Christians. We must live out and love with the gospel; show and speak the gospel; demonstrate and declare the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord. As the ladies look up these verses, ensure they answer the questions in section 2: Mark 12:29-31 Matthew 25:31-40, 45 Matthew 28:18-20 John 13:34-35 Read the story Acts 12:1-19a to the class or have ladies read it out loud. Then work in pairs or groups to answer the questions opposite. Share the answers. Advance news for Lesson 20 and further on: Rather like the work we did on the gospels – the ladies need to find information for each of Paul’s three missionary journeys. Student's page: Acts 11:27-30 raises two issues to think about. 1. Prophets, prophecy and gifts Notice the difference between Old Testament prophets - working directly from God and answerable only to Him - and New Testament prophets - working under the leadership of the apostles and church leaders. Look up Ephesians 4:11-12 Christ gave the gift of prophets – why? Romans 12:6-8 Do we all have the same gifts? 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 12:28-30 How does the Holy Spirit give gifts? 1 Peter 4:10-11 Find two ways any gift we are given must be used? 2. Social gospel In the last two centuries some Christians have said that the social gospel (helping people physically) is the true gospel. Some have responded by saying we should only preach the gospel. Jesus taught us very clearly the truth that ‘gospel action’ and ‘social gospel action’ have to go together. Look up Mark 12:29-31 What were Jesus’ two priorities? Matthew 25:31-40, 45 How did Jesus value helping people? Matthew 28:18-20 What is this command of Jesus? John 13:34-35 What is this command of Jesus? 11:29-30 Who took the gift from the Antioch church to Jerusalem? Acts 12:1-19a Who is attacking the church now? See Appendix 2 page 65 – Knowing which Herod is which. Who was the second Christian martyr? why? Who did Herod Agrippa arrest and imprison next? What happened in the middle of the night before the planned trial? When Peter realised what had happened, where did he go? Why? Would you want Rhoda as your doorkeeper? Why? Peter shared what had happened and told the assembled group to tell who? What a carfuffle next morning at the prison! According to the Justinian Code which applied to all prison guards, if a prisoner escaped, whatever his sentence was then applied to the guards responsible - beating, scourging, crucifixion, beheading. Compare Acts 16:22-34. 12:19b-23 Herod went back to Caesarea. There he was involved in a problem with the people of Tyre and Sidon who disliked his new trade arrangement for the wheat they needed. They needed the food so they worked hard to placate Herod. He made an amazing entrance, was acclaimed by people as ‘a god’, collapsed, and reputedly took five days to die. 12:24-25 Summary - God’s Good News flourished. What does that mean? Barnabas and Saul/Paul finish their business in Jerusalem (see 11:25-30) and return to Antioch with Barnabas’ nephew/cousin, John Mark, later the author of the Gospel of Mark. Page 43

25 lesson plans for children, young people and their teachers. Lesson 21 Jesus’ death and resurrection Bible reference – Matthew 26-28; Luke 22 verse47 to 24 verse 53. The last days of Jesus on earth were spent in Jerusalem. He arrived riding on a donkey. Many people welcomed Him – see the picture in the Good News Bible, by Matthew 21 verses 1-11. Two prophecies were fulfilled by these events. Have four students read these verses: Zechariah 9 verse 9 Matthew 21 verses 4-5 Psalm 118 verse 26 Matthew 21 verse 9 The people were shouting “Hosanna” – like African women ululate (sing) joyfully welcoming an important visitor. In Hebrew “Hosanna” is a cry for help, “save”. It became a word used in praise and pleasure. Many times Jesus is called “David’s Son” or “Son of David” in Matthew, from 1 verse 1 onwards. This name shows He is descended from the right family to be the Messiah. Ask students who can ululate to do so, as if a King came into the class. The crowd were still expecting Jesus to be a strong military hero. They needed to look more closely. Jesus was not dressed in army uniform or riding on a wonderful horse. He was in simple – not royal – clothes, and riding on a small donkey. Jesus was still teaching that His Kingdom turns the standards in the world upside down. (or more truly downside up!) Divide the students into five groups. Have each group look up one text to read to the class. All of them show that Jesus knew He was going to be arrested, killed as a criminal, and buried in Jerusalem, before He rose again from the dead. Matthew 16 verse 21 – a student reads Matthew 17 verses 22-23 – a student reads Matthew 20 verses 17-19 – a student reads Matthew 20 verse 28 – a student reads Matthew 26 verses 1-2 – a student reads Ask the students in their five groups to make one sentence they can say to the whole class. It must tell what the large crowds were expecting “King” Jesus to do, and what He really was going to do. Give them time to think and plan it, perhaps to write it out. Have each group share with everyone. It was Passover time in Jerusalem. Ask, can anyone remind the class what happened at the very first Passover – where the name came from – back when God’s special people were being saved from slavery in Egypt? p.79 Make sure students understand Passover was when Jews remember the night their ancestors painted the blood from a young lamb on the door frames of their homes. God killed the firstborn son in every home that was not saved by this sign of blood. This terrible event persuaded Pharaoh to let God’s people leave Egypt, (Exodus 11 and 12). Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover together with many Jews in Jerusalem. They were in a room they borrowed from a friend. Have the class, in their five groups, sit or recline (see note 22 below) around five tables (or pretend tables). They are going to act out the end of this Passover celebration. Appoint one in each group to act Jesus. You need five pieces of bread (or kisera, injerrah, etc.), large enough for the students to have a piece each to eat. You also need five cups of water (or karkadeh) large enough for every student in the group to sip from. And you need a short song everyone can sing well. The event is described in Matthew 26 verses 17-30 and Luke 22 verses 7-23. Groups act as you speak. Remember this is only ACTING the celebration. Jesus and His disciples met for the Passover meal. They washed their hands. They sat or reclined around the food table. They ate roasted meat, bread made without yeast and bitter herbs. They also drank wine. They passed the food and drink to one another. 1. At the end of the meal Jesus spoke. (Perhaps the ‘Jesus’ actors can repeat these words after you, phrase by phrase, to their own group). Jesus said, “This is my last Passover with you / before I suffer and die. / We will not eat and drink like this again / until we are together in the Kingdom of God”. 2. Jesus gave some bread to all of them. (Act). As they broke off a piece and ate it He said, (‘Jesus’ actors say after you), “This is My body, / which is given for you. / Do this in memory of Me”. (Each student breaks a piece of bread and eats it). 3. Then Jesus passed a cup of wine around. (Act). As they each drank a little from it He said, (Jesus actors say after you), “This cup is God’s new covenant / sealed with My blood, / which is poured out for you”. (Each student drinks a little from the cup as it is passed around). 4. Jesus wanted His disciples to think about Him often, in this way, after He had been taken from them. This was the way King Jesus wanted to be remembered. 5. Everyone sang a hymn before they went out. Sing altogether a short song of praise the students know. Have the class come all together, no longer in groups. 22 “to lie or lean in a comfortable position, with your back supported”, Macmillan School Dictionary, 2004. p.80 Tell this story very carefully. Believe God will use it to draw listeners to Himself. Jesus was soon arrested by the temple guards sent by the chief priests and elders. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, had told them of a quiet time and place. The disciples ran away, although some hid and watched from a safe distance. Jesus was put on trial in front of different councils. The Jews and the Romans had their own ways of doing things. The Jews accused Jesus of claiming to be the Son of God, (Matthew 26 verses 63-65; Luke 22 verses 70-71). They did not believe He was God the Son. To them His claim meant He was guilty of an insulting crime against God. He deserved only to die. This was just what Jesus had told His disciples would happen. As the ruling power, the Romans could execute Jesus. The Roman governor, Pilate, seemed to try and release Jesus. But the crowd that had come together shouted for Jesus to be crucified. Have three students speak the words of Pilate. From different corners of the class they can call out – one by one – after you (to the rest of the class, who are the pretend crowd): “What shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?”, (Matthew 27 verse22). Have the class shout back the crowd’s words: “Crucify Jesus. Crucify Him”, (Luke 23 verse 21). Perhaps do this two or thee times. Then settle the class down. Tell the class that this is what Jesus told His disciples would happen. And so Jesus was given to the Roman soldiers, to be crucified. First they whipped Him badly. Then they made fun of Him. They dressed Him up as a King. They put a crown made from thorns on His head. They spat at Him. They hit Him. After this painful torture the soldiers led Jesus to a place just outside the city wall. Golgotha is the Aramaic name, Matthew 27 verse 33. It means “the place of the Skull”. The Romans used a few different ways to crucify. Most likely they hammered nails through Jesus’ hands on to the wooden cross bar He carried. Then they drove a long nail through His ankles or feet on to the tall piece. The cross was pulled to stand it up. Jesus was left hanging. This is what Jesus had told His disciples would happen. Although it was during normal daytime, darkness covered the whole country for three hours from midday. Then Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why did You abandon Me”, (Matthew 27 verse 46). (Abandon means 'to leave someone'). Have the class cry out together: “My God, My God, why have You left Me alone?” Perhaps do this two or three times. Jesus was thinking of Psalm 22 where these words come from. He knew He was in the centre of His Father’s will. He was trusting Himself into His Father’s care as He died. Crowds of people witnessed it happen. There was no doubt about it. Later on p.81 Pilate checked Jesus was dead before releasing the body to be buried. Jesus died, just as He told His disciples to expect. One very interesting thing happened when Jesus died. It tells us a big part of the meaning of Jesus’ death: Ask a good reader to read Matthew 27 verse 51. “Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart”… 1. Ask, Who did the Jews believe lived behind the curtain in the Most Holy Place of Jerusalem’s Temple? (God Himself). 2. Ask, what do you think it means, this curtain being torn at the time of Jesus’ death? (The way into God’s presence is open. Jesus death – His blood shed – marks the end of the Temple and all other sacrifices). So Jesus was dead and buried. Roman guards were ordered to keep the tomb safe from any thieves. Some people thought the disciples may try to move the body and pretend Jesus was alive again, Matthew27 verse 62-66. The disciples locked themselves away in a quiet room. They were afraid the Jewish religious leaders may try and kill them next. What did happen next is the greatest miracle that ever happened! It has completely changed world history. It changes the lives of hundreds and thousands of individual people every year. Have every student stand up. They can all pretend to be one of the women in the rest of the story. (There is only one rule: they must not move their feet! Only pretend walking, moving the hands and body.) 1. Early on Sunday morning women from Jesus’ followers went to the tomb. 2. They hoped to find some way of anointing Jesus’ body with the spices they carried. They wanted to keep it safe from decay. 3. Matthew writes there was a violent earthquake as they arrived. 4. Luke writes the women see angels (“men in bright shining clothes”). 5. The women notice the stone at the tomb entrance is rolled away. 6. Going into the tomb they saw it was empty! Jesus’ body was not there! Ask, how do you think the women felt? (Shocked, surprised, worried, angry, sad). The students act their own response. 6 students stand in front of the class and read aloud the words the angel said. From Matthew 28 verses 5-6: “ I know you are looking for Jesus, / Who was crucified. / He is not here; / He has been raised, just as He said. / Come here / and see the place where He was lying”. Have them read it several times until the class hear it read very well. p.82 The women ran and told all of the disciples. All that day people told one another what they thought was going on. Some was true. Some was not. Two men were walking home late in the day. On the 11 kilometre journey they talked about all these events. A stranger joined them. He did not seem to know what had been going on. They told him all about Jesus. They said “we had hoped this Jesus would be the One Who was going to set Israel free”. “Now He has been crucified”. “Women found His tomb empty”. “No-one knows where the body is”, Luke 24 verses 13-24. The stranger talked to them about the Scriptures, which He seemed to know very well. He showed them that the Messiah was expected to suffer – not like most people believed. His Kingdom was not of this world, Luke 24 verses 25-28. When they arrived at the men’s house the three sat down to enjoy a meal together. They suddenly saw this stranger was in fact Jesus! Jesus had risen from the dead! They immediately hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples. They soon discovered that other disciples had seen the risen Jesus too! And as they talked together Jesus Himself came into the room and stood there! He helped them to understand the Scriptures. And He told them He had a plan to use them for the rest of their lives, Luke 24 verses 33-49. Once more 6 students stand in front of the class and read aloud the words the angel said at Jesus’ tomb. From Matthew 28 verses 5-6: “I know you are looking for Jesus,/ Who was crucified. / He is not here; / He has been raised, just as He said. / Come here / and see the place where He was lying”. Have them read it several times. This is exactly what Jesus had said would happen!

My notes for teaching the Old Testament, by Mama Brenda. Leader’s notes: Lesson 7 - Going back to Jerusalem - Ezra, Haggai and Zechariah This lesson does not give the students the right answers unless they write them in for themselves, as you will have to do too! I hope by now they are used to sorting information. Work through sections 1-7 (on page 61 opposite) checking the information in the Bible references. Student's worksheet: Lesson 17 - Going back to Jerusalem - Ezra, Haggai and Zechariah God had told of Judah’s captivity in Babylon more than 100 years before it happened, Isaiah 39:6; Micah 4:10. Jeremiah foretold that it would last for 70 years, Jeremiah 25:11-12. Have you remembered that in talking to Abraham God had told him that his descendants would go to Egypt, and then be enslaved? Genesis 15:13-14 We saw that come true in Genesis and Exodus. Now we also see Isaiah, Micah and Jeremiah’s prophecies coming true. 1. What was the situation for the people of Judah in Babylon? 2 Chronicles 36:20, they worked for the government. Ezekiel (last lesson 16) - digging canal, own house, relatively free. 2. What was the situation in Jerusalem? 2 Chronicles 36:17-19, treasures from the Temple, and the king, taken away to Babylon. The Temple was burned and the walls of Jerusalem broken down. 2 Chronicles 36:21 the land regained productiveness, liking its many Sabbath rests. Compare with Leviticus 26:40-45. 3. What were the terms of the people returning? See Jeremiah 25:11. Ezra 1:1-4 ‘God has asked me, Cyrus, to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any Jews living here can go to accomplish this, and those around them, Jews or people from other backgrounds, shall provide them with silver and gold, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’ 4. Who went? Ezra 2:1-2, 3, 21, 36, 40, 41, 42, 43, 55, 58, plus servants (men and women). The numbers do not reconcile easily - perhaps some wives and children are not listed - perhaps the specific numbers are those who belonged to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, not counting those from other tribes. So, not quite 50,000 people trekked 900 miles from Babylon to Jerusalem with camels, horses, mules and donkeys. 5. Cyrus’ edict was issued in 538 B.C. See 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. 6. How did the returnees get on? They arrived in Jerusalem in 537 B.C. Ezra 2:68-69 Families gave to the funds needed for the rebuilding. Ezra 2:70 Everyone settled in the places their family had come from before the exile. Ezra 3:1-6 Three months later they all met in Jerusalem and rebuilt the altar of the God of Israel, under the leadership of Joshua the priest, and Zerubbabel the civic leader. Page 61 Leader's notes: Lesson 17 - Going back to Jerusalem. Introduce Haggai and work through sections 8 – 12 together as a class, checking the references as you go. The prophecy of Zechariah 2:1-9 also says: ‘“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ’In a little while I will shake all nations, and the desired of nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord Almighty. The silver is mine and the gold is mine.’ declares the Lord Almighty. ’The glory of the present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace, ’declares the Lord Almighty.” Probably a prophecy of the peace we have through the death of Jesus in Jerusalem, and also a prophecy for the last days of the reign of Christ (the desired of nations) and peace throughout the world. This is another glimpse into the future and far future from where they were standing. Student's worksheet: Lesson 17 - Going back to Jerusalem. Ezra 3:7 They started to organise for the rebuilding of the Temple. Ezra 3:8-9 Early in 536 B.C. the men supervised by the priests and Levites started laying the foundations of the Temple. Ezra 3:10-11 There was great praise to God when the foundations were completed. Ezra 3:12-13 Mixed emotions in much noise. 7. Opposition. Ezra 4:1-2 Local enemies came, offering to help. They were people the Assyrians had brought into the area, after Israel had been exiled to Assyria. They had their own gods but, like Cyrus, believed in worshipping any god of the area. They did not realise how big our God is - He is not for one area alone, He is supreme in all the world. Ezra 4:3 Zerubbabel and Joshua said ‘No help needed - this is our job.’ 8. Haggai – prophecy 1. Haggai was an older man and probably saw the destruction of Jerusalem before being taken off into exile. Haggai 1:1-11 520 B.C. God’s message comes to the Jews in Jerusalem. Verses 7-8.’Think carefully - build the house so that I (God) may be honoured’. Haggai 1:12-14 The people feared God. They were reassured of His presence with them. They started working on the Temple again. 9. Haggai – prophecy 2. Haggai 2:1-9 Two months later. God’s message through Haggai is to Zerbbabel and Joshua, telling them not to be discouraged thinking that this Temple was not as grand as that of Solomon. ‘Be strong……and work. For I am with you.’ Verse 4. 10. Zechariah’s ministry started within weeks of Haggai’s second message. He told the people that God was angry with their forefathers for not obeying. The people repented saying ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve.’ Zechariah 1:1-6. 11. Haggai – prophecy 3. A few weeks later Haggai spoke from God again, Haggai 2:10-19. Being defiled is easier than being holy. Being at the site of the Temple did not make the people holy. They had to obey in life; get on and build the Temple. There had been poor harvests since their return from Babylon. Obedience would bring God’s blessing. 12. Haggai – prophecy 4. Same day. This was given to the governor of Judah saying that God is in control of all time and all Empires. Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, will be the guarantee that Messiah will come, descended from David. Page 62 Leader's notes: Lesson 17 - Going back to Jerusalem. Work through sections 13 – 17 (opposite on page 63). Teach 13 by getting the ladies to find what Zechariah says about the coming Messiah. Work as a class. Teach 14 and 15. For 16 and 17 get the ladies in pairs, to look up the references and answer the questions. Student's worksheet: Going back to Jerusalem. 13. Ezra 5 Following Haggai’s and Zechariah’s early ministry, Zerubbabel and Joshua set to work rebuilding the Temple. Tattenai, governor of Trans- Euphrates wrote to Darius in 519 B.C. asking him to search the archives and check if King Cyrus had in fact issued a decree for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple. Ezra 6 Yes, he had! Darius instructed governor Tattenai not to interfere with the rebuilding but to provide money, provisions, animals for sacrifice, on penalty of death for not doing so. The governor complied. The Jews worked. The Temple was completed in March 516 B.C. - 70 years after its destruction. The people celebrated the dedication of the Temple, organised the priests and Levites, and in April celebrated the Passover. Zechariah’s ministry had continued through the rebuilding. He talked about the coming Messiah - 6:12-13; 9:10-14; 11:12-13; 13:7; 14:4. He also talked about events to come 12:1-3,9; 13:1-2; 14:3; 14:16-19; 14:20-21. The prophecies of Zechariah chapters 9-14 were given well after the completion of the Temple. 14. Ezra 4:4-5, 24 Sustained, determined efforts to discourage the Jews in their God-given project through the reigns of Cyrus and Darius. Opposition is not new! 15. Ezra 4:6 486 B.C. When Xerxes came to the throne - 51 years after the people got back to Jerusalem! 30 years after the Temple was rededicated the walls of Jerusalem were still in ruins. Ezra 4:7 465 B.C. When Artazerxes came to the throne - 73 years after they got back to Judah, the walls of Jerusalem were still in ruins. The Jews have given up because of threats and discouragement. Ezra 4:7-23 Spying is not a new profession. It is old. Every king, emperor, conqueror has had people who are his ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ and report back to him what is happening far from the centre of the Empire. Work stopped again. 16. Ezra 7 Now we meet Ezra. Again these chapters are not in strict chronological order, but there is plenty of information to dig out! Are you ready? Ezra 7:11-12 Who was Ezra? Ezra 7:11-12 Who wrote this decree? Ezra 7:13-14 Who can go? why are they going? Ezra 7:15-20 What can the gifts (from?) be used for? Ezra 7:21-24 What did the king’s local treasurers have to do and not do? Ezra 7:25 Everyone who lived there had to have knowledge of Jewish laws. Ezra 7:26 Punishments? Ezra 7:27-28 Ezra’s summary and action. So Ezra was being sent to Jerusalem, with provisions, to re-establish the worship of his God. Page 63 Leader's notes: Lesson 17 - Going back to Jerusalem. Work through the references in section 18 (on page 64). The children went with their mothers when the marriages were dissolved. In Genesis 21:14 Ishmael went with Hagar. In Babylonia, the community these people were leaving and thus had knowledge of, divorced women kept their children and had to wait for them to grow up before they could remarry. This was according to the Code of Hammurabi, the local civic law. Basic rule: Don’t get involved with people and groups who do not want to go God’s way. We need to clarify the marriage issue here in case it is a problem to someone in the class. A Christian should only marry a Christian. 2 Corinthians 6:14. The verse also applies to business relationships. If someone becomes a Christian after marriage and the partner does not, then the believer has a responsibility to stay, 1 Corinthians 7:13-16. On a broader front, 2 Corinthians 6:14 says “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. Think of two animals yoked together to pull a plough. They have to go in the same direction because they are yoked together. They have to go at the same pace. We are not to put ourselves in a situation where we are yoked to doing the same as someone else if he/she does not have the same beliefs as us. That does not mean we cannot have non-Christian friends or non-Christian contacts. We have to be involved with people to be able to share Jesus with them, but not in a yoke situation like a marriage or business partnerships. Student's worksheet: Lesson 17 - Going back to Jerusalem. 17. How did he go about it? Ezra 8:15 Ezra 8:16-20 Ezra 8:21-23 Ezra 8:24-30 Ezra 8:31-32 Ezra 8:33-36 18. An unexpected problem Ezra 9:1-4 Ezra 9:5-15 Ezra 10:1-6 Ezra 10:7-8 Ezra 10:9-15 Ezra 10:16-17, 44 Ezra had taken those Jews who wanted to go, back to Jerusalem. Not all the Jewish people went back. Some were quite satisfied with the lives they had in Persia. With the authority of Artaxerxes, Ezra taught the laws of God and helped the people to sort out their mixed marriages. Now what does the issue of Ezra 10:17 - mixed marriages - mean for us? Deuteronomy 7:1-9 This is at the end of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness before they took the Promised Land. They were told to destroy completely the peoples they drove out. Why? Because the religious practices of these people would lead Israel astray. They did not do this completely, and were plagued with problems from not keeping their beliefs pure, as we have seen. It was their own fault. Israel was called to be a “people holy to the Lord your God”, Deuteronomy 7:6. In 1 Peter 2:9 God, through Peter, says that Christians are “a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. Ezekiel 36:36 “then the nations will know that I am the Lord, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes”. (My emphasis). Basic rule: Don’t get involved with people and groups who do not want to go God’s way. However: you may need to work alongside them, but live Jesus’ way in front of them. Or: you may have the opportunity to talk with them about God and Jesus, so learn to keep close to God in the situation. For next time please look at Nehemiah 2:11-20; 3:1-5, 28-32; 8:9-12: 9:5-12 and Malachi 3:6-18. Page 64

Bible reading John 16:17 - 17:5. Who Jesus really is. Christmas 2004 Brenda and I drove down Oxford Street in London, as passengers on the top deck of a red double-deck bus. We were going to the British Museum to see an exhibition of Sudanese ancient history temporarily borrowed from Khartoum’s Sudan National Museum. The Christmas decorations were in the big shop windows. The annual Christmas light display had been officially switched on the day before. The decorations in the shop called Selfridges’ were entitled, “The Christmas Story” – so I looked for the baby Jesus. As the bus dawdled by window after window in front of the huge store I saw the Muppets, the Polar Express, the Most Beautiful Dog in the World, the Little Left Out Angel, the Snowman, English footballer Michael Owen’s interpretation of what Christmas means, It’s a Wonderful Life, the Nutcracker, the Toys that Came to Life, and Family Get Togethers. But there was no Jesus in the Christmas Story at Selfridges. House of Fraser was a few shops along the street. They featured “The Christmas Alphabet” in their decorated windows. It was not in alphabetical order. I spotted “P” for peace. This was promising I thought! Then I saw “L” for love. My hopes were rising! Next came “J” for …. joy. I was disappointed again. There was no Jesus in the Christmas Alphabet at the House of Fraser. I am not writing this to criticise commercial stores today, but I am writing to say: The real Jesus of the Christian Christmas will be at the centre of every Christian heart and Christian home, especially when Christmas is celebrated. A real Christian will not be squeezed into the mould of the materialistic world. He or she will be worshipfully taken up by the most stunning miracle this world has ever seen. Some readers may think that the resurrection of Jesus is the greatest miracle ever. I ask you to think again. Since Jesus Christ is God – then he has to be alive, because God is the living God. The greatest miracle is Christmas: remembering the human birth of Jesus Christ. The greatest miracle is the Incarnation: “the assuming of a human body by the Son of God”[1]. “The act of God the Son whereby he took to himself a human nature”.[2] The greatest miracle is described in John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, full of grace and truth”.[3] God’s very self-expression donned our humanity (except for sin)[4] and so God lived among us on earth in a singular, one-off, glorious, awesome, fantastic, gob-smacking way! John’s gospel – the fourth in our New Testament – was written quite specifically to show readers (like us) who Jesus is. “Lamb of God”, “Word”, and “I am” are all titles unique to John’s writings. In John’s gospel Jesus is “the Son of God” or sometimes simply “the Son”. John 20:31 states why John wrote what he did. It says: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. As an older man he later expanded this to clarify it still more. “He who has the Son has life: he who does not have the Son of God does not have life”, 1 John 5:12. So, if you want to have a life this Christmas – make sure all of your activities are centred upon Jesus Christ. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men”, John 1:4. Twenty-first century razzamatazz has not changed this practical truth at all. All Christmas parties need Jesus as one of the invited parties. Christmas presents need to be given, and received, in Jesus’ presence. Christmas dinner needs to be eaten with the Bread of Life who came down from heaven (John 6:33-35). Christmas shopping needs to be done knowingly under the all-seeing eye of him to whom everyone will give account (Hebrews 4:13). Seek to gain credit before him rather than credit on your card! Christmas behaviour for the Christian must show the spiritual fruit of “goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23). If you cannot behave like that where you plan to be this Christmas, then you simply should not be there! I repeat, the real Jesus of the Christian Christmas will be at the centre of every Christian heart and Christian home, especially when Christmas is celebrated. Let’s remind ourselves of Who this Jesus is. We will examine some words Jesus spoke on earth: “And now, Father, glorify Me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began”, John 17:5. This is fewer than twenty English words, but they pack more than a lifetime of worshipful thoughts. From them I suggest to you six Christmas dinners (as it were) to chew over, to savour, to enjoy and to benefit from. Six facts about this Jesus from John 17:5: 1. Jesus was before the beginning. The last phrase of verse 5 is “BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN”. Humankind has a fascination with the past and the future. Where did we come from? Where are we going to? And why? Scientists research back and speculate. Film makers reach forward and produce fantasy block-busters! God the Son (Jesus) said to God the Father, “(I was with you) before the world began”. “God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being”.[5] God is unlimited or infinite in regard to time because he lives in eternity. God is the “high and lofty one who lives forever”, “who lives in a high and holy place…”, “… and with the contrite and lowly in spirit”, Isaiah 57:15. And Jesus was God. “Contrite” means full of guilt, shame and regret over sin. “Lowly” means full of humility and meekness. How unlike so many of us. Yet, this living God the Son, from eternity past until now, will live with you and me. We need to humbly recognise our own sinfulness and continually repent over it. We need to wonder in amazement at who Jesus is. No wonder the Psalmist could rejoice in the trials he faced, when he thought about the Lord: “The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty; (His) throne was established long ago; (He is) from eternity”. “Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord is mighty”, Psalm 93:1,2,4. I live some 4 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. On stormy days with low pressure especially, the seas are breathtakingly awesome. Jesus is more awesome! Believer, this Jesus, Who has lived for always, from before the beginning, He is with you at this Christmas time. 2. Jesus was with God before the world began. John 17:5 contains the words of Jesus, “the glory I had WITH YOU before the world began”. John began his gospel with this truth. He wants all readers at all times and occasions to grasp who Jesus really is.[6] “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”, John 1:1. Before Genesis 1:1, the Word, the expression of God, was! He existed. He was eternally with God and indeed He was God. John’s gospel – John’s Good News – was how people can be new creations in Jesus Christ.[7] John referred back to the first creation and to Genesis which means “origin” or “beginning”. At the beginning of everything “the Word” – Jesus, God the Son – was already there! He was God’s agent of creation. “All things were made through Him”, John 1:3,4. Since “all things” were thus made, then Jesus, God the Son, must either be God or be with God. He is not a created person like everybody else. John’s gospel tells us that Jesus is both “God” and “with God” at the same time. God the Son was with God in intimate relationship. Yet He was also distinguishable from God. Jesus is not all there is of God. Yet the full divinity of all of God also belongs to Him. Think deeply about Jesus’ mysterious majesty! Jesus is God’s ultimate self-disclosure. “He was the pre-existent Son of God, sent into the world to become the Jesus of history, so that the glory and grace of God might be uniquely and perfectly disclosed”.[8] This same Jesus says to you and to me, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”, Matthew 11:28. Jesus is not a hastily put together emergency response to humankind’s disastrous rebellion against God! From before all time Jesus was to be in-fleshed to call people back to personally knowing God. Make sure you know Him well this Christmas time. 3. Jesus was God himself. John 17:5, “THE GLORY I HAD with You before the world began”. God is “awesome in glory”, Exodus 15:11. In my view it is a pity the word “awesome” is getting smaller in meaning today by too frequent usage. The dictionary defines “awesome” as “inspiring or displaying overwhelming wonder, admiration, respect or dread”.[9] People use “awesome” today when they really mean “superstar”. God is much greater than any megastar! “The glory of the Lord fills the whole earth”, Numbers 14:21. Men and women are to “ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name”, 1 Chronicles 16:29, and to “declare His glory among the nations”, Psalm 96:3. Through Isaiah the prophet – the greatest of God’s writing prophets, who revealed God’s awful judgement and God’s greater salvation – we read God saying, “I will not give My glory to another”, Isaiah 42:8, and “I will not yield My glory to another”, Isaiah 48:11. Since God will not share His glory Jesus can only truthfully speak about “the glory I had with You before the world began” if He was and is God himself! He could not be anyone other than God. Let me insert three words in brackets into John 1:1 to spell out this meaning clearly: “And (Jesus) the Word, (Who) was with God, (actually) was God”. In Old Testament times God pitched His tent to live among people. He was the shekinah glory of fire and cloud in the tabernacle and temple. In Gospel times God pitched His tent to live among people as the man Jesus. The Old Testament Word of God on two tablets of stone became the New Testament Word of God, with two dusty and sandaled human feet! “For in Christ all the fulness of the Deity lives in bodily form”, Colossians 2:9. Christian believer, this Christ is your Christ this Christmas. Think on Him. 4. Jesus was the God Who lived among us. John 16:28 is part of the introductory context for John 17:5. In it Jesus says, “I CAME FROM THE FATHER AND ENTERED THE WORLD; now I am leaving the world and going back to my Father”. Supposing you were going for the first time to visit the city of Sydney in Australia. You were given one choice from three for help on your journey. Choice one was to fetch books, maps, pictures etc. about Sydney from the library. The second choice was to have advice from your neighbours who visited Australia for one month, ten years ago. They could tell you what they remember of their experiences. The third choice is that you can travel to and around Sydney with someone who’s home is Sydney. You have already met them where you live. Now you are invited, “Come to me and I will go with you, taking care of everything you need while you journey to and around Sydney”. Which of the three would you choose? For a journey to Sydney there may be more than one choice. For a journey to heaven Jesus is the only choice. Jesus came from heaven, and He will be with me on the journey and for every moment when I arrive in heaven too! Jesus was the God – the Eternal God – Who lived among us. Think seriously about this. remaining what He was, He became what He was not eternity stepped into time[10] omniscience went to join woodwork classes omnipotence depended on His family for everything omnipresence lay contained in a small animal feeding trough Alpha and Omega became less than one day old the powerful Word could only muster a baby’s cry the source of all life sucked milk from Mary’s human breast the provider of everything for everyone had just 10 wrinkly, wiggly fingers and thumbs, each less than 2 centimetres long! God’s final Word was Jesus![11] WOW! Jesus said in John 16:28 (the context of John 17:5), “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to My Father”. The disciples who heard Jesus replied to Him, “This makes us believe that You came from God”, John 16:30. Do you believe this too? I pray and trust that you do. 5. Jesus was submissive to the Father. ”And now, FATHER, glorify Me IN YOUR PRESENCE”, John 17:5. God the Son is never less than God, but is “functionally subordinate” [12] to His Father. Jesus gave His Father perfect obedience and lived His earthly life in unqualified dependence on His Father. They had a great relationship. It was as if they were One – and this was because they were (and are) One! John intends the whole of his gospel to be read in the light of the opening verses. The Word, living among us, is God, (John 1:14 and 1:1). “The deeds and words of Jesus are the deeds and words of God”.[13] Jesus waited God’s time, God the Father’s appointed moment – for His birth into humanity, and Jesus waited God’s set time for His death on behalf of humanity, and Jesus waited God’s moment for His resurrection to eternal life as the God-man. Jesus’ attitude was always: “This is God’s appointed hour, let Father’s will be done”. For example, John 17:4, speaking to God the Father He says: “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do”. Jesus’ heart was always in heaven, though His body was on earth. He was not overly interested in the Temple. He was not unduly interested in what some call the “Holy Land”. The entire universe and beyond was all His – let alone any buildings or tracts of land in this world! Jesus lived in a different realm. It was not geography He lived for but spirituality, and He would soon be dying for these spiritual realities too. Jesus was constrained in a crowd. Jesus was opposed in community. Jesus lived destined for a cross. And God the Son, Jesus, was content with the role His Father had given Him. I trust we will get beyond the tinsel to the Trinity this Christmas. Christians must get beyond this world’s Christmas magic to the Word’s Christmas Mystery. Join with more than your immediate human family by considering: “God eternally exists as three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each Person is fully God, and there is one God”.[14] There is a plurality of Persons in God Himself. Jesus can be with God and be God. On earth Jesus gave up some status and privilege of heaven, but He never for one moment ceased being God. The miracle of Christmas is that the eternal God became flesh (John 1:14), the fulness of God in a man. People who saw Jesus saw the glory of God. But it was not quite what they had expected! 6. Jesus’ prayer for “glory” is a prayer for the cross. “AND NOW, FATHER, GLORIFY ME in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began”, John 17:5. What is this “glory”? John has grasped this truth and he has built towards it all the while he is writing his gospel. “Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified””, John 12:23 “… it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name”, John 12:27,28 “… the time had come for Him to leave this world”, John 13:1 And in the immediate context of John 17:5 that we are exploring: “Father the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You”, John 17:1. What is this glory? This prayer of Jesus was answered a few days later. Spikes were hammered through His hands and His feet. A thorn crown was rammed down upon His head. The entire sin of humankind, which had not contaminated Jesus before, was loaded on to Him as He was dying on a wooden Roman cross. God was dying as a man in order to make it possible for any sinful person to reach His own heavenly presence. Glory is God’s word for Calvary. Jesus said, “I have come to die, and now it is time”. Jesus was almost universally unrecognised and rejected, (“His own did not receive Him”, John 1:11). Even in our generation on Christmas days Jesus will not be given a thought by the majority of people. Yet SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING GIVEN THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD! Read that again! SOME PEOPLE ARE BEING GIVEN THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD! John 1:12,13 “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God”. Are you born of God? John tells us simply to receive Jesus into our lives. The opening of ourselves up to Jesus, and to all of His will for us, will genuinely revolutionise every one of us who truly does so. The real Jesus of the Christian Christmas celebration will be at the centre of every born-again Christian’s heart during this Christmas season – and at all other times for that matter too! Make sure the right Jesus is your foundation for life this Christmas. Make sure the right Jesus is leading your daily life. And when you are wished by others, “a happy Christmas”, reply, “Now why don’t we talk for a moment about Who this baby Jesus really was?” by Colin Salter. Original message 17th December 2004; this one revised 27th June 2007. Part of a series: “Who Jesus really is”. [1] Collins English Dictionary, (Glasgow, Harper Collins) 1994. [2] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Leicester: IVP) 1994, p.543. [3] All Bible quotations from New International Version (International Bible Society) 1973-1984. [4] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: IVP) 1991, p.127-129. [5] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Leicester: IVP) 1994, p. 168. [6] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: IVP) 1991, p.95. [7] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: IVP) 1991, p.114. [8] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: IVP) 1991, p. 111. [9] Collins English Dictionary, (Glasgow, Harper Collins) 1994. [10] Michael Card, The Life CD, disc 1 track 6 “The Final Word”, Sparrow Corp. 1988. [11] Michael Card, The Life CD, disc 1 track 6 “The Final Word”, Sparrow Corp. 1988. [12] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: IVP) 1991, p.95. [13] D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: IVP) 1991, p.117. [14] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Leicester: IVP) 1994, p.226.

Leader's page and Student's page best viewed left/right side together Leaders notes: Acts 11:19-30, 12:25, chapters 13-15. A.D. 46-50 You need to have gone through this page and have your own answers before you teach the lesson! Lead from the front to start with. Note first paragraph opposite. The ladies need to gather information on the starting point and each place visited on the journey. Where? Who? Make up of the church? How long? What happened? Good and bad. Sometimes you may find the information is not obvious or even just not there! It may be an idea to write the ‘Where?’ ‘Who?’ etc. on a blackboard or large piece of paper to keep reminding the ladies what they are looking for! Set the ladies in pairs or groups. Go around visiting to helpfully encourage them. Nudge them along to tackle the next references. If you work through this first example (below) with the ladies, it will help them to understand what to do. Tell them to read the Bible verses. Ask some questions to elicit the information from the whole group: Example of - 1. Antioch in Syria 11:19-30, 13:1-3 Five local leaders – Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, Saul A church of Jewish believers and Greeks – Gentiles, for some 1-2 years Challenge to reach Jews and Gentiles? What of the famine prophecy? Shared money and later sent valued men, Barnabas and Saul, out on mission Then show them a different example, - 7. Derbe 14:20-22 (See opposite). Paul and Barnabas together – recovering from persecution Won a large number of disciples to Lord Jesus Christ. Now invite the ladies to work in pairs or small groups to find the information for the other eight places. You have shown them Antioch in Syria – now they can do Salamis, Paphos, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, the revisiting of three towns, before going back to Syrian Antioch. After enough time Lead from the front again. Ask the ladies to answer the four questions opposite using the information they have found. Share the answers altogether. My answers: 1. Jews and Gentiles. 2. Yes and no. 3. Sorcery, opposition, riot, plot. 4. Appointed leaders, prayed with them. Student's page: Lesson 20 First Missionary Journey; the Council of Jerusalem Acts 11:19-30, 12:25, chapters 13-15. A.D. 46-50 The journey Barnabas and Paul undertake is usually known as the First Missionary Journey. There are two maps opposite and on page 4. You may like to draw their route on one when you have found it. Acts chapters 11, 13 and 14 tell you where the team went. We are looking for change, for progress, for problem issues and for their answers. The Church and churches were growing. Write down the information you discover from: 1. Antioch in Syria 11:19-30; 13:1-3 2. Cyprus - Salamis – synagogues, 13:4-5 3. Paphos - several weeks/months 13:6-12 4. Antioch in Pisidia 13:13-50 5. Iconium 13:51-14:7 6. Lystra 14:6-20 7. Derbe 14:20-22 8. Going back through the same towns 14:21-23 9. Sailing home to Syrian Antioch and on arrival there 14:24-27 From your own research of Scripture, compile answers to these questions: 1. Overall who responded to Barnabas and Saul’s preaching? 2. Was the message popular? 3. What special problems did Barnabas and Saul have? 4. How did they particularly help the new believers? Page 44 Leader's page: Go through the ‘three little details’ opposite with the ladies. Perhaps share the references out between the ladies so each reference is ready to be read by someone at the appropriate time. See if the listeners notice and pick the differences for number 2. When finished ask the ladies to read these four Bible passages out loud: 11:1-4, 15-18 13:44-47 15:1-4 15:5 What was the problem? - Gentiles becoming Christians, and how to respond? Could this be like converts to Jesus coming to you from a different tribe today? How to accept them in your fellowship? What difficulties may have to be overcome? How can this be done? The Council of Jerusalem 15:1-35 A church meeting – a tricky problem – a problem of growth – trying to understand all the issues – how to make a wise decision – and to communicate that decision to everyone who needs to know. Get the ladies to work in small groups – to find the above stages in 15:1-35 understand – verses 1-4, 5-6, 12 wise decision – 13-21 communicate – 22-29 Go through the group answers altogether. Another tricky issue arises, this time within the team Read 15:35-41 with the ladies. Ask them to pick out some important details. Growth in the Antioch church – many teachers and preachers. A dividing of the ways – but did good things came out of it in the end? What? Paul and Barnabas were able to use their knowledge and experience in two areas instead of one. Two missionary outreach teams, greater area covered. But I’m sure there will still have been ‘feelings’ to get over. What do you think? Student's page: Three little details to tidy up: 1. Acts 13:5 and 13 John Mark left them. We don’t know why. See 15:36-40. Notice that Mark spent time in Rome with Paul later on – see Philemon 24, Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11. 2. Acts 12:25, 13:2, 13:13, 13:42, 14:1 Did you notice the change from Saul to Paul, and a change of the order from ‘Barnabas and Saul’ to ‘Paul and Barnabas’? It may have been because Paul quickly became the main speaker. 3. Acts 14:27 Barnabas and Paul reported back to the sending church and had a needed extended time (of rest and recovery?) with their home church. What is the major problem in the following verses? 11:1-4, 15-18 13:44-47 15:1-4 15:5 Can you think of any similar, if difficult, challenges for your churches now? The Council of Jerusalem 15:1-35 Growth always causes problems – from a growing child needing new and bigger clothes to a church changing to reach out towards different kinds of people, and then receive them into full fellowship. Whenever there is a problem we need to- understand the issues make a wise decision communicate to those who need to know Can you find the Council people going through these three stages in the reading? Point out the verses that illustrate this. What was the response back ‘home’ in Antioch? Another tricky issue arises, this time within the team 15:35-41 What are you hearing that is important information on this incident? Note them down. Problems are for solving, not festering. Leaving a problem alone usually makes it worse. Sometimes what we see as a setback is God’s way forward. He is an amazingly great God! Page 45

My notes for teaching the Old Testament, by Mama Brenda. Leader’s notes: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi Ask the ladies to name the four people associated with Babylon who we have looked at in the last two sessions. (Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther, Ezra). And the three prophets. (Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra again). Ezekiel and Daniel were also prophets. The revision in the first paragraph (page 65) will be useful as there is a lot to understand and remember. Introduce Nehemiah and work through the story to the first paragraph of page 66. Give the reference and ask the question to elicit the information for the four questions. 1:1,11; 2:1 The ancient royal cities of the Persian empire were Babylon, Susa, Ecbatana and the newly built Persepolis, (see Ezra 6:1,2; Nehemiah 1:1). Persepolis was built in the reigns of Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes and Artaxerxes. Student's worksheet: Lesson 18 Nehemiah and Malachi Two lessons ago we looked at three people who lived in Babylon, were Jews, and in their own spheres influenced the mighty Babylon. Ezekiel encouraged the exiles to live to demonstrate God where they were, to show the holiness of God which would eventually be seen by all people. Daniel lived faithfully for God and was an advisor of King Nebuchadnezzar and King Belshazzar. Then he continued under the Persians, Darius and Cyrus. He firmly believed in and spoke of the total sovereignty of God. Esther lived later, under Xerxes, when the Jews through Esther and Mordecai were well respected. Last time we looked at the time of Ezra. He was sent back to Jerusalem in the Persian province of Judah by Artaxerxes, living there and teaching the laws of God. Artaxerxes would have known Esther - she was probably his step-mother and still alive in 446 B.C. - and he obviously respected the Jewish people. Now today we meet Nehemiah and Malachi. Nehemiah had a job in the citadel of Susa. He was cupbearer to the king. A cupbearer chose the king’s wine, and tasted it. The king had a relationship of trust with his cupbearer. His life depended on it. Nehemiah had brothers in Jerusalem. His brother Hanani arrived from Judah and Nehemiah quizzed him about the situation there. 1. What was the situation in Jerusalem? Nehemiah 1:3 We know that the Temple had been rebuilt and dedicated in 516 B.C. In 446 B.C. Nehemiah’s brother reported that the returned exiles were ”in great trouble and disgrace” with walls and gates of Jerusalem still not repaired. 2. What was Nehemiah’s reaction? Nehemiah 1:4 He sat down. He wept. He fasted. He prayed. He stopped and thought. What he had heard made him sad for his people and broken because of the state of God’s city. He went without food to clarify his prayers in his own mind. 3. How long did Nehemiah wait before acting? Four months. Perhaps the king was not in Susa and then came back. Perhaps Nehemiah needed that time to know what God was asking him to do. 4. What did he then do? Nehemiah 1:5-11 He prayed the night before he would see the king, saying that God had been faithful to His covenant but His people had acted wickedly, reminding God that He had promised if they returned to Him, He would bring them to the place He had chosen as a dwelling place for His name - Jerusalem - and asking God to give him success in the presence of the king. He actually says “in the presence of this man”, emphasising that God is the God of heaven, but the king is just a man. His prayer is an encouragement to us, but it was not meant for the ears of Artaxerxes! Artaxerxes realised that his trusted servant was unhappy, and asked why. Nehemiah dared to be honest with the king, and got an honest and generous response, Page 65 Leader's notes: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi. 2:4 Some situations do not give us much time to think what to pray. King Artaxerxes (and his queen) saw the problem and its implications to part of his Empire, saw the convictions of the man he trusted, then acted decisively and generously. He was not a believer in Nehemiah’s God, but he believed his people had the right to worship their gods and he respected this man who had obviously served him well. God used Artaxerxes. God can use whoever He wants to use. God used Artaxerxes. See also Isaiah 44:28, 45:1 prophecies of God, given around 695-685 B.C., that God would use a man called Cyrus, which happened in about 538 B.C. Ask the ladies if they think Nehemiah’s example is a practical one to follow. Continue to work through the story checking the references as a class, including the first paragraph on page 67. Builders - priests goldsmiths perfume makers merchants Student's worksheet: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi. (continued from page 65) “what is it you want?” “Then I prayed to the God of heaven and I answered the king.” Help me now, Lord, with the right words, and to remember all the things You and I have talked about together in the past month! Nehemiah asked the king to send him to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. The king agreed and asked how long he would be away. Nehemiah then asked for safe conduct letters and wood for the building work. The king also sent army officers and cavalry with Nehemiah. Artaxerxes had trusted Nehemiah with his life, and now he was taking care of Nehemiah’s life. Nehemiah 1:1-2:10 give us a good example to follow: listen - talk to God about it - think and continue to talk to God - take considered action – keep praying Nehemiah was being sent to Jerusalem as the Governor there. He had people to do what he said, soldiers to guard him, people for whom he had responsibility, a king to report to - a big change for even a trusted cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah 2:11 Nehemiah and his entourage travelled to Jerusalem. After three days, with a few men, he went to see the situation for himself. Nehemiah 2:12 and 16. He went at night so he did not attract attention. “I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem” - Nehemiah knew what God wanted him to do - the result of those four months of praying, weeping, thinking and fasting. Nehemiah 2:16-18 Nehemiah spoke with the Jews, the priests, the nobles and the officials, encouraging them to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem which had been damaged for so long. He also explained why he was there and why he was in charge, because of God and because of the king. So they began this good work. But three non-Jewish men of influence (Nehemiah 2:10,19) were not pleased. Sanballat was governor of Samaria (the old northern kingdom). Tobiah was probably governor of Transjordan (east of the Jordan river). Both had political reasons for not wanting Jerusalem to become a viable city. Geshem the Arab may have been governor of a large area from northeast Egypt to north Arabia and south Palestine, and he would not have wanted his lucrative spice trade threatened. We read Nehemiah’s answer to their threat in Nehemiah 2:20 “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” We might say ‘This is God’s city - you have no right to interfere’. Who built the wall? Nehemiah 3:1-32 The long, the short and the tall - everyone except the nobles who felt they were too good to do manual work! 3:12 is the only mention of female labour. What trades were involved? As the work went on Sanballat and Tobiah were very annoyed and mocked the Jews. Nehemiah’s response (4:4-5) was to acknowledge the threats and to ask God to take care Page 66 Leader's notes: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi. Ask the ladies to read Nehemiah 5 in small groups. Ask these questions: What was the problem? What did Nehemiah say the nobles and officials should do? Did Nehemiah do anything that surprised you? Was Nehemiah’s testimony good? Share answers and revise the paragraph The governor’s acted picture 5:13 - sometimes drastic times call for drastic actions. Nehemiah was not a performer by nature, but here he made a very important statement in a way that would not be forgotten. Work together as a class through the references in Nehemiah 6. Teach through the last paragraph on page 67 getting the ladies to read out the Bible references. Student's worksheet: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi. (continued from page 66) of the situation. Sometimes we take on board the threats and forget that our God is all powerful. Nehemiah got it right. We must follow his example. The people worked enthusiastically and the wall got to half height. Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs and a few others then plotted to come and fight against Jerusalem. Nehemiah 4:9 “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” The same example again - pray and do something, pray and do. Nehemiah placed armed Jewish families at the vulnerable parts of the wall and encouraged them to remember God and fight for their brothers, sons, daughters, wives and homes. The plotters had been outflanked. The Jews went back to work, but everyone was armed, some kept watch, everyone was ready to fight. Nehemiah kept the trumpeter with him, and told the people to go to wherever the trumpet was sounded. “Our God will fight for us” Nehemiah 4:20. He instructed the people to stay in the city overnight but work or guard from dawn to dusk. Nehemiah 5 trouble within. The circumstances together with the greed of some people were causing poverty and distress to the poorer Jews. People were being sold as servants to pay taxes. Verse 6 Nehemiah became very angry. He called the nobles and officials to account and they had no answer. He told them to give back fields, houses, olive groves and the interest charged. He made them take an oath to do it. Verse 13 this fair and thoughtful governor acted out a picture of retribution for disobedience. The people kept their promise. Verses 14-19 in the 12 years of his first governorship Nehemiah and his men did not collect the tax in food allowed them, nor acquire land, and fed 600-800 people a day. He practised what he preached. Do you always do this? 6:1-9 another plot by Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem. What was Nehemiah’s reaction? 6:10-13 yet another plot thwarted. The enemies were getting desperate. Nehemiah’s reaction? See verses 11-13. 6:15-16 the wall was completed. Jerusalem was secure.The surrounding nations knew that the work had been done with the help of our God. Destroyed in 586 B.C., the walls were rebuilt in 52 days in 445 B.C. after 141 years. According to an ancient writer work continued to embellish and improve the walls for another two years. We read of the dedication of the walls in Nehemiah 12:27-47. It was a great occasion. 6:17-19 The nobles of Judah and the plotters were in constant communication. Tobiah continued to harass Nehemiah by letter. Many of the nobles were related to Tobiah. Family connections and past work connections can sometimes hold us back in our Christian walk. These people think they have influence over us. But do they? The Bible teaches that we must respect our parents. God created family to be a support and encouragement for us. But the Bible also teaches that our responsibility to God is paramount. Compare Exodus 20:12, Psalm 68:6, Deuteronomy 6:5, and Matthew 22:37-39. Yes, we have a responsibility to respect and honour our parents. This responsibility outworks differently as we move from child to adult, from single adult to family person, and as our parents move from independent and capable, to being dependent. Yes, God has put us in families and perhaps Page 67 Leader's notes: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi. Here are some lessons for us all about public meetings. When you take any public meeting remember your objective should not be simply to give a talk, but that your talk should be heard, be Bible-based and be understood with application to life. Day 1 Ezra read the Law. Ezra stood on a high wooden platform Nehemiah 8:4 Make sure the preacher can be seen and heard Ezra opened the book 8:5 Open the Bible frequently. The Levites helped people to understand what was being said 8:8 Make sure people understand. It was a day of rejoicing and sharing 8:9-12 Day 2 They rediscovered the Feast of Tabernacles which had not been celebrated since the days of King Solomon, and they celebrated it with great joy. It had not been celebrated with such joy since the time of Joshua, nearly a thousand years before. 9:1-38; 10:28-39 they celebrated and continued to listen for seven days and then there was an assembly at which they confessed their disobedience, and then made promises. Intermarriage was still a problem as it was for Ezra, and in the book of Nehemiah the people make more promises to God after the tabernacles celebration. Malachi 1:2-5 paraphrased. God loves you It doesn’t look like it He loves you, descendants of Jacob. The descendants of Esau are no more. That translation is called the Septuagint, meaning 70, and is referred to as LXX, the Roman numerals for 70. Malachi 3:1 talks of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord. 4:5 speaks of Elijah coming before the Lord comes. Check Luke 1:11-17; Matthew 11:13-14; 17:12-13; Mark 9:11-13. Student's worksheet: Lesson 18 - Nehemiah and Malachi. (continued from page 67) given us good, close friends, but Jesus told us that the biggest responsibility we have is to God. You cannot love God by proxy - you can only love God as an individual, as a responsible, sentient being. And that love is to be with everything you have, with all the time you have - so all the time! Beware of putting too much importance on what other people think you should do or say. The most important contributions to your thinking process are what God thinks and your willingness to obey Him. 7:1-3 Nehemiah appointed his brother, Hanani, to be in charge of the city. Why? Verse 2 What a commendation! Would people say that of you? 8:1-18 The people had been summoned to assemble in the square in front of the Water Gate. They confessed their failure to live God’s way, acknowledged that God had kept the covenant, realised they were slaves still, ruled over by kings because of their sins. They made an agreement not to intermarry with local non-Jews, not to trade on the Sabbath, let the fields rest every seventh year, and give for the work and upkeep of the Temple. 11:1-12:26 They drew lots to decide who would live in Jerusalem - one in ten of the total Jewish population. Nehemiah returned to King Artaxerxes to report after 12 years in Jerusalem. He later came back, perhaps as governor or perhaps leaving his brother as governor. Leadership attributes we see in Nehemiah - thought, exact planning, good work relationships, wise distribution of information, courtesy but honesty even to enemies, making sure people knew the mandate and authority he had. While Nehemiah was away Malachi started prophesying. He challenged the people living in Judah and Jerusalem to understand that God loves them even though they doubted it, Malachi 1:1-5, and rebuked their intermarriage with local non-Jews and their relaxed attitude to divorce, 2:10-16. “‘I hate divorce’ says the Lord”. He challenged the priests over offering defiled sacrifices with a wrong attitude and over their wrong teaching, 1:6-2:9. Malachi is the last voice of prophecy in the Old testament. There followed a period of 400 years of silence from God before the birth of Jesus. The Old Testament was originally written mainly in Hebrew, but in 285 B.C. 70 scholars translated it into Greek - the main language of the then Empire. In this time there was bitter persecution of the Jews, and in 63 B.C. Rome took over Judah, the Jews were taxed, but kept some political freedom. The stage is set for Jesus. Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change”. That truth is a solid rock for us - all the actions we have seen God take since Genesis, all we have learned of Him, all we have seen Him do - He has not changed, He does not change, He will not change. He is totally up to date, but in Who He is, He does not change. Not in Malachi’s day. not in Jesus’ time on earth, not ever - “I the Lord do not change”. Page 68

25 lesson plans for children, young people and their teachers. Lesson 22 The Christian church in Jerusalem – Acts and Peter Bible reference – Acts chapters 1-6; 10-12; and 15. Have students look at Acts 1 verses1-5 in their Bibles. 1. Ask, for how many days after His death and resurrection did Jesus keep showing His friends that He was alive? (40 days, Acts 1 verse 3). 2. Ask, what did Jesus talk to His people about? (The Kingdom of God, verse 4). 3. God’s special people were those who were living in this Kingdom. God was interested in HOW they lived much more than WHERE they lived. 4. Ask, how did God promise He would help them to live the way God wanted them to in His Kingdom? (They were to be given the Holy Spirit, verses 4-5). 5. The book of Acts tells us how Jesus lived on in this world after His death. Jesus worked through people who trusted themselves to Him through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Have the students look at Acts 1 verses6-11. 1. Ask, did the followers of Jesus understand this Kingdom of God? (No, they still wanted Israel to be free from Rome, verse 6). 2. Ask, what did Jesus tell them to do? (Be witnesses to Jesus throughout the world, with the help of the Holy Spirit, verses 7-8). 3. Ask, what is a ‘witness’? (Someone who sees or hears something happen. For example, the students are witnesses to this class– their parents and other neighbours probably are not). 4. Ask, what happened to Jesus when He finished talking? (He went up into a cloud in the sky. He went home to heaven, where He had come from – where He really belonged, verse 9. See John 3 verse 3). 5. Ask, what did the ‘angels’ promise Jesus’ followers? (Jesus will come back to earth. They did not say when – but it was certain He will come again! verse 11). Appoint twelve volunteers to act the next event. Have them kneel down quietly at the front, as if they were praying. Get the rest of the class to blow, whistle and ‘shshshsh’ – make the noises of a strong wind. The class can use their hands and arms to be flames of fire. Now have them do both: being wind and being flames. The class stop and are still. Suddenly the twelve get up and move quickly all around, saying to everyone, “God has done great things”, “God has done great things”, etc. Settle the class. Explain that when the Holy Spirit came and filled Jesus’ friends they became very courageous and brave. They did not stay hiding away afraid of the Jews. They shared the Good News of Jesus with everyone they met. Jesus was with them as they did (Acts 2). Stop and discuss (1) Have students fill in the words of this text. “w t H S c u y , y w b f w p , and y w b w f m inJerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and t t e o t e . Acts 1 verse 8. p.84 When students have done this 1. Ask, when the Holy Spirit fills Jesus’ followers, what two things will they become? (1. Filled with power; 2. Witnesses for Jesus). 2. Ask, can you remember what a witness is? (Someone who sees or hears something happen) 3. Ask, what will “witnesses for Jesus” do? (Tell others what they have seen and heard about Jesus). Stop and discuss (2) Divide the class into groups of 4/5. Give each group this list of questions. Tell them the answers are in Acts 2 verses 14-47. Which group working as a team can be the first to answer all correctly? 1. Which Old Testament prophet said the Holy Spirit would come? 2. What was Jesus’ home town when He was young? 3. Who planned that Jesus be crucified? 4. Who set Jesus free from the powerof death? 5. Who witnessed that Jesus was raised from the dead? 6. Where is Jesus – in His human body – now? 7. When people turn from their sins and follow Jesus’ way to live, what will God give them? 8. What did people do to show they were joining the followers of Jesus? 9. What were people called who followedJesus in this way? 10. How were the practical needs of everybody in the group met? Bring the class back all together. Peter was the leading speaker on the day of Pentecost – the day the Holy Spirit was given by God to His special people, Acts 2 verses 1, 14, 38 and 40. At the start of Jesus’ ministry Peter was one of the fishermen called by Jesus to follow Him, Matthew 4 verses 18-20. Now Jesus was working through Peter. Peter followed the things he had learned from Jesus during three years of watching and listening. Jesus was not with Peter in a human body anymore. But God the Holy Spirit was with him. He was everything Peter needed. The Holy Spirit helped Peter give good answers to people who asked questions, Acts 4 verse 8 The Holy Spirit made Peter believe he could do things Jesus wanted, Acts 3 verses 4-7 and 4 verse 31 The Holy Spirit helped Peter to understand and to teach God’s word, Acts 2 verse 42 and 4 verse 31 The Holy Spirit led Peter to meet people he could help, Acts 10 verses 1 to 11 and verse 18 The Holy Spirit helped Peter make right decisions which let God’s special people keep on growing, Acts 15 verses 1-22 The Holy Spirit helped Peter to live “the Jesus way” in his life. Peter wrote two books which are in our New Testament. p.85 Stop and discuss (3) Ask the students to find Peter’s books and hold up their Bibles, open for you to see, that they have done so. When everyone has found the place have students fill the words of this text. “B h in a t y d, j a G w c y is h ”, 1 Peter 1 verse 15. Holiness is the uniform or badge of God’s special people. A policeman or a soldier wears his uniform to tell everyone he is in that group. Christian believers show they are God’s special people by holiness of life. The Holy Spirit helps by filling them with Himself. He makes His people more and more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit moves God’s special people as the wind moves the sorghum, durra, millet and fruit trees. People working in the fields cannot see the wind. But they can see and feel what it does. The work of the Holy Spirit is seen and felt in and around Jesus’ friends. They live with Jesus as their King. Have two good readers read to the class: “The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realised then that they had been companions of Jesus”, Acts 4 verse 13. “But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, Who called you out of darkness into His own marvellous light”, 1 Peter 2 verse 9. Stop and discuss (4) Divide again into groups of 4/5. Peter understood that the old Jewish Temple and its worship sacrifices had been replaced by God. Ask each group to look up 1 Peter2 verses 4-5. What is God building as a replacement for the stone and gold that made Herod’s Temple? Ask each group to say or write what they understand by “building the spiritual temple”, verse 5. Write one sentence that can be shared with the whole class. The risen life of Jesus Christ was seen in more and more people. Stop and discuss (5) Still in groups of 4/5 add the following sum: 1. The number of believers Acts 1 verse 15 2. Number added on day of Pentecost Acts 2verse 41 3. Number of men who heard and believed Acts 4 verse 4 TOTAL Read Acts 5 verses 13-14: “Nobody outside the group dared to join them, even though people spoke highly of them. But more and more people were added to the group – a crowd of men and women who believed in the Lord”. God was working out his purpose for the world. p.86 Answers to ‘Stop and discuss’ 1. “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”, Acts 1 verse 8. 2. 1. Joel – Acts 2 verse 16, see Joel 2 verses 28-32 2. Nazareth – Acts 2 verse 22 3. God – verse 23 4. God – verses 24 and 32 5. Peter and the other eleven apostles – verses 32 and 14 6. At the right hand side of God His Father – verse 33 7. God’s gift, the Holy Spirit – verse 38 8. They were baptised in the name of Jesus Christ– verses 41 and 38 9. Believers – verse 44 10. The believers shared the practical things they had – verses 44, 45. 3. “Be holy in all that you do, just as God Who called you is holy”, 1 Peter 1 verse 15. 4. God is building a living temple where His special people are the stones. God has chosen to use people who come to Jesus Christ as they are alive in this spiritual way. 5. 1. Acts 1 verse 15 120 2. Acts 2 verse 41 3,000 3. Acts 4verse 4 5,000 TOTAL 8,120. p.87

25 lesson plans for children, young people and their teachers. Lesson 23 Persecution and the problems of growing – Paul Bible reference – Acts 8 verses 1-3; 9 verses 1-31; 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14. Sometimes the growing church was respected by the people around. Acts 2 verse 46-47; Acts 5 verses 13-14. But other times Christians suffered persecution (see note 23 below) from the Jewish leaders (and later the Roman Emperors), Acts 4 verses 17-18; Acts 5 verses 17-18; Acts 7 verse 59 to 8 verse 2; Acts 12 verses 1-3. Early church leaders like Peter wrote letters to teach Christians how to respond to persecution. They must not fight back. People who live in Jesus’ Kingdom turn the world’s usual ways upside down. Stop and discuss (1) Have a student read: “Your conduct among the heathen should be so good that when they accuse you of being evildoers, they will have to recognise your good deeds and so praise God on the Day of His coming”, 1 Peter 2 verse 12. Have another five students read: 1 Peter 4 verses 12-16. (See your Bible). One verse each. Ask the class these questions about how to respond to persecution: 1. Should most Christians expect to be persecuted? 2. Should a Christian be ashamed when he/she is persecuted? 3. What things can a Christian do when persecuted? It is very hard to live this way! But the Holy Spirit gives power to help witness for Jesus. He helps Christians live the “Jesus way”, which is so different to any other way. See who can find the missing words from this text, 1 Peter 4 verse 19: “Those who s because it is G w for them, should by their g a trust themselves completely to their Creator, Who always k h p .” God helps His special people in difficult times. God is also able to work in the hearts of other people, even those who are against what He is doing. In Acts chapter 9, Acts 11 verses 25-30; and Acts chapters 13-28, a man with two names is in the middle of the story. Saul is his name in Hebrew. Paul is his name in Greek. Paul wrote at least 13 of the books in our New Testament. But when he is introduced in the Bible story he is not a Christian at all! Divide the class into four groups and have them sit, one group in front of you, another behind you, and one more on either side of you. Explain we are going to see four events in Paul’s life. Each event will be acted by one group. When all four have been looked at, one by one, each group will act its event again to make ‘a complete acted programme’ of Paul’s life. Note: 23 To ‘persecute’ is to treat someone very badly because of their race, religion, political beliefs, etc. MacMillan School Dictionary, Oxford 2004. p.88 Event 1: Paul sees Stephen killed for his Christian faith (Have the group to your left act this out as you speak. Make sure the group remember what to act, as later the class will do all four events together). From Acts 7 verse 57 to 8 verse 2. Members of the Jewish Council took hold of the Christian prisoner, Stephen. They were going to kill him. They dragged him out of the court room, and out of the city. At a place where there was a steep drop away from the road, they pushed and threw Stephen over the edge. Paul was standing nearby watching. As the men took off their coats they gave them to Paul to keep clean. Stephen lay hurt and bleeding. He struggled to his knees. He prayed, trusting himself to Jesus as he died. Paul was amazed at Stephen’s faith. The angry men dropped stones and larger rocks on top of him. The rocks hit him. The men kept on, until Stephen was dead. Paul did not throw rocks but he was pleased to see Stephen punished like this. He thought God was pleased too. Event 2: Paul gets official permission to arrest Christians (Have the group behind you act this out as you speak. Make sure the group remember for later what to act, when the class will do all four events together). From Acts 8 verse 3 and 9 verses 1-2. Paul, with some friends, went house to house to find the homes of Christians in Jerusalem. When he found them he dragged out the men, women and the children. Without mercy Paul took these people and put them into prison. He went to the Jewish High Priest to report what he was doing. Paul asked the High Priest to write letters introducing him to the Jews in Damascus – a city to the north-east. Paul took the letters with him. Paul wanted to spread the cruel persecution of Christians as far and wide as he could. He thought he was serving God by doing this, Acts 22 verse 3. Event 3: Paul meets the risen Jesus (Have the group to your right act this out as you speak. Make sure the group remember what to act, as later the class will do all four events together). From Acts 9 verses 2-9. Paul called a small group together for the journey to Damascus. It was about 240 kilometres and the journey would take about one week. They packed the supplies they needed. Paul kept the important letters safe in his pocket. After several days they could see the buildings of Damascus. Suddenly a very bright light, it seemed brighter than the sun, flashed around Paul. He fell to the ground. p.89 A voice from heaven said: “Paul, why persecute Me? I am Jesus”. Paul was shaking with fear. He did not expect anything like this to happen. Jesus continued talking to him. “Go into Damascus and listen to what I want you to do next”. Paul got up but could not see. He was blind. His friends led him by the hand to the city. Event 4: Paul joins God’s special people (Have the group in front of you act this out as you speak. Make sure the group remember what to act. When you finish this, the class will put all four events together). From Acts 9 verses 8-20. For three days Paul was blind. He refused all food and water at the place he was staying on Straight Street. He prayed and he prayed. In another house in the city God spoke by a vision to one of His special people called Ananias. God told him what had happened to Paul. God also told Ananias where to go and visit Paul. Ananias did not really want to go. He had heard about Paul’s violence from Jerusalem. At last Ananias obeyed God. He went to Paul. He prayed for Paul, firmly putting his hands on Paul’s head. God gave Paul his eyesight and He filled Paul with the Holy Spirit. Paul was soon baptised to show he had joined God’s special people. Now help the class re-tell the story of Paul’s conversion. (Note: You may prefer to finish the lesson below first and then have this re-telling at the end of today’s class). You could read the script yourself as each group acts their event, from 1-4. Or, a group member could read the script while the rest of the group act. Or, six group members could read the script – one point each, while the rest of the group act. Try to get everyone involved. Try to get the 4 groups to act the story from start to finish without stopping. It revises the story as it is done! Paul began to preach as soon as he could. His message is in Acts 9 verse 20. “He began to preach that Jesus was the Son of God”. Now Paul had met Jesus for himself he was changed in what he believed. It was also going to make a very big difference to everything he did. Paul was persecuted by people who used to be his friends, Acts 9 verses 23-25. He spent time back at his home town of Tarsus. He studied the Scriptures to learn how Jesus Christ was the promised Saviour sent from God. He later became a great teacher of Christianity. Some of the letters he wrote to people and to churches are in our New Testament. p.90 We will look at just four things that Paul wrote. Have each group look up one in their Bibles and read it to the class. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17: “Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come”. Paul knew this in his own life. God’s special people know this too. Romans 14 verse 17: “For God’s Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives”. God’s special people are spiritually alive – with the resurrection life of Jesus. That spiritual life makes a difference to every part of the life we have on earth. 1 Corinthians 12 verse 27: “All of you are Christ’s body, and each one is a part of it”. Every believer is important to Jesus. And every believer is important to the whole group of God’s special people – in this text called ‘Christ’s body’. Every Christian has a place in the body of the risen Jesus. Galatians 3 verse 29: “If you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham and will receive what God has promised”. Paul knew this was what God planned right from the very beginning. No human was good enough to shed blood and save anyone. God became human in Jesus. Jesus died and God raised Him to life again. Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, are all God’s special people – made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ. They had the promises of God. They looked forward to Jesus, God's promised coming Messiah. Christians are God’s special people. We place our faith in Jesus Christ in just the same way. We look back on what Jesus did. We believe Who He was on earth then: God the Son. And we believe He is the same in heaven now. Have the four readers read the texts (only) once more to finish class. Answers to ‘Stop and discuss’ 1. 1. Yes – 4 verse 12 2. No – 4 verse 16 3. “be glad that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings”, 4 verse 13 and “thank God that you bear Christ’s name”, verse 16, and “be happy to enjoy the Spirit of God resting on your life”, verse 14 Missing words: suffer … God’s will … good actions … keeps His promise. p.91