News and updates for Above Bar Church parents and carers

Church at home

Dear <<First Name>>,

This Sunday we're in Acts 4:1-31. I love these true stories, and think they're very exciting and powerful for kids and adults! Let's ask God to change us by His Spirit, as we read His Word.

Bible passage: Acts 4:1-31 (why not read the passage with your kids before Sunday? I know it makes a big difference when I've looked at the passage beforehand).

Big Idea: Peter and John could not stop speaking in Jesus' powerful name because they know that this is the only way people can be saved. God filled them with the Holy Spirit to help them speak boldly. Some people tried to stop them, and some people believed.

Aim: To know the good news that only Jesus can save us from our sin, and to want to share that with others.

How is your Acts posters coming on? It's not too late to start

Join in with the marching shout!

Here's the marching shout I wrote. Enjoy! Each line is meant to be repeated, so leader says the first line and child responds - have fun! I've put it in the video so you can hear what it sounds like and join in!

There is power in Jesus’ name
Healed a man whose legs were lame
John and Peter shouted loud
Jesus saves they told the crowd

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Jesus, Jesus
By his name, by his name

Stop this talk of Jesus’ name
Religious leaders feared his fame
They seized them and put them in jail
Determined for His name to fail

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Jesus, Jesus
By his name, by his name

Finally they were let out
Joined their friends who gave a shout
Thanking God for what he’d done
Sending his own precious Son

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Jesus, Jesus
By his name, by his name

The Spirit gave them power to speak
Helped them when they were feeling weak
God’s Spirit still helps us today
Gives us the strength to go and say . . .

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus saves, Jesus saves
Jesus, Jesus
By his name, by his name

Talk about it

Choose some questions suitable for your children:

find out what your name means. What does the name Jesus mean? (God saves)
what did Jesus come to save us from? (sin)
who did Peter and John keep talking about? (Jesus)
why did they keep talking about Jesus? (Acts 4:12)
there are two different responses to Peter and John's teaching, what were they? (religious leaders wanted them to stop and put them in jail, 5000 men believed)
when Peter and John got put in jail did they stop talking about Jesus? Why do you think they didn't stop talking?
if you had been in jail and were let out, what would be the first thing you'd want to do?
what did Peter and John do when they were let out of jail? why do you think they did this?
do you believe that Jesus has come to save you from your sin?
are you excited about Jesus and want to tell others? who could you pray for and talk to about Jesus?

Activities for a variety of ages

keep adding to your Acts poster
if your children are young play with rescue vehicles, or spot them when you're out and about. Talk about rescue. Chat about how Jesus has come to rescue us, not from a fire, not from a sinking boat, but from our sin.
keep learning Acts 1v8. Write it out, come up with a tune for it.
with older kids, play just a minute. What can they talk about for 1 min? You can't repeat words. Can they talk about Jesus for 1 minute?
this is a fabulous story to act out with Lego, Playmobil, dolls, toilet roll people. You could even make a jail! I'm collecting my toilet rolls for this very job!

in the next few weeks we're going to be thinking a bit more about the persecuted church. There are fabulous resources on the Open Doors website. There are excellent videos to watch for children, and resources to download or they'll send you a paper copy for free.

Nicola's fun food: testimony cookies!

Draw on paper some of the things Peter and John saw and heard when they were with Jesus, and couldn't stop speaking about e.g. Jesus walking on water, Jesus died, rose again. Make a cookie batter, bake it, then fold them over the paper while still warm. Finally decorate them! (Don’t eat them all yourself, or the paper - the church shared everything!)

Pray about it

Philippa Hughes from the lower GSMA team is leading the prayers this Sunday. She has asked, could your children draw some pictures that represent the following:

the world
our city
themselves

Have those pictures ready so that the children can look at those things whilst we're praying. Why not use these pictures to help you to pray in the rest of the week?
Philippa will finish each section with the phrase - Thank you Lord that there is power in the name of Jesus!

Learn the actions to 'Our Help' with Katherine

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