You can watch Haley as she discusses Peter and Dorcas. Click here to see it on Children of the Church on Facebook. Watch the video designed for older students here. Thanks to Haley for permission to share this project! Students can sew a shirt like Dorcas. Students can draw a shirt or these can be printed. The file has assorted shirts to print. Use a hole punch to cut out the circles to thread the string or yarn through. They can take home, remove the string or yarn and do it again; or they can use it like a card. Color, draw or add stickers, and sign it to give to someone. They are plain intentionally. Students can write a scripture if it will not be used as a giveaway. Click here to download. Here are the links to the other items used during the video: Click here to see the Bible Facts Flash Cards Haley used. Haley used a set of the accordion shirts. Click here to see several options including 'helping hands' accordions. Click here to see lesson, visuals, Anchor Charts, this Interactive Shape Book and more.
In Acts 12:1-18, while Peter was in jail, believers prayed for his impossible situation, and God sent an angel to rescue Peter from the prison. Free printable includes story, games, worksheets, coloring pages, craft, songs and more. ideal for home or church.
This is such a fun lesson for the kids! This lesson is about Dorcas/Tabitha and is for preschool. There was a lady that lived in Joppa and her name was Tabitha. She was also called Dorcas. The Bible says she was full of good works, and she was a very giving person. She was a Christian. Dorcas helped the women that didn’t have husbands. She made coats and clothing for them. But, one day Dorcas became sick and then died. The Christians heard that Peter was in a town close by. They sent two men begging Peter to come quickly. Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus. Peter went to Joppa and the men took him to the upper room where Dorcas was laying. The women stood by Peter, and they were crying because Dorcas had gotten sick and died. The women showed Peter the clothing that Dorcas had made for them. Peter sent everyone out of the room and knelt down and he prayed. Who did Peter pray to? (God) Peter turned to Dorcas and said, "Stand up Tabitha." She opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, Dorcas sat up. Peter held out his hand and helped her up. Peter did a miracle! Peter called to the people that were there and showed them that Dorcas was alive. Everyone was so happy to have Dorcas again! So many people heard about Dorcas being alive and they believed in Jesus! Scripture is Acts 9:36-42. This is a preschool accordion for Dorcas. The download the color and black & white. Directions are included to complete this project. This makes a great discussion starter. Just read/ask the prompt on each shirt. Click here to download. We used this for an introduction to Dorcas. She made clothing for people and we let them design their own shirt. They can color, and/or you can let them add stickers. We had smileys, hearts, stars and button stickers. I couldn't find button stickers anywhere (!), so I found these circle stickers (88 cents) at Wal Mart in the office supplies dept. and made buttons with a Sharpie. Click here to download. For this lesson, you can also take a small stack of clothes and/or bolts of cloth to use as a visual. To teach the students they can do good things for others, I have cards printed for them to design, sign and give to someone. They can make more if there is enough time, or they can take it home to finish. But I stress that they are expected to hand out the cards (or ask their parents to mail it), because it's not just a fun project. I expect them to tell someone they are thinking about them and made this card for them. I printed these on cardstock, and they are blank on the inside for the kids to design. I have stickers for them to add that are appropriate. Of course, these can be used for any lesson or activity that you want to teach thinking, praying and doing for others. Click here to download. Click here to download the lesson. Click here to download the visuals. Miracles in Acts 9 visuals include Aeneas and Dorcas. All visuals are not shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Click here to see more ideas and printables for Dorcas for preschool. Click here to see the lesson & more for Dorcas for early elementary ages.
Our lesson today takes a look at Peter's Vision. We will talk about the Old Testament laws concerning clean and unclean animals. We will also learn about Peter visiting Cornelius. There are a couple of puzzles for today's printables. The Bible scripture can be found in Acts 10:1-48 and today we are studying about Cornelius. He lived in Caesarea and was a centurion (captain of 100 men) of the Italian Regiment (military). He was faithful and feared God. He gladly gave gifts to the poor and he prayed a lot. About three in the afternoon an angel of God came to him and said “Cornelius.” He was scared when he saw the angel! The angel told him that God has heard his prayers. The angel told him to "Send for Simon Peter, and he will tell you what to do." The angel left and Cornelius told two servants and a soldier to go to Joppa to get Simon Peter. It was a 10-hour trip. The next day, at about noon, Peter went to the housetop to pray. He was very hungry, and he fell into a trance. Peter saw the heavens open up and something like a huge sheet tied by its four corners come to earth. It had all different kinds of animals on it. Peter wondered what that meant. This happened three times, and then went back up into heaven. (Acts 10:16) (In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ESV) While he was thinking about it, the three men sent by Cornelius asked if Peter was there. Peter went down and told them that he was the Peter they were looking for. After they explained why Cornelius sent them, Peter invited them into his house. Peter got up in the morning and prepared to travel with Cornelius’ men. Peter took six Jewish believers along with him on this journey. They split the traveling into a two-day journey from Joppa to Caesarea. When they went into the house, all the people that Cornelius had invited were there to greet Peter. God sent Peter to teach Cornelius and his family. Peter told them that God doesn’t show favoritism. Everyone is treated the same in every nation that fears Him and is faithful to Him. Peter told them about Jesus and how He died. He said that we are commanded to preach to all people so all can go to Heaven. The thing was that at any other time, Peter and Cornelius wouldn’t be seen together, especially talking to each other because it was unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with someone from another country. But when the people that were at the house of Cornelius heard what Peter had to say, they believed. The last verse (Acts 10:48) states that Peter told them to be baptized in the name of the Lord and then they asked Peter to stay for a few days with them. (Bible verse for today.) These updated Roman Centurion posters can be used for any lesson with a centurion. The last poster is Cornelius. These are in color only. Click here to download. This is an updated chart of clean and unclean animals. It is a very basic list with animals that are in the Bible or easily recognized animals. It is not intended to be an in-depth list. This includes the color and black & white. Click here to download. These posters are more of a teacher's visual when discussing clean and unclean and were used with the above student handout chart of clean and unclean animals. Remember, this is intended for early elementary and is not an in-depth adult study on the laws God made for clean and unclean. There is a very basic outline that can be used with the posters and this lesson. Click here to download. I use this display with this lesson. Click here to see more with instructions. I also send a note home the week before for the students to bring two of their favorite stuffed animals (no dolls, animals that God made smaller than 12") to use today. Click here for an updated reminder note you can print in color or black & white. Click here to see how we use their stuffed animals. This is an updated worksheet using the questions from the puzzles below. This is an application worksheet that can be used as a conversation starter for this chapter. This includes the black and white only and a teacher's answer sheet. Click here to download. These Fill-in-the-Blank Puzzles are facts from Acts 10. The scriptures are on each puzzle and the puzzles are slightly different so they can only be connected together. I used the detective theme graphics for the IFA: Investigating Facts in Acts since the students will be searching Acts 10 for the answers to fill in. I give them envelopes or zipper bags to keep the pieces together. Click here to download this set of Cornelius puzzles in color. Click here to print the puzzles in black & white. As I was working on the first set of puzzles, I wanted to add a puzzle with the steps of salvation. We have the Bible as our manual. These steps are written in more than one place in the New Testament, some are written about together and some are not, so I used the scriptures in the book of Acts, since that is where our study is. And, I used Paul's reference to staying faithful since we will be studying him. Click here to download the puzzle. Click here to print the worksheet. Click here to download the lesson. Click here to download the updated visuals as shown above. The visuals are for Acts 10-11. Not all are shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Bible Verse: Acts 10:48 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. Each week for this series of Acts, I will have something for the students to add to their IFA bag, Click here to see more. Some items will be purchased and some will be printables. This week's addition is the above puzzles. I used investigator graphics on the review puzzles. The students filled in the blanks, cut them out, and will store them in a quart size baggie. You can see this lesson with several different ideas here.
This week we discuss Peter being set free from prison. God sent an angel, and they walked right past the guards! There is a game to play and review for the lesson. The game can be used just as a game board, or it can be used as a file folder game. It is short but should really help make the review fun for the students! It was three years after Jesus was crucified, and King Herod decided to harass the Christians. He had James the apostle killed, and because that made the Jews happy, he decided to kill Peter also. The scripture for today's lesson is Acts 12:1-19. King Herod had Peter arrested and put him in prison and then Peter was taken to four squads of soldiers (16 men) to guard him while they waited for him to be brought to trial. Peter was kept in prison, but the Christians were constantly praying to God. Luke tells us in verse 5 that the church was praying for Peter. A church building can't pray. The people are the church. Peter was asleep the night that King Herod was ready to take him out of prison to go before the people. He was between two soldiers and was tied up with two chains. There were also guards at the door of the prison. An angel from God stood by Peter, and there was a light shining in the prison. The angel hit Peter in the side and sat him up telling him to "Hurry, get up!" The chains fell off of Peter's hands. The angel told him to get dressed and put on his sandals. When Peter was ready, the angel said, "Put on your coat and follow me." Peter followed the angel, but he wasn't sure if what the angel had done was real, he thought the angel might be a vision! The angel and Peter went past the first and second guard posts and they came to the iron gate that led into the city. The gate opened by itself, and they went out and went down one street, then the angel left. Peter finally realized he wasn't dreaming and knew that God had sent one of His angels to help him! The angel saved Peter from King Herod and the Jewish people that wanted to kill Peter. After Peter thought about it, he went to Mary's house. She was the mother of John 'Mark'. There were a lot of Christians there praying for Peter. He knocked on the door of the gate and a girl named Rhoda answered. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so excited that he was there, she didn't open the gate! Instead, she ran in and announced to everyone that Peter was at the gate! They did not believe her, but Rhoda kept telling them that Peter was really outside at the gate. They said, "It has to be his angel." Peter kept knocking and when they finally opened the door, and saw that Peter really was outside, they were amazed! Peter motioned with his hand to be quiet, and he told them how God had sent His angel to get him out of prison. Peter told them to go tell James and the other Christians what happened, then Peter left to go somewhere else. As soon as it was daytime, the soldiers were frantically looking for Peter. They couldn't figure out what had happened to him, and the soldiers couldn't find Peter! I created something a little different for this lesson! You can print one (or more for bigger classes) and use with the class or print enough for the students to take home as a file folder. If you are using at home, or using as a file folder game, there is a cover to print. This is a very short game, and the directions are in the download. Click here to download. Click here to print the worksheet. Bible Verse: Acts 12:7 Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. Each week for this series of Acts, I will have something for the students to add to their IFA bag, Click here to see more. Some items will be purchased and some will be printables. For this week, I found binocular foam necklaces at Hobby Lobby. You can find plastic ones here, but they were too much for me. I have created a pattern if you would like to make your own set. You can cut out foam or print onto cardstock. You can find string or plastic cord in any craft isle to attach to them. Also, there is a perfect area to write a scripture on these! Click here to download. Click here to download the updated visuals. Not all are shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Click here to download the lesson.
In Acts 12:1-18, while Peter was in jail, believers prayed for his impossible situation, and God sent an angel to rescue Peter from the prison. Free printable includes story, games, worksheets, coloring pages, craft, songs and more. ideal for home or church.
The church was growing in Jerusalem but there was a new thing God wanted to do. Since Jews did not associate with non-Jews, the message of salvation was not being shared with the Gentiles. This…
This free Peter Was Rescued from Jail Coloring Page will help children learn about this event and how God helped the early church share Jesus.
Peter Max? Why not? We all need a little C O L O R to make it through the end of the school year. Directions: Show the video Peter Max Video. Then, I gave the kids the picture below. We talked about the bright colors. Kids attempted their own Peter Max. They drew with a pencil. They painted with watercolor. They outlined with oil pastel. "In the Summertime" by Slash, Derek Sherinian, and Billy Idol, coming at you below! So glad it's summertime, art teachers are all MAXED out. 1965
Activities Inspired by Ish by Peter Reynolds
In Acts 12:1-18, while Peter was in jail, believers prayed for his impossible situation, and God sent an angel to rescue Peter from the prison. Free printable includes story, games, worksheets, coloring pages, craft, songs and more. ideal for home or church.
Peter is a well-known disciple of Christ in the Bible. I love him because he is passionate about following Jesus, but his imperfections also shine
In Luke 5:1-11, Peter, a fisherman, had worked all night, but to no avail. He made one more attempt in obedience to Jesus. A miracle occurred! He and his coworkers caught more fish than their nets or boats could hold! Overcome, Peter knew Jesus was special and fell to his knees before Him. The activities below will help children better understand this event in Peter’s life—and the fact that Jesus is indeed special.
This is such a fun lesson for the kids! This lesson is about Dorcas/Tabitha and is for preschool. There was a lady that lived in Joppa and her name was Tabitha. She was also called Dorcas. The Bible says she was full of good works, and she was a very giving person. She was a Christian. Dorcas helped the women that didn’t have husbands. She made coats and clothing for them. But, one day Dorcas became sick and then died. The Christians heard that Peter was in a town close by. They sent two men begging Peter to come quickly. Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus. Peter went to Joppa and the men took him to the upper room where Dorcas was laying. The women stood by Peter, and they were crying because Dorcas had gotten sick and died. The women showed Peter the clothing that Dorcas had made for them. Peter sent everyone out of the room and knelt down and he prayed. Who did Peter pray to? (God) Peter turned to Dorcas and said, "Stand up Tabitha." She opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, Dorcas sat up. Peter held out his hand and helped her up. Peter did a miracle! Peter called to the people that were there and showed them that Dorcas was alive. Everyone was so happy to have Dorcas again! So many people heard about Dorcas being alive and they believed in Jesus! Scripture is Acts 9:36-42. This is a preschool accordion for Dorcas. The download the color and black & white. Directions are included to complete this project. This makes a great discussion starter. Just read/ask the prompt on each shirt. Click here to download. We used this for an introduction to Dorcas. She made clothing for people and we let them design their own shirt. They can color, and/or you can let them add stickers. We had smileys, hearts, stars and button stickers. I couldn't find button stickers anywhere (!), so I found these circle stickers (88 cents) at Wal Mart in the office supplies dept. and made buttons with a Sharpie. Click here to download. For this lesson, you can also take a small stack of clothes and/or bolts of cloth to use as a visual. To teach the students they can do good things for others, I have cards printed for them to design, sign and give to someone. They can make more if there is enough time, or they can take it home to finish. But I stress that they are expected to hand out the cards (or ask their parents to mail it), because it's not just a fun project. I expect them to tell someone they are thinking about them and made this card for them. I printed these on cardstock, and they are blank on the inside for the kids to design. I have stickers for them to add that are appropriate. Of course, these can be used for any lesson or activity that you want to teach thinking, praying and doing for others. Click here to download. Click here to download the lesson. Click here to download the visuals. Miracles in Acts 9 visuals include Aeneas and Dorcas. All visuals are not shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Click here to see more ideas and printables for Dorcas for preschool. Click here to see the lesson & more for Dorcas for early elementary ages.
Below you’ll find Bible lesson activities about Peter, Jesus’ disciple. Peter was a fisherman to whom Jesus said, “Follow Me.” Peter did so, and God not only transformed his life; the Lord used Peter as an instrument through whom He transformed others’ lives as well.
Illustrated lining-papers
Jesus Walks on Water I have the last two lessons out of sequence. That's what happens when you go on vacation and then try to catch up! So, Jesus walking on water comes before His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. I'm not including an Easter lesson because at our church we have a sunrise service and no Sunday School that day. Here's the lesson on Jesus' Walking on Water. Print these out on card stock. I usually cut them out prior to the class because the younger children have a hard time cutting them out. Then, color your masterpiece! Ella colors her craft. Hannah, Mattison and Parker display their completed crafts. What fun!
In March, the 3rd graders will explore instruments and instrument families with the help of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. This classic piece is a children’s story told though the narr…
Molded to Be Holy object lesson will have a profound impact on the way the kids in your children's ministry view being holy.
The kids really loved this lesson! They loved when I knocked on the table as I talked about Peter knocking on the gate. They really like the simple paper chains. Peter taught people about Jesus and with God’s power, he healed people with miracles. He has been teaching so many people about Jesus, that the king put Peter in prison. Peter was in prison waiting for his trial. He was chained with two soldiers on each side of him and there were two soldiers guarding the door of his prison cell. While Peter was in prison, the Christians were together praying for Peter. Who were they praying to? (God) Peter was asleep the night that King Herod was ready to take him out of prison to go to his trial. An angel from God came and woke Peter up. The angel told Peter to "Hurry, get up!" The chains fell off of Peter's hands! The angel told him to get dressed and when Peter was ready, the angel told Peter to follow him. Peter followed the angel, and they went right past the guards, and they came to the iron gate that led into the city. The gate opened by itself, and they went out and went down one street, then the angel left Peter by himself. Peter went to the house where a lot of Christians were praying for him. He knocked on the door and a girl named Rhoda answered. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so excited that he was there, she didn't open the gate! Instead, she ran in and announced to everyone that Peter was at the gate! They did not believe her, but Rhoda kept telling them that Peter was really outside at the gate. Peter knocked again and when they finally opened the door, and saw that Peter really was outside! They were amazed! Peter explained that God sent His angel to take him out of prison. God answered their prayers and Peter was safe. Scripture is Acts 12:1-17. We usually begin class with a prayer and the students all pray. But, for this lesson, I told them we were changing it a bit because prayer was a large part of the lesson. After singing a couple songs and doing our Bible Fact Cards, I had the students put on these chains. Super easy to make! And they have so much fun with them! For these, I used my paper cutter and cut 5 pieces of color paper about 3/4"x8 1/2". Just staple your loop after inserting a strip into the previous loop. I just made 5 loops per set of chains. The backgrounds can be printed on both sides of a sheet of paper. Or, each background can be printed on separate sheets of paper. On the back of one, add glue along the sides and the bottom. Put the two back together to form a pocket to hold the people. Cut around the outside solid line of the people and fold on the dotted line. Peter is in prison on one side and turned over he is dressed and out of prison following the angel. Rhoda can peek over the top of the (paper) wall. Click here to download. Click here to download the lesson. Click here to download the updated visuals. Not all are shown. Click here to download the pictures to color. (These are the same as the visuals but are black & white.) Click here to see the lesson & more for early elementary ages.
