The talents of Dorcas

SCRIPTURE:

Acts 9:36-42

OBJECTIVES:

1. Show that generosity and sewing were the talents that Dorcas was gifted with;

2. Show that Dorcas’ talents were useful to the community.

INTRODUCTION:

Start the lesson with a short song and or a prayer.

PRESENTATION:

Apostle Peter was based in Jerusalem. But as a pastor, he had to visit newly established churches from time to time. One day, he visited a community that was found in Lydda and healed a paralyzed man. While he was there, the disciples of Joppa sent for him. A member of their community had just died, and they needed him urgently. The disciple’s name was Tabitha in Hebrew and Dorcas in Greek. She was a woman known for her great generosity. In truth, she showed her faith more by her works than by her words. We don’t know why the disciples of Joppa urgently needed the Apostle. Did they want him to say some words of consolation to the community before the burial or did they believe that Peter, being the immediate disciple of Jesus, could do a miracle? Nevertheless, Peter did not hesitate to go with the two men that the community sent from Joppa. When he arrived, there were weeping and lamentations. People were sad because of Dorcas’ death; by her talent she was a seamstress, and she helped the poor. Peter went with them, and when he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. What was the main moral quality of Dorcas?

2. Is generosity useful to a community?

3. How does Dorcas show her generosity?

4. How do you show generosity in your life?

5. What was the artistic talent of Dorcas?

6. Can a person make a living out of sewing?

ACTIVITY:

Ask the children to draw the long garments the women wore that were made by Dorcas.

RESOURCE PERSON:

Ask for help, if possible, to clarify the lesson.

ACTION TO ENCOURAGE:

Encourage the children to be generous and assign them to do an act of generosity that they will present to the others next Sunday.

MEMORY VERSE:

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

CLOSING:

Close with a short song and or the dominical prayer.