The talents of Apostle Paul

SCRIPTURE:

Acts 9; Galatians 1

OBJECTIVES:

1. Show that to serve the Church, Paul used three of his talents (maker of tents, educator, and the art of writing);

2. Show that besides the fact that Paul persecuted the church in the beginning, he was the greatest missionary of Jesus.

INTRODUCTION:

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

PRESENTATION:

Paul, first named Saul, is one of the greatest Apostles of Christianity. But before he became a Christian, he had done higher studies of the Jewish law. Confident of the fact that the religion of Jesus was wrong, he wanted to prevent it from growing big. One day, he went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. He wanted to go to Damascus so that if he found anyone there who belonged to Jesus, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. He was convinced that his actions were good. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. In Damascus, there was a disciple named Ananias. Jesus appeared to him and asked him to go and pray for Saul. Ananias was scared of Saul, but as it was the order of God, Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he prayed for him. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. Then he was baptised.

From that moment, Paul was a changed man. All those who heard him talk about Jesus were astonished: instead of arresting the disciples, he now encouraged people to follow Jesus. He puts his great religious studies in the service of Christ. He proved that Jesus is the Messiah. The Jews of Damascus did not know what to answer and wanted to kill him; but Saul went to Jerusalem. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. He finally succeeded in joining the disciples’ group. He tried to proclaim the gospel to the pagans by making a living with his job of tent maker. He established churches in various areas around Asia and Europe and stayed in contact with them through his numerous letters (epistles).

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. What talent did Saul use to convince the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah?

2. What talent did Saul use to stay in contact with the different churches he had established?

3. What talent did Paul use to earn a living?

4. What does the life and works of Paul teach us?

ACTIVITIES:

Ask the children to role play the scenes of Paul’s conversion: as he asks for letters of recommendations, his journey with two or three companions, the appearance of Jesus on the way, his blindness, the appearance of Jesus to Ananias and the prayer of Ananias, the recovery of sight, the effort to join the other disciples…

RESOURCE PERSON:

ACTION TO ENCOURAGE:

Encourage the children not to neglect the pastoral ministry, if it ever happens that God ask them to serve Him.

MEMORY VERSE:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

CLOSING:

Close with a short song and or the dominical prayer.