January 14, 2018
Apost l e Paul
conf ir mand & sponsor act iv it y
CONFIRMAND NAME ______________________ Return completed worksheet to Catherine Curtis or the file in class
Would you rather...be a disciple* or an apostle**? Share with each other which you would choose and why.
Conf irmand ___________________________________________________ Sponsor _____________________________________________________ * Discipl e - a follower or student of Jesus. **Apost l e-one of an authoritative New Testament group sent out to preach the gospel
Focus Script ure Read silently through the scripture the first time then one person read aloud as the other circles words or phrases that impact them. Then switch.
Phil ippians 4:4-7 ?Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. Don?t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.? This is one of Mrs. Curtis' favorite scripture verses. Paul wrote this in a letter to the church of Philippi.
Encount er ? "You can cal l meSaul or you can cal l mePaul " Saul's story begins in the book of the Acts of the Apostles which follows the 4 gospels. The writer of the Gospel of Luke is also attributed as the writer of Acts. Acts is often considered ?Part 2? to the Gospel of Luke. Acts tells the stories of the followers of Jesus? from their call to be his witnesses ?to the ends of the earth,? through their initial days of harmony and numerical success, to the challenges they faced as unfamiliar newcomers entered the scene. Just as we can get a better understanding of Jesus as we read the 4 gospels, we can learn different things or find new perspectives about the story of the Apostle Paul by watching 2 video shorts about him. The first is visceral and evocative and stylistic. The other is for teens specifically and includes humor and information. As you watch each one, write down any word, thought, image or question that comes to mind and then share with each other what your picture of Saul/ Paul is:
Video 1: Go to: ht t p:/ / www.t heworkof t hepeopl e.com (Login:
[email protected] & Password: I4getit.) & search for: "Saul's Conversion" to watch.
NOTES:
Video 2: Go to: ht t p:/ / www.wearesparkhouse.org/ , (Signin:
[email protected] & Password: I4getit.), click "Downloads," & search for & click on: "re:form Ancestors / Digital Lesson / New Testament / Saul/ Paul " & click on "Stream" to watch.
NOTES:
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What are some words, thoughts, images or questions that came to your mind?
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Did anything in one of the videos seem to contradict the other video?
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Which of the two videos had more impact on you? Why?
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Saul did some pretty horrific things to the early followers of Christ.
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Who is a modern day person you might compare him to as far as his crimes against other humans go?
Saul went f rom being a Pharisee--he t hought t hat t o be wort hy bef ore God one must f ol l ow al l t he l aws of Moses--and a persecut or of Christ ians t o opening up Christ ianit y t o Gent il es and being one of t he most el oquent and powerf ul apost l es in t he earl y church and one of t he main writ ers of t he New Test ament . Okay, now imagine t his modern-day Saul (t hese person) as having a conversion experience l ike Saul and becoming someone ent irel y dif f erent . -
What do you imagine the world?s reaction would be?
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What would your reaction be? Would you accept them?
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How difficult would it be to hear the word of God and the preaching of love from Jesus from this person?
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Now ask yourself ? you don?t have to share this ? just think to yourself ? what are ways that God could work through you by using your faults and changing them into gifts or blessings?
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Watch the video below as you think about this from www.thebibleproject.com
Gal at ians 3:26-29 ?You are all God?s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Now if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham?s descendants, heirs according to the promise.?
You and God First - Read together through the quote by Mother Teresa to the left. Circle the parts that speak to your soul. Use your holy imagination to see yourself doing any of the things that Mother Teresa encourages us to continue doing even when we meet opposition. Second - Read the next part of the scripture that follows the verses on the front of this sheet: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable? if anything is excellent or praiseworthy? think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me? put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Observat ion - The Apostle Paul was a great person to tackle issues that were dividing the Jews and Gentiles. Quest ion f or bot h Conf irmand & Sponsor - What experiences in your life might help you spread the message of Christ? Refer to the quote and scripture above for inspiration.
what does t heucc bel iev e? We believe that the UCC is called to be a prophetic church. As in the tradition of the prophets and apostles, God calls the church to speak truth to power, liberate the oppressed, care for the poor and comfort the afflicted.
What do you bel iev e? As someone on a faith journey and this point in my own life, I believe that I am called to share with others the following about Jesus Christ through my words, or actions, or with my other gifts:
Share Joys & Concerns wit h one anot her and cl ose wit h t he Lord's Prayer
