Aim

To revise what has been taught over previous lessons.
To familiarise children with the story of Pentecost.

Preparation

Before the lesson read Acts 1 and 2.
Copy one worksheet for each child.
Copy appropriate number of resource sheets.

Lesson

Discuss with children the emotional roller-coaster the apostles must have been on following Jesus' death and resurrection.

• How must they have felt when they discovered He had risen from the dead?
• What must the days have been like spent with the resurrected Jesus?

But on the fortieth day, He led them out of Jerusalem and disappeared before their eyes. How must they have felt?

Children, with or without help from the prompt sheets, complete the BEFORE section of the worksheet, describing the apostles feelings, for example, confused, sad, frightened, despairing.

Have the children ever felt like this? When? What had happened in their lives?

How did the Apostles cope? Read the relevant scripture passages. They busied themselves by electing a replacement for Judas, they stayed together, they prayed a lot and waited for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.

• What images does the author use to describe the Holy Spirit?
• How were they changed by His coming? What gifts did they receive?

Children read the Bible passages about and following the Anointing.

They were overcome with joy. They spoke in languages they had not learned. Peter (an uneducated fisherman) delivered a blistering sermon. They taught. They converted 3000 people. They praised God.

Children to complete the AFTER section of the worksheet.

Have children ever experienced such a miraculous change, for example, in the standard of their work, in their outlook on life. What was the cause?

Is there anything about their present situation which they would like to change? What is it? How would they like it to change?

Conclusion

Conclude the lesson by informing children that Christians consider Pentecost to be the birthday of the Christian Church. Over the next half term, the children will be finding out how the Holy Spirit has guided the Church through its early stages right up until the present day.