Aim

To understand that the Christian faith is a based upon a relationship with Jesus.

Preparation

Before the lesson prepare materials necessary for trust games.

Lesson

Begin lesson by revising what was taught in the previous week, that is, Paul's willingness to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit and his attitude towards the persecution which he experienced as a result.

But, what did Paul actually do on his journeys? He taught people about Jesus. But what exactly did Paul teach about Jesus? Ask the children for suggestions.

1. Jesus was the Messiah sent to Earth by God.
2. Jesus died for the sins of the world.
3. Jesus rose again.
4. Jesus would return soon and those who belonged to Him would live with Him forever.

There is more to Paul's teachings, however, than these four statements of belief. The full extent of what he taught is best summed up by the phrase 'faith in Christ'. But what is faith?

Paul taught (and Christians believe) that faith is a relationship.

In whom do the children put their faith? Why these and not others?

Activity

Divide the children into pairs, A and B. A is to close her eyes and be led, silently, around the Hall by B without bumping into any other couple. Swap roles.

What do the children now know about their partners? Can they be trusted? Are they trusting?

Develop the exercise further. Allow couples to maintain only finger tip contact. Then progress to a series of spoken commands, for example, forward / stop / left / right.

Pause to consider the relationships between partners. What more do they know about each other?

Set up an obstacle course, using either apparatus or bodies, and invite couples to guide each other through it.

How is this experience like that of Paul on his missionary journeys?

Who did he believe was guiding him? Answer - Jesus in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Paul claimed that his knowledge of Jesus was based on their relationship, in the same way as the partner's newly acquired knowledge of each other is based on their experiences of the previous exercises. This is what it means to have 'faith in Christ' - to have a relationship with Him.

Christians believe that Paul certainly had it and therefore, in one of his letters, was able to write,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Conclusion

Conclude lesson by challenging children to become people in whom others can put their trust.