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The Role of the Church in the Great Commission

Week 3
April 20-26, 2024


The Church Grows

The Church Expands


20With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21To God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.

WE ARE USING THE INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN'S BIBLE VERSION (ICB) OF THE BIBLE

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"GARDEN GUIDE"


MONDAY


Read Acts 10:1-8(ICB)


Peter and Cornelius

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius. He was an officer in the Italian group of the Roman army. 2Cornelius was a religious man. He and all the other people who lived in his house worshiped the true God. He gave much of his money to the poor and prayed to God often. 3One afternoon about three o’clock, Cornelius saw a vision clearly. In the vision an angel of God came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Cornelius stared at the angel. He became afraid and said, “What do you want, Lord?” The angel said, “God has heard your prayers. He has seen what you give to the poor. And God remembers you. 5Send some men now to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon. Simon is also called Peter. 6Simon is staying with a man, also named Simon, who is a leatherworker. He has a house beside the sea.” 7Then the angel who spoke to Cornelius left. Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier. The soldier was a religious man who worked for Cornelius. 8Cornelius explained everything to these three men and sent them to Joppa.



Heard / Remembers / Angel / Poor

The _________ said, “God has _________ your prayers. He has seen what you give to the _________. And God _________ you.”




TUESDAY


Read Acts 10:9-16 (ICB)


9The next day as they came near Joppa, Peter was going up to the roof to pray. It was about noon. 10Peter was hungry and wanted to eat. But while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11He saw heaven opened and something coming down. It looked like a big sheet being lowered to earth by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13Then a voice said to Peter, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14But Peter said, “No, Lord! I have never eaten food that is unholy or unclean.” 15But the voice said to him again, “God has made these things clean. Don’t call them ‘unholy’!” 16This happened three times. Then the sheet was taken back to heaven.

Peter was praying in his basement.

True

False



Peter had just eaten and wasn’t very hungry.

True

False





WEDNESDAY


Read Acts 10:17-21 (ICB)


17While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, the men Cornelius sent had found Simon’s house. They were standing at the gate. 18They asked, “Is Simon Peter staying here?” 19Peter was still thinking about the vision. But the Spirit said to him, “Listen! Three men are looking for you. 20Get up and go downstairs. Go with them and don’t ask questions. I have sent them to you.” 21So Peter went down to the men. He said, “I am the man you are looking for. Why did you come here?”


The men sent by ___________ came to Peter’s house.

Cornelius

John

Paul



God told Peter to __________ the men.

Ignore

Go with

Give presents to




THURSDAY


Read Acts 10:34-43 (ICB)


Peter’s Speech

34Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that to God every person is the same. 35God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what country a person comes from. 36You know that God has sent his message to the people of Israel. That message is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people! 37You know what has happened all over Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached to the people about baptism. 38You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Christ by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, for God was with Jesus. 39We saw all the things that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem. But they killed him by nailing him to a cross. 40Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus to life and caused him to be seen. 41But he was not seen by all the people. Only the witnesses that God had already chosen saw him, and we are those witnesses. We ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. 42He told us to preach to the people and to tell them that he is the one whom God chose to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43Everyone who believes in Jesus will be forgiven. God will forgive his sins through Jesus. All the prophets say this is true.”


Peter told Cornelius and his friends all about what __________ had done.

Jesus

Paul



Peter told them that __________ who believes in Jesus will be forgiven.

Everyone

Only special people





FRIDAY


Read Acts 10:44-48 (ICB)


Non-Jews Receive the Holy Spirit

44While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening. 45The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to the non-Jewish people. 46These Jewish believers heard them speaking in different languages and praising God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we did!” 48So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.


What did the Holy Spirit do?


In whose name were the people baptized?




EXPLORE MORE


What’s your favorite flower? Do you have a favorite vegetable? Have you ever watched a plant grow? First, you plant a seed in good soil. Then you water it and make sure it gets enough sunshine. Before long, the plant starts poking up through the ground, and soon it is a beautiful flower! The church started out small—Jesus had twelve disciples as well as other people who loved and followed Him. But soon the church was growing and growing! There were new people following Jesus every single day! And the church hasn’t stopped growing since. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are a part of this great group of believers that started with Jesus and the disciples!

This month we are going to learn all about church — how it began after Jesus went back to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit; how it was saved when Peter and John bravely told others about the amazing sacrifice Jesus made; how it grew when Cornelius started following Jesus; how it hurt when James was killed and Peter was thrown in prison. Through it all, we will see just how much God loves the church—the people who follow Him!

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