Where in the World?

June 19th, 2016 .:. .:. Room 301

Pathways Kids Weekend Small Groups

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This curriculum is for the 9, 10, 11 and 12 year olds.

This Weeks Scope

Navigator
Bible Story: Navigator (Barnabas sticks up for Paul) Acts 9:26-31
Bottom Line: The story of Jesus changes how I see others.
Memory Verse: Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1, NIrV
Life App: Faithbelieving what Jesus did can change me.
Basic Truth: I should treat others the way I want to be treated.

Welcome Time
Welcome kids and spend time engaging in conversation and catching up. Get ready to experience
todays story.
Before kids arrive, pray for each regular attendee by name. Pray for those who might visit your group
for the first time. Pray for the kids who are struggling in their relationships and interactions with others.
Ask God to use todays story and discussions to move in these kids hearts so they would begin to see
others the way Jesus sees them.
What You Need: Offering container
What You Do:
Invite kids to put their offerings in the offering container as they arrive.
Ask kids if they have read any good stories lately. Is there a book they are reading for school?
What is their favorite book? What are their favorite characters in the story and why? You could
also discuss characters in movies or t.v. shows if applicable.
Have they ever read a book where their opinion of the main character changed? Maybe they
thought the character was odd, or a bit crazy, but as they read more they understood the
character better. Maybe there is a character no one likes but by the end of the story people like
that person.

Activity #1
Create a safe place to connect and learn how the Bible story applies to real life experiences, through
interactive activities and discussion questions.
Will the Real Saul Please Stand Up (application activity / review the Bible story)
What You Need: paper, markers
What You Do:
Tape a few pieces of paper together and trace one of the kids and write Saul at the top of the
paper.
Using one color of marker, kids will decorate Saul how the believers first saw him when he
returned to Jerusalem. Ask questions to guide kids with their embellishments.
o Did the believers think Saul was friendly? (No; kids can draw a frown face or a mean
face)
o Did the believers trust Saul? (No) Why not? (He persecuted believers in the past; kids
can give Saul a sword)
o Kids can draw speech bubbles around Saul and fill in the bubbles with things the
believers might have said about Saul when they first saw him. (Be careful, he cant be
trusted; he put my cousin in jail for following Christ; he killed believers; he is mean; he
doesnt believe in Jesus; etc.)
What You Say:
Saul certainly wasnt trusted by the believers when he first came to Jerusalem and I can see why. Saul
had a history of treating followers of Jesus HORRIBLY. It would be hard to trust Saul if you were a
Jesus follower. But Barnabas saw Saul differently. Why did Barnabas see Saul differently? What
information did Barnabas have that the other believers in Jerusalem didnt? (Barnabas had stories of
Sauls conversion from eyewitnesses in Damascus; people heard Sauls preaching and heard Sauls
story and shared it with Barnabas) Barnabas had faith and Barnabas believed what Jesus did could
change him, and therefore, he knew what Jesus did could change Saul too. And Barnabas acted on
what he knew from the people in Damascus and he shared what he knew with the believers in
Jerusalem.
The story of Jesus changed how Barnabas saw Saul and [Bottom Line] the story of Jesus changes
how I see others too. (Ask kids to use the other color of marker to alter the Saul picture and speech
bubbles to reflect how Barnabas saw Saul and what the believers might have said once Barnabas
shared what he knew.) When you have faith and believe what Jesus did can change you, you have to
believe the Jesus story could change anyoneeven someone like Saul.
4/5/6 Challenge:
What You Need: Blank pieces of paper; 1 for each kid, pens/pencils
What You Say:
Sometimes when you are trying to get a new job or are trying to get into college, the people evaluating
you ask for a character reference. Basically, they dont know you yet, so they want someone who does
know you to tell them why they should hire you or accept you into their college. They want to hear
from someone other than youabout your personality, your strengths, and even your weaknesses so
they can get to know you better before they make an important decision. Thats kind of what was

happening in Jerusalem in todays story. The believers were motivated to believe Saul after Barnabas
spoke up for him.
Lets think about you for a minute. (Hand out pieces of paper and pens.) On one side, write the name
or names of people you would trust to speak up for you. These are people who know you well and
believe in your potential. They know you arent perfect, but they see lots of positives! (Pause so kids
can write.)
Now flip the piece of paper over. If they were writing a letter on your behalf or talking to someone on
the phone, what words would they use to describe you? How would they describe your personality and
strengths, even your weaknesses? Quickly jot down whatever comes to mind. (Give kids a minute to do
this.)
Finally, when you look back over these words, how do you feel? There are probably things you are
proud of and maybe some things that, if youre honest, you wish were different. Thats why this months
Life App is so powerful. Faith is believing what Jesus did can change mefor the better!

Activity #2
4/5/6 Challenge
What You Need: Scraps of paper, pens/pencils, Scenarios Activity Pages
What You Do:
Look over the scenarios page with your kids. Talk to students about your own difficult
experiences in life and talk about their own if comfortable. Encourage them to write down a trueto-life, challenging scenario where they found it hard or are currently finding it hard to see with
Jesus eyes. Listening, in a safe place, to what others have to say can be very helpful if they feel
stuck.
Let them write down their ideas and submit them anonymously if they feel embarrassed.
What You Say:
When you take the time get to know people, you can see them more clearly. Maybe someone used to
be mean or rude or shy or annoying, but having faith means believing what Jesus did can change me
or change you or change anyone. And just maybe, as you get to know people better, it might change
how you see them. Barnabas took time to learn about Saul rather than just assuming Saul hadnt
changed. The story of Jesus is about loveloving God and loving one another. [Bottom Line] The
story of Jesus changes how I see others and the story of Jesus can change how you see others too.
Often when you take the time to see someone clearly and try to see them as Jesus would see them,
you will treat them with kindness and ultimately show them how much Jesus loves them.

Prayer Time

If you lead mostly older kids, consider asking these discussion questions:

Barnabas certainly had Sauls back in our story today. The believers in Jerusalem were not fans
of Saul until Barnabas defended Saul and stuck up for him. [Make It Personal] (Share an
example of a time someone defended you or a time you stood up for someone else.)
Encourage kids to think of an example in their life when someone stuck up for them or a time
they defended someone.
Lets say there is a bully at your school. He is mean, he calls you names, and he pushes your
friends in the hall. He does not treat people kindly. How does knowing Jesus change how you
see him? What does it mean to see someone like Jesus sees them? (This question provides an
opportunity to discuss the fact that how you see a person often determines how you treat
them. The bully is still mean, but if you see him as loved by Jesus then you should love him too
and treat him kindly. If there is a kid at school who NEVER showers and smells, the story of
Jesus doesnt change the fact that he smells, but it does change how you see him. Jesus loves
him, Jesus died for him and Jesus thinks he is important. So even though he smells you see
him differently because the story of Jesus tells you Jesus loves him so you should love him too.
And if you love someone, you treat them kindly and you dont mock them.)
What are some ways we can sometimes be that kid who smells? (When we have a bad
attitude about chores or homework; when were being selfish and refusing to play with a
younger sibling; when we groan and complain about helping a parent with something) And does
Jesus still love us during those times? (Of course!) How does knowing or thinking about that
change how we treat others who might be harder to love?

What You Need: Jesus Glasses

What You Do:
Give each kid a Jesus Glasses template to cut out and decorate.
Put on the glasses and pray with the kids, thanking Jesus for His love and asking for His help to
see people the way He sees themto treat all people with kindness and love.
What You Say:
Sometimes it is not easy to see people with Jesus glassesto see someone like Jesus sees them.
But how you see someone often affects how you treat them. The story of Jesus is for everyone: for
people who are nice, for people who are mean, for people who are fun, and for people who are boring.
Jesus lived a perfect life, died, and rose again for EVERYONE, and when you believe thats true, it
changes everything about how you see people and how you treat them. [Bottom Line] The story of
Jesus changes how I see others.
Tell parents today the kids learned about how the story of Jesus can change how you see others.
Encourage the kids to tell their parents what it means to wear Jesus glasses.