Acts 23:28 – Ages 3-5

📖 Acts 23:28 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

In Acts 23:28, a man named Claudius Lysias wanted to understand why some people were saying bad things about another man named Paul. So, he decided to take Paul to a special group of important people called the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was like a wise council who listened to the case and tried to figure out what was going on.

Imagine if you had a toy that someone said you broke, but you know you didn't. You would want to talk to a grown-up to understand why they were saying that about you. That's what Claudius Lysias did with Paul – he wanted to know the truth and make things right.

Just like how Claudius Lysias wanted to know the truth, it's important for us to seek the truth and understand things clearly. It's good to talk things out and listen to others so we can make things right and find peace in our hearts. And most importantly, God wants us to be honest and seek the truth in all that we do.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, Little Bear found himself in a big forest full of other animals. One day, he saw his friend Rabbit being accused of eating all the berries in the forest. Little Bear wanted to know the truth, so he brought Rabbit before their animal council, just like in the Bible!

When all the animals gathered, Little Bear asked questions to find out the real reason behind the accusations. He listened carefully to everyone's side of the story and discovered that it was actually Squirrel who had eaten the berries!

Just like Little Bear, we should always seek the truth and understand the reasons behind things, instead of believing everything we hear. It's important to be fair and kind, just like Little Bear was to Rabbit and the other animals in the forest.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for helping us understand that it is important to seek the truth and know the reasons behind things. Help us to always be curious and ask questions, just like the person in the Bible verse who wanted to know why someone was being accused. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think it's important to know the reasons why someone is being accused of something?
2. Who do you think the Sanhedrin was and why do you think they needed to listen to Paul's story?
3. How do you think Paul felt when he was brought before the Sanhedrin to explain himself?
4. Can you think of a time when you needed to explain something to someone to help them understand?
5. How do you think we can show kindness and understanding to someone who is being accused or misunderstood?

Life Application

This Bible verse teaches us the importance of seeking the truth and understanding a situation before making judgments. Children can apply this message in their real life by being curious and asking questions when they don't understand something. For example, if a friend is being accused of something at school, instead of believing what others say, they can ask their friend about the situation and listen to their side of the story before jumping to conclusions. This verse encourages children to be fair, seek understanding, and show kindness by giving others a chance to explain themselves.

Craft or Activity

Let's create a simple craft to help children understand Acts 23:28. You can make a mini courtroom scene using paper and small toy figures.

1. **Materials Needed:**
- Colored paper
- Scissors
- Markers or crayons
- Small toy figures (e.g., Lego people, action figures)

2. **Instructions:**

- **Step 1:** Cut a small piece of paper to create a backdrop for the courtroom. Draw a simple courtroom scene on the paper, including a judge's bench, benches for the Sanhedrin, and a place for Paul to stand.

- **Step 2:** Place the paper backdrop on a flat surface. Then, using the toy figures, set up the scene with a figure representing Paul standing before the Sanhedrin.

- **Step 3:** As you set up the scene, explain to the children that this is the moment when Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin because they accused him of something.

- **Step 4:** Encourage the children to retell the story of Acts 23:28 using the mini courtroom scene. They can take turns playing different roles and sharing what they think each character might be feeling or saying.

By creating this interactive courtroom scene, children can visually understand the Bible verse and engage with the story in a hands-on way. It can help them remember the message of wanting to know the reason behind accusations and the importance of seeking the truth.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

Let's chant together, loud and clear,
Acts 23:28, let's all hear!
Paul was brought before the crowd,
To learn the reason, clear and loud.
Sanhedrin is where they all did meet,
To find the truth, so neat!

Songs or Videos

A great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of Acts 23:28 is "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective. This song talks about how God guides us through all situations and helps us see things clearly, just like how Paul wanted to know the reason behind the accusations against him.

Another wonderful song is "You Say" by Lauren Daigle. This song reminds us that our identity is found in what God says about us, not in the accusations or opinions of others. Just as Paul stood before the Sanhedrin with confidence in God's truth, we can trust in what God says about us.

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