VERSES: Acts 1:12-26
MEMORY VERSE: Acts 1:26 "...and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 39 books of the Old Testament. Sometimes, it helps to sing a song to remember something important. Take a look at the song, The Books Of The Old Testament. Words and tune are found under March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog.
PRAYER: Thank God for taking care of us and giving us the things that we need. Thank God for being a loving, compassionate God.
SPECIAL SONG: Be Patient And Kind (see April 2014 - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: TV Box (see Visual Aids #1 - February 2014 for instructions and comments).
LESSON POINTS:
- After the disciples watched Jesus ascend or go up into heaven, they knew not to leave Jerusalem because Jesus had told them to stay there. So, they traveled less than a half of a mile from the Mount of Olives to an upper room in Jerusalem. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James were all in the upstairs room. There, they prayed with the women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Jesus' brethren.
- Peter stood up in the middle of about 120 of the disciples who were in the room and talked about Judas Iscariot who had betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said that the the scriptures needed to be fulfilled concerning Judas. He had guided the Jews and the soldiers to Jesus where they had then arrested Him. Judas had been part of the twelve disciples from the beginning, but now he had died. Peter said that, with the money that Judas had received from the Jews, a field had been bought and turned into a cemetery for poor people. It was called "The Field Of Blood."
- Since it was prophesied that someone would take Judas' place, there needed to be a choosing of a twelfth man to take Judas' place. Not just anyone could have been apostle. Peter listed the qualifications of an apostle:
- Must have been with the disciples all the time that Jesus was preaching and teaching, beginning with the baptism of John to the day Jesus was taken up into heaven, having witnessed Jesus' resurrection.
- Then, they chose two men--Joseph, who they also called Barsabas, and Matthaias. The disciples prayed and said that the Lord knew the hearts of all men and asked for Him to choose between the two men to be Judas' replacement. Then they cast lots between the two men and Matthias was chosen. From that time forward, Matthias was part of the twelve apostles.
- Read Psalm 41:9. Who could this be talking about? (Judas Iscariot). Discuss.
- Read Psalm 109:8. Who could this be talking about? (Judas Iscariot). Discuss.
- If a person killed himself, how would they ever ask for forgiveness for doing that act?They cannot. Judas had killed himself. Only being sorry for betraying Jesus was not enough to be forgiven; there was no way for him to repent of his sin and act on his repentance. He would be forever lost.
- Does Jesus know our hearts? Does the Lord know the hearts of all men? Read Acts 1:24. We, too, can know the hearts of others; we see their actions which begin in their hearts, as they can see ours.
- Casting lots is lot like 'flipping a coin' or 'drawing straws'. It was a method in which man had no control over who was chosen. That is the reason they prayed to God and asked Him to choose.
Materials needed: 9" x 12" tan construction paper, crayons, shiny sticker or star.
- Hand out tan paper.
- Fold paper in half like a book.
- On outside, write "WHO TO CHOOSE?" and "Acts 1:12-26."
- Open paper.
- At top of paper, write "Joseph OR Matthias?"
- Draw a line under words at the top of the paper.
- On each side of the paper, draw Joseph on one side and Matthias on the other side.
- Draw a line between the two men.
- Color the men.
- Place a sticker or star on Matthias' side of the page, showing he was the one to be apostle.
- Turn paper over to back.
- Write "An apostle MUST have been with the disciples all the time Jesus was preaching and teaching, beginning with the baptism of John to the day that Jesus was taken into heaven, having witnessed Jesus' resurrection." and "Acts 1:21, 22."
