Lesson - Shaking The Dust Off Their Feet

VERSES:  Acts 13:14-52

MEMORY VERSE:  Acts 13:47   "...I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Philippians.  Write "Philippians" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students, so they can memorize another New Testament book at home.

PRAYER:   Pray for boldness and confidence when talking to others about Jesus. May we never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

SPECIAL SONG:   No, Not One (see June 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:   Bible map; Large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• From Perga, Paul and Barnabas traveled to the city of Antioch of Pisidia and went to the synagogue. After the law was read, the rulers of the synagogue asked if anyone had an encouraging word to say to the people and Paul stood up and motioned with his hand for all to listen. He began preaching about God and children of Israel, He talked about King David and how he was a man after God's own heart. He spoke of John, the baptizer, and how he had not been the Christ. Paul preached for quite a while, and then began to preach about Jesus, God's Son, and how He rose from the dead. He preached about how the Gentiles could receive the forgiveness of sins through Jesus. 
• When the Jews had left the synagogue, the Gentiles were eager to hear the Truth. They followed Paul and Barnabas and wanted them to preach to them on the next sabbath day. When the group of people was going in different directions, many of the Jews and others were persuaded by Paul and Barnabas to continue in the grace of God. 
• The next sabbath day, almost the whole city came together to hear Paul and Barnabas preach the word of God. But something bad happened! When the Jews saw the huge crowds that had gathered together, they began to be envious or jealous. The Jews spoke against everything that Paul said! 
• Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and told the Jews that it was necessary that God's Word was spoken to them first, but after the way they behaved and the  things they spoke against God's Word, then they were going to turn to the Gentiles and speak to them about the gospel. Paul and Barnabas said that the Lord had placed them to be a light to the Gentiles that salvation should be preached to the whole earth.The Gentiles were delighted to hear the word of God and many of them believed. The Word of the Lord was spread throughout the whole region. 
• But, again, there was trouble! The Jews stirred up the devout women and the very important leaders of the city and did many unkind things to Paul and Barnabas. Finally, the Jews drove them out of the city of Antioch. Do you know what Paul and Barnabas did next? They shook the dust of their feet against them and moved on to the city of Iconium (see map). The disciples were not sad; they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Paul was not afraid to be in the synagogue with a great crowd of Jews. Paul and Barnabas took God's Word to where the people were gathered. Here in Antioch, the people were meeting in the synagogue. Notice what Paul did when he was asked if anyone had anything encouraging to say. He stood up with confidence and began to speak to the people about Jesus. Paul saw an opportunity and he took it! We should do the same.
• In Matthew 7:6, we can read Jesus' words about what to do if people would not listen to God's Word and if they did not treasure the word of the Lord. The disciples were "not to cast their pearls before swine" or give the precious word of the Lord to people who did not care about God and His sayings. In Matthew 10:14, Jesus said if the anyone would not hear or listen to God's words, then they were to leave the city and shake the dust off their feet, moving on to another city who would hear them. This is what Paul and Barnabas did. The people wouldn't listen, so they left and shook the dust off their feet.
• It is interesting to notice that Paul and Barnabas were not depressed or grieved about being kicked out of Antioch. What did they do? They were filled with joy!

ACTIVITY:  Shaking the dust off their feet
Materials needed: 9" x 12" tan construction paper,small amount of baby powder, markers, crayons, scissors.

1. Hand out tan paper.
2. Fold paper in half.
3. Using most of the paper, draw one foot.
   
4. Cut both feet out at one time.
   
5. Outline feet with black marker, making one sandal on each foot.
   
6. Color.
   
7. One one leg, write "But they shook off the dust off their feet."
8. On the other leg, write "Acts 13:14-52."
9. Shake a SMALL amount of baby powder on each foot. This is the dust.
   
10. The student may only "shake" off the dust once or twice before the powder is gone, so shake sparingly!