Discussion Guide for Paul and Lydia

In order to do this lesson as a family, set aside 15-20 minutes and grab a Bible, whether that's looking at the biblical text with older kids, or at the Spark Story Bible that we use for younger kids.  And while it's obviously not the same as going to church, I'd encourage you to think about ways to help make your home a worshipful space: light a candle, say a prayer, sing a hymn or a Chapel song, or maybe take a moment of silence and some deep breaths.  Everything listed below is meant to be optional -- you can pick and choose what will work best with your family.

Opening Your Time Together:

  • Checking In - This Sunday marks what would have been the final Children's Chapel of our Sunday School year -- but we're planning to continue doing Chapel online over Zoom during the month of May before we figure out what our summer is going to look like!  In many ways, trying to figure things out is just like what the early church was trying to do - whenever new churches were planted, most of the people there were trying to learn what exactly church was all about.  After checking in with how your kids are doing, perhaps ask them what they see as the most important parts of going to church (things like: reading the Bible, making friends, helping others) and brainstorm how those things might be able to continue, even in this age of social distancing.  
 
  • Opening Prayer - God, as we continue to be separated from many of our friends - not just at school, but also at church - we're trying to learn how to be church differently.  But we know that you have helped the church over the years, both in the earliest days after Jesus' resurrection, and now as we face uncertainty in our lives and in our world.  We ask that you continue helping all of us so that we might support one another as a church family, and that we might think of creative ways to show that love and support.  We pray all of this in Jesus' name.  Amen. 
 
  • Opening Hymn - They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHJobmBdK0 - I've always been a big fan of this hymn, particularly during the season of Eastertide and the growth of the early church:
    • Verse 1 - We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; and we pray that all unity may one day be restored; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
    • Verse 2 - We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; we will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; and together we'll spread the news that God is in our land; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
    • Verse 3 - We will work with each other, we will work side by side; we will work with each other, we will work side by side; and we'll guard human dignity and save human pride; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
    • Verse 4 - All praise to the Father, from whom all things come; and all praise to Christ Jesus, God's only son; and all praise to the Spirit who makes us one; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
 
  • Opening Chapel Song - Doxology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUco1i7fEns - the link is to a piano version, which is exactly what we play at the start of Chapel each Sunday.  See if your kids remember the hand motions that go along with this hymn - they might be able to teach you too!

Reading the Bible:

  • Open up to the passage, whether in the Bible or the Spark Bible.  Ask your kids if they are familiar with this passage and, if so, what they remember.  
  • Read the passage together.  Bible - Acts 16:11-15   ​Spark Bible - pages 532 to 535
  • (Optional) You can also practice something called lectio divina, which basically means you read through the passage once, asking kids to listen for a word or phrase that jumps out at them.  After reading, everyone shares their answers and then you read the passage again, listening for new insights!

Discussing the Passage:

  • For Younger Kids 
  • When Lydia heard about Jesus' message, she was excited to follow Jesus too - and she asked if her whole household could be baptized.  What do you remember about baptism (whether yours or someone else's)?  What does baptism remind us of?  (Possible answers: how much God loves us, we're part of a big church family, that God forgives us)
  • Lydia would have been new to church and being a Christian... what would you tell her about your church?  What do you do there?  What are the most important parts of church?
 
  • For Older Kids ​
  • Lydia's business selling purple cloth probably meant that she was fairly wealthy, but she used her wealth to care for others and to give generously.  What are some of your favorite charities to support, and why?
  • Most scholars believe that early churches would have been pretty similar to what we read about in Acts 16: someone like Lydia would be a sponsor and would help care for others in the church.  Do you think it would be strange attending a church with only 10 people or less in it?  How would it be different from attending Fourth Church?  What might be similar, even with less people?
 ​
Closing Your Time Together:
  • Closing Prayer - Holy God, as we've learned about Lydia and her excitement about what she learned about Jesus from Paul, we ask that you give us that same kind of excitement to be able to share about Jesus today.  There are lots of ways that we could share that hope, joy, and love with others - and we continue to pray that through our efforts, and the amazing efforts of all the first responders and essential workers, that we can continue to keep people safe and healthy.  We pray all of this in Jesus' name.  Amen.
 
  • Closing Hymn - Lord, Prepare Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N1IeaBqvSE - This simple piano instrumental should be easy enough to sing over - just follow along using the words below.
    • Verse - Lord, prepare me - to be a sanctuary - pure and holy - tried and true - with thanksgiving - I'll be a living - sanctuary - for you.