Super Pete From Average... To Extraordinary!

There wasn’t anything special about Peter. He was an ordinary fisherman who chose to follow God’s call. But, there were so many times when God used him in SUPER-natural ways. In Acts chapter 3, Peter was walking with another Apostle, John. They were going to the temple, and they passed a lame beggar. So many people had passed the lame man and paid him no attention. Peter and John knew that this man mattered to God. They didn’t give him money. Instead, they prayed for God to heal him—and He did! In this lesson, the children will learn that God can use them in SUPER-natural ways. They must look for opportunities to minister to others because every day could be the day for a miracle!

Simon the Sorcerer was a magician who tried to BUY the SUPERnatural power of God that the Apostle Peter had. Peter explained to him that you can’t buy God’s power. It’s not some bag of fake tricks at the local Magic store. His power is REAL. And it is not something you can BUY. In this lesson, the children will learn that God’s SUPERnatural power is a gift that comes from one place—GOD! If we ask Him, He will give us His SUPERnatural power to do SUPER things for Him. Each child, no matter how old or how young, can do SUPER things for God if they ask and believe. God will give His power to anyone who believes that it comes from Him.

A testimony is another name for a person’s personal story. There’s power in sharing your story with others. The story of Tabitha in Acts is a great example of this. Tabitha was a woman in the Bible in the Book of Acts. She did a lot of good things for people, but she got sick and died. Peter shows up after she dies – and with God’s SUPERnatural power – he raises her from the dead! Tabitha and her friends told Tabitha’s story all over the town. People heard her story, became Christians and began to follow God! That’s the power of sharing your story! In this lesson, the children will learn that each of us must tell others what God has done for us—so they can hear and believe!

One of the issues that has plagued the human race for centuries is the issue of prejudice. Prejudice is when we have bad feelings toward a certain group of people just because of the way they look, the way they act, or the color of their skin, whatever! Sadly, this issue has been around in the church for centuries as well. Peter dealt with it—prejudice against anyone who was a non-Jew. He didn’t think that the gospel was for anyone who wasn’t a Jew by birth. God had other plans. In this lesson, the children will learn about dealing with prejudice through the experience Peter had with Cornelius in the book of Acts. They will learn that God has a SUPER love for everyone. We must show that love to all people and destroy prejudice!

Children suffer from all kinds of sinful habits. Many of them are bound by lying, cheating, stealing, cussing, and yes—even pornography and drugs. Satan would love to get their lives completely messed up as early as possible. But, God has a different plan! He has a plan for His children to live their lives completely free from the bonds of sin. In this lesson, the children will learn from the story of Peter being set free from prison. They will learn that God can set every person free from the prison of sin. They will learn that if Jesus sets them free, they are totally and completely free!

Conflict is going to happen. It’s nearly impossible to have relationships with people and not have conflict. Our different personalities, ideas, and desires can cause conflict with each other often on a daily basis. The key question is not, “Will we have conflict?” Rather, the key question is, “How can we deal with conflict in a way that brings glory to God and does not harm our friendships?” This is not an easy question to answer. Peter faced a difficult decision. There were some church leaders who had some very different opinions that he did. He needed to make sure he handled it in the right way. Not “man’s” way, but the “Bible” way. In this story there is a great pattern for how to solve conflict biblically. This is what the children will learn how to do in today’s lesson.