Passage: Act 15:1-34

What we talked about:

• Peter’s debate with the Pharisees and Council.

• That we are saved by grace alone.

• That all believers are part of the Body of Christ.

Activity:

We learned that people may come from different backgrounds, speak different languages, and live very different lifestyles, but as believers we are ALL saved by grace! As a family, create a list of things that you do differently from each other. For example, one of you may fold the laundry differently than another. Neither is wrong, just different. One of you may prefer country music to pop music. If the lyrics are appropriate, neither is wrong, just different. After creating a list of 10 differences, read Acts 15:5-11.

The Jewish Pharisee thought that the Gentile believers had to follow the Law of Moses to be saved. In verse 11, how does Peter say we are saved?To make a funny point, look at the list your family created and compare the Pharisee’s thinking to it. For example, the Pharisee’s thinking would be similar to saying “You can only be saved by folding the laundry exactly like I do.” Or “You can only be saved by listening to country music.” Read Ephesians 2:8.

Experiment:

On one side of the paper rub some red paint into the shape of a large circle. The red paint represents a church that worships Jesus with African drums and dancing. Next, create a yellow circle on the opposite side of the paper. The yellow circle represents a church that worships Jesus by singing old traditional hymns like “Amazing Grace” to the music of an organ. Last, in the center of the paper, mix the two paints together until the color orange is created. (More yellow is needed than orange.) Instead of painting a circle with the orange paint, create a heart. God knows our hearts when we are worshipping Him. He does not care if our hands are held high or placed quietly in our laps. He doesn’t care if we are dancing for Him or singing a hymn for Him. He only cares about the condition of our hearts while we

are worshipping Him! Acts 15:8 tells us that “God knows the heart!”

• What are the different ways you have worshipped Jesus?

• When you are singing before the Lord on Sunday mornings, what is God looking at?

• What do you think God notices about your own heart when you are worshipping on Sunday mornings?

Family Bible Time:

Read the following verses and use the questions to discuss what you read.

Read Acts15:8a

• What does God know about each of us?

Read 1 Samuel 16:7

• Have you ever thought someone must love Jesus because they are dressed up and look nice at church on Sunday morning?

• What does God look at when He looks at someone?

Adapted from @2012 The Kitchen, Year 3, Quarter 1.