HIGHS AND LOWS: (13 minutes)
Write down one high and one low from your week in your prayer journal and share them with the group. Pastor Breen or another student will gather them in prayer as we light our candles.
REVIEW: (2 minutes)
What sticks with you from last class? You may refer to your one sentence summary from last week if you are stumped. What questions remain about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch?
INTRODUCTION: (5 minutes)
Conversion: Turn to page 1262 in your Connect Bible NRSV and read the paragraphs under “Conversion” on that page. This will give you an idea about what we are studying today.
EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (10 minutes)
The videos about Paul are available on Youtube. His conversion story can be found here: https://youtu.be/uPlez-rwhKY These videos are in King James English, so make sure that you intend to use the Bible study below to help the students understand the words.
DWELLING IN THE WORD: (15 minutes)
First, read Acts 9:1-22 from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (take turns reading aloud, verse by verse). Answer the following questions about the whole story as completely as possible (group activity: do this with your parents):
Comprehension Questions:
- What was Saul “breathing”? (verse 1)
- Where did Saul go? (verse 1)
- What did he plan to do with men and women who belonged to the Way? (verse 2)
- What flashed around him? (verse 3)
- What did Saul do next? (verse 4)
- What did Saul hear? What did it say? (verse 4)
- What did Saul ask? (verse 5)
- What was the answer? (verse 5)
- What was Saul ordered to do? (verse 6)
- Why were the travelers speechless? (verse 7)
- What was wrong with Saul after this? (verse 8)
- How long did this last? (verse 9)
- Who was in Damascus? (verse 10)
- Who did the Lord tell him to look for? (verse 11)
- What was Saul’s vision? (verse 12)
- What objection did Ananias have to this command? (verses 13-14)
- How did the Lord respond? (verse 15)
- What will the Lord show to Saul? (verse 16)
- What did Ananias do to Saul? (verse 17)
- Why had the Lord sent Ananias? (verse 17)
- What fell off of Saul’s eyes? (verse 18)
- What did Saul do after he got up? (verse 18)
- How did he regain his strength? (verse 19)
- What did Saul begin doing immediately? (verse 20)
- Why were the people amazed? (verse 21)
- What did Saul increasingly become? (verse 22)
- What did Saul prove? (verse 22)
Content Questions:
- What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
- What is my favorite part of this text? Why?
- What stories or memories does this text stir up in you? You might remember a time when you changed your mind about something significant, for example.
TAKING IT HOME (5 minutes)
- During this week, in your prayers, try using “God with Us” as your title for God.
- Write a one sentence summary in your prayer journal. In this sentence, describe your answer to the question “What did you learn about in Confirmation class this week?” in as much detail as possible.
OUT LOUD PRAYER: (10 minutes)
Four Senses Prayer: Saul did not have the use of his eyes for three days and nights after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Tonight, we will pray without using our eyes. Each participant gets a stone or prayer fuzzy to feel and a mint to taste. Turn on a repetitive sound, like a babbling brook or crashing waves. Here is a favorite of mine from Youtube: https://youtu.be/9lh_becOt4Y Light a scented candle, being mindful of allergies, or open an orange or a jar of pungent spices. (Depending on the group, you might only present one sense at a time, with a little break to regroup after each sense.) After closing your eyes, focus on one sense at a time. What are you thankful for? What would you like to ask God? What is God telling you? After about a minute of each of the four senses, open your eyes and report one thing that you noticed or learned from the exercise.
Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.
Deep Roots Confirmation 