New Testament #12: Prison

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 if you are stumped.  What questions remain about Peter meeting Cornelius?

INTRODUCTION: (5 minutes)
Persecution:  Turn to page 1274 in your Connect Bible NRSV and read the paragraph under “Persecution” on that page.  Do the activity as suggested.  Make a copy of your completed activity for Pastor Breen if you are doing this for homework.

EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (5 minutes)
To see the story today, we turn to this resource from youtube:  https://youtu.be/PppV7H5lEyc

DWELLING IN THE WORD: (25 minutes)
Today, we join the second half of the book of Acts, in which Paul (Saul) is the major character.  Read Acts 16:13-40 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:

1. Who did Paul, Silas, and Timothy sit down and speak with? (verse 13)
2. Who listened eagerly to what was said by Paul? (verse 14)
3. Who was baptized because of Paul’s message about Jesus? (verse 15)
4. Who did Paul, Silas, and Timothy meet next? (verse 16)
5. What did this person have to say about them? (verse 17)
6. What did Paul do because he was annoyed? (verse 18)
7. Why were Paul and Silas dragged into the marketplace before the authorities? (verse 19)
8. What happened to Paul and Silas after this? (verse 23)
9. What were Paul and Silas doing at about midnight? (verse 25)
10. What happened suddenly? (verse 26)
11. How did the jailer react? (verse 27)
12. What did Paul shout? (verse 28)
13. What happened at that same hour of the night? (verse 33)
14. What did the magistrates say in the morning? (verse 35)
15. How did Paul react? (verse 37)
16. What did the magistrates do next? (verse 39)
17. Where did they go after they left prison? (verse 40)

Content Questions:

1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
2. What is my favorite part of this text?  Why?
3. 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.
4. What is God doing in this text?  What is God up to?

TAKING IT HOME (5 minutes)

1. During this week, in your prayers, try using “O Helper and Advocate” as your title for God.
2. 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: (5 minutes)
Hymns and Songs Prayer: In this lesson, Paul and Silas sang hymns and songs when they were put in jail for believing in Jesus.  St. Augustine said that the one who sings, prays twice.  Look through a hymn book and choose a verse of a hymn that gives you comfort.  If you don’t have access to a hymn book, you can find some popular hymns of comfort here:  http://www.ccesonline.com/hymns/hymns.htm Copy the stanza into your prayer journal so that you can take it with you through the week.  Take turns sharing your verses out loud as prayers.

Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.