CrossKids Devo | Forgiveness
6/12/2020 – Map – Acts 7:55, Acts 6:1-15, 7:54-60
Activity – How RU Doing
Draw a line on a sheet of paper. Place a 1 on the left end of the line, a 10 on the right, and a 5 in the middle. As kids arrive, ask them to pencil in their initials on the line.
Say: If your day was so awful you wish you'd slept through it, place your initials by the 1. If it was a great day and you wish you could repeat, put your initials by the 10. Place your initials anywhere on the line that shows how you feel today.
Bible Time – Forgiveness – Acts 7:55, Acts 6:1-15, 7:54-60
Verse Of The Day: Acts 7:55
Read: Acts 6:1-15, 7:54-60
Story: Stephen was a man who was bold in his faith in Jesus. He was one of the first leaders in the early church after Jesus ascended into heaven. We learn that Stephen was a man who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. We will learn today that it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that Stephen was able to stand out from others. The apostles chose Stephen to be a leader in the church because they could see that he was a man who was full of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible tells us twice that Stephen was full of faith and that he had the power to do wonders and miracles. Even Stephen’s enemies could not argue with him, so they made up a lie about him. They took Stephen to the religious leaders. The Bible tells us that even though the people lied about him, Stephen had something special that made him calm and able to speak the truth to the powerful religious leaders. He was not afraid of them. We are told that Stephen’s face appeared to be as an angel’s face and that Stephen was bold as he preached to the leaders. Even when they were questioning him, Stephen was brave. He preached to the men who would sentence him to death by stoning. What a scary place to be in! But remember that He was filled with the Holy Spirit. That is what made him strong.
As he was being stoned to death, Stephen asked God not to charge them with his murder. Stephen could forgive them for killing him even as they stoned him. He was able to have a different view of his enemies, one that gave him great love for them. And Stephen saw heaven before he got there. The difference in Stephen’s life was the Holy Spirit. He can make the same difference in our life. He will help us to tell others about Jesus, even when it may be difficult. He will be with us no matter what!
What was special about Stephen?
Where did Stephen get his boldness and bravery?
Pray