37. The Outcome of an Earthquake
The Course
Key Verse: Acts 16:31 – What must I do to be saved?
Acts 16
The Goals
As a result of this lesson the children will:
1. Know there are unsaved people everywhere they go.
2. Feel the need to share the Gospel with friends, neighbors, and people at school.
3. Share the Gospel with every unsaved person they meet.
The Equipment Room
For the following lesson you will need:
1. Four puppets
2. Gospel tracts
3. Visuals #1-4 [As PowerPoint]
4. Paper chains made of black construction paper [For puppets to wear]
5. Puppet scripts [Given at least two weeks in advance]
The Warm-up
Scripture Memory Review Game: Make a copy of a world map. Cut it into the number of pieces that
matches the number of words plus the reference of the verse. Tape the pieces of the puzzle under their
chairs. Have each child look under their chair when you give the signal. If they have a puzzle piece they are
to bring it up front and help you put the puzzle together. Then review the verse together.
Opening Ceremonies
Songs: I Will Remember; We are Saved; Be a Missionary [See Olympian CD Tracks 3, 5, and 10];
The Countdown Song
Bible Lesson Review: Number the children as they enter. Place a matching number in a container. You
should have a corresponding number in the container for each numbered child. After you read the first
question, pick a number from the container. Let the child with that number try to answer the question. If they
answer correctly, give them a small prize and then allow them to pick the next number. That child then tries
to answer the next question. If a child misses the question, have him pick another number allowing that child
to try to answer the same question correctly. Reward all those who have the correct answer.
The Outcome of an Earthquake
New Testament Survey – 443
The Coach’s Corner
ADAPTATION > 1
(1) (2)
Extra Action
[Place puppet stage beneath the PowerPoint screen. Project Visuals #1-3 as backgrounds for puppet skit.]
ADAPTATION > 2
Small Group
We are going to hear about an exciting missionary trip. Who can tell me something about Paul? [Allow
children to respond.] Paul went on a missionary trip with Barnabas and today we are going to learn
about another missionary trip he took with Silas. One city they went to was called Philippi, let’s have
some of the people of Philippi tell us how their lives changed.
Coach:
Lydia and a group of women had gone to the river to pray to God.
[Display Visual #1.]
Coach:
[Read Acts 16:13. Paul, Silas, and Lydia enter as Coach is reading.]
Paul:
[In a loud voice, as though preaching] Jesus was crucified on the cross for your sins and
mine. He rose in victory from the grave! All you have to do is believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and you can be saved!
Lydia:
Oh, sirs, I know I am a sinner and I need Jesus! What must I do to be saved?
Paul:
If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and confess Him with your mouth, you will be
saved.
Lydia:
I do believe and I will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God! Jesus, please
forgive me for my sins and save me!
Silas:
Amen! Welcome to God’s family!
Coach:
After Lydia received Jesus as her Savior, she asked to be baptized.
Lydia:
Being baptized showed everyone that I was a follower of Jesus. Come with me, Paul and
Silas. You can stay in my house.
[Puppets exit.].
Coach:
Paul and Silas were thankful for Lydia’s hospitality. They went with her to her home.
[Display Visual #2. Puppets enter.]
Paul:
Lydia, can you believe the great things God is doing here in Philippi?
Lydia:
It has been exciting, now I know Jesus as my personal Savior!
Silas:
It is a great day.
[Puppets exit. Put chains on Paul and Silas.]
Coach:
The Outcome of an Earthquake
As Paul and Silas continued to preach a slave girl who had an evil spirit started to cry out
after Paul and Silas. This went on for several days until Paul commanded the spirit to
come out of her. The spirit left which made the slave girl’s owner very angry. She had
made him a lot of money. The crowd turned on Paul and Silas and the authorities had
them beaten and thrown into jail.
New Testament Survey – 444
[Display Visual #3. Paul and Silas enter.]
Paul:
Even though we are thrown in jail, we will continue to trust and praise God.
Silas:
Let’s sing some songs…What is that!
[Have puppets start rocking back and forth like they are in an earthquake.]
Paul:
Whoa! What’s happening?
Silas:
I don’t know!
Paul:
If feels like a great earthquake, the way it is shaking! Even the foundations of the prison
are shaking! Look all the doors are opening and our chains, as well as everyone
else’s, have fallen off.
Coach:
The keeper of the prison woke up and when he saw the prison doors open, he supposed
the prisoners had fled. He drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called
with a loud voice, saying…
Paul:
Don’t harm yourself everyone is here.
[The jailer enters and is shaking.]
Jailer:
[Display Visual #4.] Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Silas:
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!
Paul:
Yes, you and your household.
Coach:
[Read Acts 16:32-34. As Coach reads, puppet’s actions should follow the narrative:
speaking to one another, the jailer washing their backs, and Silas baptizing the
jailer.] Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he
rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Paul:
I guess it took an earthquake to get your attention!
Jailer:
Praise God for the earthquake!
Silas:
Yes, praise God!
[Puppets exit.]
Coach:
ADAPTATION > 8
Champions Only
ADAPTATION > 9
Challengers Only
Jesus allowed an earthquake to open the prison doors and caused the prisoners’ chains
to fall off. It was a miracle. What would you do if you were in jail and suddenly the doors
flew open and your chains fell off? Would you run away? [Allow children to respond.] Well,
Paul and Silas did not run away! They knew that the jailer would be killed if they escaped!
Instead, they took the time to tell the jailer about Jesus. What happened? [Allow children
to respond.] He accepted Jesus as his personal Savior! (8)
[Puppets exit.] (9)
Coach:
Let’s listen in sometime later, as the jailor and Lydia recount why these events were so
important in their lives.
[Display Visual #2.]
The Outcome of an Earthquake
New Testament Survey – 445
Lydia:
I remember that earthquake, but had no idea what was going on in the jail at the time.
That’s amazing!
Silas:
Yeah, I almost had a heart attack when that earthquake hit!
Paul:
Me, too! But God used the earthquake to bring our brother here to know Jesus as his
personal Savior. God is good.
Silas:
[To Lydia and the jailer] It is amazing how the rest of the people in your families received
Jesus as their personal Savior right after you did. They were ready to hear the truth. You
don’t know how many towns we’ve been to where we’ve almost been killed for preaching
about Jesus. Telling your families was a brave thing for you to do.
Jailer:
Well, like Lydia, I, too, was excited, but not at first. At first I was just scared! The
earthquake woke me up and when I saw that all the prison doors were open, I was sure
you had escaped. If that happens to a Roman guard like me, you just know to kill yourself,
because if you don’t, your bosses will do it for you. But then I knew you guys were
different when you didn’t go anywhere. I knew that what you were teaching was real and
that I needed Jesus as my personal Savior.
Paul:
God was in control of it all.
Jailer:
That’s what really convinced me that God was trying to get my attention. That’s why I
came and asked what I needed to do to be saved.
Silas:
It is so great how God works in people’s live. With you [turning toward Lydia], it was just
hearing God’s Word that got your attention. But you [turning toward the jailer], you needed
an earthquake to get your attention.
Lydia:
Thank you for serving God, Paul and Silas.
Jailer:
Yes, thank you. I am so grateful God has worked in Philippi like He has. He has done
such great things here, and I am really looking forward to serving Him.
Silas:
We are just grateful God has given us this wonderful opportunity to tell you and others
about Jesus. Now, you and Lydia need to share Christ with others around you.
[Puppets exit.]
Coach:
ADAPTATION > 4
Mostly Churched Children
Paul and Silas left Philippi and went to other places to tell people about Jesus. People
continued to receive Jesus as their personal Savior as a result of their missionary work.
You know, there are all types of people where we live. Some are looking for God through religion, like Lydia
was. Others, like the jailer, are not looking for God at all until something bad happens to them. We need to
be telling everyone! We need to tell our family, our friends, our neighbors, and people at school
because everyone we meet needs Jesus. (4)
The Outcome of an Earthquake
New Testament Survey – 446
Running the Race
Mostly Unchurched Children
Maybe you realize that you are like Lydia or the
jailor because you have never asked Jesus to
come into your life and save you from your sin. If
you would like to learn more, go to your Personal
Training Coach and they will be glad to share how
you can know for sure that you have Jesus in your
life.
Mostly Churched Children
We need to be telling people about Jesus. Think
about the people you know who need Jesus. If you
don’t tell them, who will? Why not invite them to
come to Olympians with you? In Personal
Training Time we will be giving you some tracts.
Take time to read them and then give them to
people this week.
Do you have friends that need to hear about
Jesus? Why not share the good message of the
gospel with them? Why not invite them to come to
Olympians with you? Another way you can share
the gospel is by giving a tract to someone. In
Personal Training Time your coach will give you
some tracts that you can give to people this week.
Personal Training Time
1. Who needs to hear about Jesus?
2. What should we tell people about Jesus?
3. Whom will you tell about Jesus this week? [Challenge the children to take a tract and give it to someone
this week or tell them about Jesus.]
The Big O’vent
Blow Cup Relay [See Big O’vent Mega CD, page 82.] Everyone had to take their turn and blow the cup. We
need to all take time to share Jesus with those around us.
Christian Service: Tract Blitz or Create a Gospel Tract [See Olympian Christian Service Manual GCS-22
and ICS 14 for instructions.]
Closing Ceremonies
Tell others about Jesus by giving them a tract and inviting them to Olympians. Next time join us for another
trip…
[Pipsqueak and Beeper puppets enter.]
Beeper:
Did someone say “trip”? I love trips! I’ll pack my toothbrush, my pet frog and my…
Pipsqueak:
Beeper, I don’t think you should put your frog in your suitcase.
Beeper:
You don’t. Let me tell you about my pet snake.
Coach:
Pipsqueak:
Beeper, it’s time to go so you’ll have to tell us all about it next time at Olympians.
Okay, Coach, we will see you next week. Say goodbye, Beeper.
The Outcome of an Earthquake
New Testament Survey – 447
Beeper:
Goodbye, Beeper!
Pipsqueak:
Beeper! Goodbye.
Lesson Adaptation Explanations
1
2
4
8
9
Extra Action: Contact two adults with whom the children are unfamiliar. In advance, have them fill our
four cards regarding their salvation experience. [Choose adults whose salvation experiences are very
different.] Have them write the answers to the following questions on each card:
 What were you like before you got saved?
 Where did you hear the Gospel for the first time?
 Who showed you how to accept Jesus as your Savior?
 How is your life different as a Christian?
Mix up the cards and ask the children to match the answers on the cards to the person. Then have
each person take the cards which belong to them and briefly share their testimony.
Small Group: If you do not have enough people to do the puppet script, make signs for the different
characters. Place the signs on four of the Olympians and stand behind them when you are reading
their part.
Mostly Churched Children: Have them brainstorm excuses why they don’t share the Gospel with
others, or why they may find it difficult to witness to their friends, family, and schoolmates.
Champions Only: Ask the children why they think Lydia and the jailer were baptized. Lead them in a
discussion to teach the point that baptism is something we do in obedience to Christ, and as a way to
publicly profess Him to family and friends after we have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior.
Challengers Only: Instead of continuing with the Lesson go directly to Running the Race.
The Outcome of an Earthquake
New Testament Survey – 448
The Outcome of an Earthquake – Visual #1
New Testament Survey – 449
The Outcome of an Earthquake – Visual #2
New Testament Survey – 450
The Outcome of an Earthquake – Visual #3
New Testament Survey – 451
The Outcome of an Earthquake – Visual #4
New Testament Survey – 452