This month's memory verse

Ephesians 4:11-12

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

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Monday, Sep 28 Mon
Sep 28
Acts 21:17-26
 Tuesday, Sep 29 Tue
Sep 29
Acts 21:27-30
 Wednesday, Sep 30 Wed
Sep 30
Acts 21:31-36
 Thursday, Oct 1 Thu
Oct 1
Acts 21:37-40
 Friday, Oct 2 Fri
Oct 2
Philippians 1:12-14

Floor Is Lava!

Key Verse | Acts 21:32

He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Acts 21:31-36

31As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32He immediately called out his soldiers and officers* and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.

33Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. 34Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. 35As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. 36And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

Footnotes

21:32 Greek centurions.

Activity

In Acts 21:31-36, the crowd became so angry at Paul that Roman soldiers had to rescue him away from the temple and get him into the barracks. Let’s act out the rescue with a game of “Floor Is Lava!”

Players

  • Paul: one player or stuffed animal
  • Roman Soldiers: everyone else

Supplies

  • Furniture, pillows, boxes, carpet squares, sturdy paper plates, cardboard, or anything safe to step on.
  • Your house or backyard

How to Play

  • The object of the game is to rescue Paul from the starting line (“the temple”) to the safe zone (“the barracks”) by creating a pathway to Paul. But be careful not to step into the lava (“the angry crowd”), otherwise, Paul and the soldiers will be caught in the riot!
  • Paul starts at one side of the course and the Roman soldiers are on the other side. The soldiers must work together and cross the lava to rescue Paul. To make it more challenging, have the soldiers hold hands as they make their way to Paul.
  • Once they reach Paul, they must bring him safely back to the barracks without touching the lava. Players can link arms with Paul (or carry a stuffed animal if Paul is not a player).

Game Modifications

  • You can either pre-lay the pathway before starting the game, or have the players create the path as you go.
  • If a player touches the floor, the rescue team freezes for 5 or 10 seconds while the “crowd shouts,” or returns to the starting line.
  • Timed Version: Divide the players into teams and see which team can complete the rescue the fastest.

Discuss

After the game, spend time talking through the discussion questions below:

  1. Why was the crowd angry at Paul?
  2. Why did the Roman soldiers rescue Paul?
  3. How do you think you would feel if you were caught in an angry mob?

Pray

God, thank you for the ways you rescue us out of scary situations. Help us continually trust you when we walk into scary moments, knowing that you are with us and can use them to share more of our hope and life in Jesus with others. Amen.

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