“Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us love God.”

“Jesus, thank You for sending Your Spirit to help me.”

Acts 2:42-47

Children repeat after you:

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Song 1 – B-I-B-L-E

• Bible hands, hug the “book,” step on “I stand alone.”

Song 2 – Honor God

Song 3 – “The Holy Spirit Is Our Helper”
(Tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”)
“Holy Spirit is our Helper,
Sent from God above.
Helps us follow Jesus Christ,
Fills our hearts with love.”

Motions: point up on “God above,” point up (Jesus) on “Jesus Christ,” hands on heart on “love."

Sit kids in a circle. Use: group of “disciples,” simple “house” or room, small flame-shaped paper pieces (you will just show, not put on kids).

a) Disciples waiting together
Place disciples in a “room.”

• “The Bible tells us that after Jesus went back to heaven, His friends, the disciples, went back to Jerusalem. Jesus had told them, ‘Wait here. I will send you a special Helper.’”
• “So the disciples stayed together in a house. They prayed and waited for the Helper Jesus promised.”

b) Wind and fire (very gentle)
Gently wave a scarf or fan.

• “One day, something amazing happened. Suddenly they heard a sound like a strong wind blowing. It filled the whole house. They couldn’t see the wind, but they could hear it.”

Show the little flame shapes above the disciples (no fire imagery on kids’ bodies, just above figures).

• “Then they saw something that looked like little flames of fire resting above each of them. No one was hurt. This showed that God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, had come to be with them.”

c) Holy Spirit gives courage to talk about Jesus
Move disciples toward an “outside” area.

• “The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. He gave them courage and power to talk about Jesus. They began to tell people from many places the good news: ‘Jesus died and rose again. Jesus is Lord!’”
• “Many people believed in Jesus that day. The church began to grow. Some people call this day Pentecost, the ‘birthday’ of the church.”

e) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps me.”

Motions:
Point up (Jesus) then push hands outward as “sending” on “sent the Holy Spirit.”
Point up (to represent God’s Spirit) then to self and hug on “helps me.”

Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.

d) Jesus connection (our Helper today)
Place a hand on your heart.

“Jesus did not leave His friends alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to live with them and help them. The Holy Spirit is God. He helps us remember what Jesus said, helps us love God, and helps us do what is right.”
“Even though we can’t see the Holy Spirit, He is with everyone who loves Jesus. When we are afraid, confused, or don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us.”

Goal: 
Gentle Pentecost image: a heart and a small flame above it, with the Helper line.

Steps

• Give each child a heart-outline paper.
• Help them glue a small flame shape just above the heart (not on it), pointing up.
• Let them color the heart and draw themselves inside it or write/draw “me.”
• Add the phrase at the bottom:
• “Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps me.”
• Children can add rays or light lines around the flame and heart if they want.

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)

• “Your picture shows a heart with a little flame above it. The flame reminds us of the day the Holy Spirit came to Jesus’ friends. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He lives with us and helps us love and follow Jesus. When you see this picture, remember: ‘Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps me.’”

Have children hold up their craft and say:

• “Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps me.”