The Story of Paul and Silas
Have you ever been in so much trouble that you thought there was no way God could help you or hear your prayers? Then you should meet Paul and his friend Silas.
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: Worshiping God -The Holy Spirit Builds the Early Church
- Psalm 145:18 says that God is near to all who call on him. Think of a time when you felt close to God when you were praying.
- Paul and Silas traveled to many different cities to tell people about Jesus. Many people didn’t like what they said about Jesus, and Paul and Silas often got into trouble. But they continued to trust in God and spent much time praying. As you listen to this episode, think about how God guides you when you pray.
After you listen
Memory Verse
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Quiz
A: False
Reflect
When Paul and Silas commanded an evil spirit to come out of a slave girl, her owners were furious and dragged them to court. Paul and Silas were beaten and then thrown in jail. Imagine everyone’s surprise when they heard the two men singing praises and praying to God! Paul and Silas knew that even in the most difficult times, they needed to pray to God. Their response of song and prayer led the jailer and his whole family to believe in Jesus Christ! Paul and Silas knew they could pray to God anywhere, even in prison. Do you know that you can do that too? There is absolutely no place on this earth where you cannot talk to God. If you want Jesus to be your friend, just pray to him, tell him you believe that he died on the cross for your sins and that God raised him from the dead, and then ask him to come and live in your heart. When you belong to Jesus, he will be with you everywhere you go and in everything you do.
Read the story of Paul and Silas in prison in Acts 16:16-40. Want to dig deeper and learn more about prayer? Check out Philippians 4:6, Mark 11:24, and Ephesians 6:18.
Challenge
God wants you to pray to him about everything, including all your joys and worries. Make a prayer jar to guide you in your prayer. Find an empty jar or box. Decorate it with paints, stickers, crayons, ribbon, or anything else you might have on hand. Then, gather some Popsicle sticks (if you have them) or strips of cardboard or paper. Think of everything you can pray for and write each idea on a separate stick or slip. Put the sticks or slips in the jar and place it in your favorite place to pray. Perhaps you pray before bed each night or with your family at mealtimes. When you pray, draw two or three sticks and add what you wrote on them to your prayers. Here are some ideas for things you might pray for to get you started:
- A family member
- Your teacher
- Someone you know who is sick
- Something you need
- Courage to tell someone about Jesus
- Tell God about how amazing he is
- God’s forgiveness
- Thank God for something
- Obedience and self-control
- A friend
- Patience
- A government leader
- Your pastor
Also, check out the Kids Corner praying bookmarks. Tell your parent or another adult about them, too!
