Week 3 - A "Fruitful" Journey to Galatia

We started class feasting on the Fruit of The Spirit while we reviewed the last 2 lessons. We ate apricots, 2 types of apples, oranges, watermelon, tomatoes, kiwi, bananas and pears . Each fruit represented a fruit of the spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. We discussed that we would be talking about Paul and Barnabas working in Galatia and how Paul and Barnabas allowed the Fruit of the Spirit to help them teach others about Jesus.

We talked about Galatia and we looked at where it was on the map. We talked about Galatia being an area of Asia Minor and that it was now part of the country of Turkey. We learned that in Acts 14 Paul and Barnabas were in the last half of their first missionary journey. In Iconium many people listened to Paul and believed in Jesus. Some people who did not believe influenced others to turn against Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas heard about a plot to stone them so they left town and went to Lystra. While in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas healed a lame man and the people started calling them gods. Paul and Barnabas told the people that they were not gods but it was the power of God that gave them the ability to heal this man. Some of the Jews from Antioch and Iconium turned the people against Paul, stoned him and dragged him outside of the city and they thought that they had killed Paul. Paul survived and he and Barnabas went to the city of Derbe where Paul preached and many people believed in Christ.

Paul and Barnabas went back to the Galatian cities and found small groups of people who believed in Christ in each city. Paul and Barnabas appointed Elders for the new churches and encouraged all of the believers. After Paul and Barnabas left and went back to Antioch Paul wrote a letter to the churches in Galatia telling them to stay faithful to Christ and he encouraged them to live a life that honored God.

We talked about how Paul and Barnabas used respect when teaching others about Christ and how they allowed the fruit of the spirit to help them when dealing with others. We talked about in class what each qualitiy was and the children in class all participated in the discussion giving excellent examples of what they thought each quality was.We talked about the passage about the Fruit of The Spirit was found in Galations 5:22-23 and how the Fruit of The Spirit can help us in our actions also.

Don't forget to bring your bible and work on your memory verse!

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1Peter 3:15