Leader Guide
Teaching Time
- Bible or Superbook Bible App
- Optional: Number Card page
- Clue Page
- Envelope
- Sealable sandwhich bag of dirt and stones
- Sunglasses
- Blindfold or sleep mask
- Water bottle
- Bible (printed) - pocket size is ideal
- Eight paper lunch bags
- Marker
- Scissors
- Table
Gather objects. You may substitute or omit objects due to availability.
Make a copy of the Clue Page in color or black and white.
Cut the page in half to make two separate image cards.
Open each bag and stand it upright.
Use the marker to write one large number (1-8) on each bag.
Place one item in each bag corresponding to the number below:
1. Envelope 2. Bag of dirt and stones 3. Sunglasses 4. Blindfold 5. Hand Image 6. Water Bottle 7. Name Tag 8. Bible
Fold the top of each bag closed.
Optional: Make one copy of the Number Card Page and cut out the eight individual cards. Hold up a cards to help younger children match the number they are looking for.
Place the bags around the room randomly, in plain sight.
Saul knew he had a long trip from Jerusalem to Damascus—but he didn’t know that it would change his life forever! There are eight bags in the room. Inside each bag is an object that is a clue to help us tell the Bible story about Saul and Jesus. We’ll take turns finding a bag with the number I call out and then discuss the object inside.
Choose a child volunteer to find a bag with a number in sequence 1-8. Optional: show each child the corresponding number card so they know what the number looks like. The child will bring the bag to the table and remove the object. Ask the child to identify what the object is. Lead a discussion with all of the children to identify the important event the object represents in the story.
(Bag #1 Envelope — letter giving Saul permission to arrest Christians).
· What might be in an envelope like this? A letter, a card.
· In the Bible story, who asked the priest for a letter? Saul.
● What did the letter give permission for Saul to do? To search for and arrest Christians.
● Why did Saul want to arrest Christians? They loved Jesus and obeyed what He taught.
Saul was a Pharisee and believed keeping the Jewish Law was more important than people. When Jesus healed a man who was blind on a holy day, it made the Pharisees mad instead of glad. Jesus performed many miracles so people loved Jesus! This made the Pharisees angry and jealous of Jesus.
(Bag #2 Dirt and stones — road to Damascus)
● What did Saul travel on that might have had these on it? On the road (to Damascus).
● Did Saul ride a bike or a skateboard on the road? No, he walked or maybe rode a horse.
● Did Saul travel to Damascus by himself? No, he had men with him.
(Bag #3 Sunglasses — Jesus’ glorious appearance)
● What did Saul and his men see in the sky and all around them? A bright light.
● Do you think Saul wore sunglasses to protect his eyes? No!
No, I am being silly, people didn’t have sunglasses in Bible times. Glasses could not have helped Saul because the light was brighter than the sun!
(Bag #4 Blindfold or sleep mask —Saul’s blindness)
● What happened to Saul when he saw the bright light? He fell to the ground and was blinded.
● Who talked to Saul from heaven? Jesus.
● What did Jesus ask Saul? Why he was persecuting (hurting) Him.
(Bag #5 Hand Image – Ananias sent to lay hands on Saul and pray for him.)
● This clue is for two things that happened in the Bible story!
● Saul could not see. How did he get to Damascus? The men with him led him by the hand.
● Who spoke to Ananias and told him to go to Saul? Jesus.
● What did Jesus tell Ananias to do? To lay hands on Saul and pray so he could see again.
● Was Ananias excited to go to Saul? No, he was worried because he knew Saul came to Damascus to arrest Christians.
● What did Ananias decide to do? He trusted God and went to Saul and prayed for him.
● What happened to Saul when Ananias prayed for him? He could see again. He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Bag #6 Water bottle — Saul is baptized in water)
● What happened in the Bible story with Saul and water? He was baptized.
Saul was baptized to show that his heart was changed and he was a new man who loved Jesus.
● Being baptized is an exciting thing we do when we become a Christian. Raise your hand if you have been baptized. Children respond.
(Bag #7 Name Tag — Saul becomes Paul)
● Have you ever worn a name tag; if so, were you at school, church or somewhere else? Children respond.
A name tag is worn so that people who don’t know us can call us by name. Saul didn’t wear a name tag, but he actually had two names. Saul was his Jewish name, and Paul was his name as a Roman citizen. After he gave his life to Jesus, Saul began to be called Paul, and he took the Good News about Jesus not just to Jewish people, but to other people who lived in many different countries.
(Bag #8 Bible — Paul preached about Jesus and wrote books of the Bible)
● What is written in the Bible? God’s Word.
The Bible tells us all about God and how we can live our lives to please the Lord. After Paul became a Christian, he began to travel to different cities and preach about Jesus. We know this because it is written in the Bible! In fact, Paul wrote many books of the New Testament in the Bible!
Saul was a man filled with too much pride. But after he met Jesus, Paul was a changed man who was filled with the Holy Spirit and humbleness!