Leader Guide
Teaching Time
- Bible or Superbook Bible App
- Clear drinking glass
- Large bowl or pan
- Table
- Two containers or bottles of water (each with enough water to fill the drinking glass)
- Towel
Place the items on the table and cover with the towel.
Text: Acts 9:1-19
Saul was a Pharisee. He knew God’s Law and obeyed it. The Pharisees were full of pride and liked people to watch them pray and give offerings in the temple. They were jealous of Jesus and wanted to stop Jesus’ followers. Saul believed he was doing what was right, but he was actually fighting
against God’s plan for Jesus to save people from our sins. This all changed when Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus! Saul learned that Jesus is God’s Son, and Saul realized that what he had been doing was completely wrong.
Optional: Object Talk
Uncover the items.
Hold up the empty glass over the bowl. Let’s pretend this glass is Saul.
Before Saul met Jesus, was he full of pride or was he full of humbleness? Pride.
Hold up the container of water over the bowl. Let’s pretend this water is pride.
Pour the water slowly into the glass until it is almost full. Saul is now filled with pride.
What did Saul see when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. A bright light.
Yes, the light of Jesus was so bright that Saul was blinded. Saul went to Damascus, then prayed and waited for three days. Jesus sent a brave Christian named Ananias to pray for Saul to see and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Slowly pour water from the glass into the bowl until it is empty.
As Saul sat in darkness and prayed and waited for three days, the pride inside Saul became less, and less, and less until it was gone.
Hold up the second container of water over the bowl. Let’s pretend this water is humbleness.
Pour the water in the glass until it is almost full. What is Saul filled with now? Humbleness.
Saul’s heart was now filled with humbleness instead of pride. He cared about other people who needed to know that Jesus loves them and died for their sins! He cared more about those people than his own needs!
Saul was baptized and became known by his Roman name of Paul He traveled from city to city telling others that Jesus is God’s Son and He died on the cross to save them from their sins! He also wrote many letters to encourage Christians, and we can read some of those letters today because they became books of the Bible!