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Title: Primary Sabbath School Program, July 22, 2,000

From: NAD Children's Ministries (author: Lisa Seeders)

Date: June 15, 2,000

Abstract: Activities to use in place of program helps 
to teach the lesson, JESUS' SPECIAL GIFT ARRIVES
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Lesson Aim: The Holy Spirit is Jesus' special gift to 
me.  He does for me what Jesus did for His disciples 
when He lived on earth.

Memory Verse: "Repent and be baptized, every one of 
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness 
of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the 
Holy Spirit."  Acts 2:38, NIV


GETTING THEIR ATTENTION - GIFT-GIVING

Materials needed:
A gift-wrapped box for each child (The boxes need to 
be of various size and shape)
Small pieces of paper

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Wrap each child's box.  Use different colors and 
fabrics of paper.  Wrap some in brown paper
bags, some in Christmas wrapping, some in tissue, some 
in foil etc.  
Place all the gifts at the front of the room.
On the small pieces of paper print numbers according 
to how many are in the class.  Roll the
pieces of paper up so the numbers can't be seen.

WHAT THE STUDENTS DO:
Explain to the children that there is a special gift 
for each one of them.  They are to draw a number and 
gifts will be selected by the children according to 
the number they draw.  After each child has selected 
a gift, have them open them.  Ask the following questions:
1.  Are you disappointed in the contents of your box?  
What did you expect or hope for?
2.  Did the gift change according to the size of box?  
Did it change according to the prettiest wrapping?
3.  Did anybody get a different gift, or did you all 
get the same thing?
Did you know that some of the most special gifts are 
ones you cannot see?  My gift to you this morning is 
my love and concern for you.  My love and concern is 
what keeps me praying for you and teaching you in this 
class.  In our Bible story today Jesus sends a special 
gift to His disciples.  It too was a gift you couldn't 
see, but it was a wonderful gift and had powerful 
effects.  GO STRAIGHT INTO THE BIBLE STORY.


GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - BIBLE STORY NEWSFLASH

Materials needed:
Legal size paper (5 sheets)
Pencils
Colors or colored pencils
Rulers
Scotch tape
Write-on/wipe-off board OR chalk board OR poster 
board plus mediums to write with

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Write the following captions on a write-on/wipe-off 
board, chalk board or piece of poster board.
MAN VOTED INTO DISCIPLESHIP POSITION
PENTECOST CELEBRATED IN JERUSALEM
FLAMES OF FIRE AND SOUND OF WIND PHENOMENA
MANY LANGUAGES HEARD IN ONE PLACE
GIANT REVIVAL NETS 3,000

WHAT THE STUDENTS DO:
Have the children work separately or in pairs.  
Assign younger Primaries to be with older
Primaries.  If you have more than 10 in the class, 
make more than one newspaper.  Give each
child or pair of children a piece of legal size paper, 
a pencil, some crayons or colored pencils, and
a ruler.  After telling the bible story, assign them 
one of the above captions to write about and draw a 
picture for.  Make sure they write the caption above 
their work.  Encourage them to make it exciting, 
interesting and newsworthy.  When the children are 
finished, tape all the pages together and read to 
the whole class as a newspaper.


GETTING INTO SCRIPTURE - MEMORY VERSE RELAY

Materials needed:
A gift-wrapped box from the Getting their attention 
activity above
Bibles

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
There are no advance preparations necessary.

WHAT THE STUDENTS DO:
Divide the children into groups of six.  Line them 
up vertically about 2 feet apart.  Give the gift to
the first child in line.  He turns to the child 
behind him and says, "Repent and be baptized..."  He
then passes the gift to him.  The second child turns 
to the child behind him and says, "....every one
of you," and passes the gift to him.  This continues 
on down the line with the verse being divided
in the following way:  
1.  Repent and be baptized
2.  Every one of you
3.  In the name of Jesus Christ
4.  For the forgiveness of your sins
5.  And you will receive
6.  The gift of the Holy Spirit
When the last child in line has received the gift He 
returns to the first child in line and says, "the
gift of the Holy Spirit" and presents him with the 
gift.  This activity can be done several times
changing the children's position in line, so they can 
learn all portions.  If you have more than six
children make several lines.  If you have a smaller 
Sabbath school increase the portions of scripture 
that each child says.


ACTING ON SCRIPTURE - WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Materials needed:
Write-on/wipe-off board OR chalkboard OR poster board
Medium to write on board

WHAT THE TEACHER DOES: (To prepare ahead)
Copy the following blanks on the board.  

_____     _______   _______   ________  ________

_____ ______   ______   _______   _______   _____  

______   _____   _____   ______

_____  ______  ______  ______  ______  ______  ______

Write the alphabet across the top or bottom of the board.

WHAT THE STUDENTS DO:
The above blanks contain words that tell us what the 
Holy Spirit gives us or does for us when He is sent 
to us.  Give the children turns guessing letters of 
the alphabet.  When a letter is guessed all places in 
the words where that letter occurs are filled in.  The 
answers are:  
POWER, REPENTANCE, COMFORT