Acts 20 v 7 – 12

Lesson Aim

To understand that God has the power over life and death.

Hook 1: Smiley faces

Obtain from the internet a whole series of smiley faces to illustrate the story. Type in ‘sad smiley face’ or ‘crying smiley face’ and it is possible to bring up hundreds showing all kinds of emotions.

Hook 2: Lamps or candles and ‘Eutychus’

If you have a small gee lamp or an old fashioned oil lamp then light it as part of the story. Alternatively light lots of tea-light candles. Turn off the normal lights and this will give an atmosphere while telling the story. Have a leader act out the part of Eutychus falling off a windowsill onto a floor cushion.

Hook 3: Questions

Have you ever fallen down from a great height? Put your hand up if you have fallen out of bed? Who has fallen out of a tree? Who has fallen off a ladder?

The man in today’s Bible story fell down a much greater height than these. Let’s find out what happened.

Story tips:

Make sure that you clearly give God the praise for raising Eutychus and not Paul.

Application

Eutychus was brought back to life by God’s power. God used Paul to perform a miracle and raise Eutychus from the dead. Who else did God raise from the dead?

Jesus was raised from the dead at the first Easter after men killed him by nailing him to a cross. Jesus rose, having paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. That is the wonderful message of Easter. Jesus the son of God died for us, for me and you, but God raised him and he is now in heaven at God’s side.