Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

PENTECOST/PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH

Objectives:

1. Understand that Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.
2. Know that the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost.
3. Understand the importance of baptism and chrismation.

Possible Lesson Plan:

1. Open with prayer.

2.   Read the stories in Acts 2:1-8, 14-15, 36-47 and Acts 8:26-40. Review with the students the story of Theophany, the baptism of Jesus.  Where was he baptized? By whom?  Who spoke and what appeared? Look at the icon and review.

Discussion: What happened at Pentecost? Who descended? Who is the Holy Spirit? In which other feast did we meet the Holy Spirit? (as a dove at Theophany) In what sacrament do we receive the Holy Spirit? (Chrismation - Greek “chrisma” meaning anointing)  How does the Spirit, God Himself, dwell in us? How can we tell He does – did we see tongues of fire? This is a great mystery, as are all the sacraments.  Why is He called “Comforter”?

          Why do we decorate the Church in green? (as a sign of the life the Holy Spirit brings us) In what way is Pentecost the birthday of the church? (the first Christians were baptized by the apostles) What changed the frightened disciples into the power-filled apostles? How did the apostles use their new power in the Holy Spirit?

          Why were there so many Jews in Jerusalem from all over the world at that time (50 days after Passover) anyway? (They are also celebrating Pentecost, the giving of the Law 50 days after Passover on Mt. Sinai; it is also the “Feast of Weeks” and the thanksgiving for the harvest) So the Old Covenant Pentecost, the Law, is supplanted by the New Covenant Pentecost, the Spirit.

          How do we end the Pentecost celebration? (with kneeling vespers, we again kneel in a spirit of penitence, which we will keep until the next Paschal season.

            Discuss the story of the Ethiopian a bit. Philip was told by God to talk to this stranger. It takes a lot of nerve to walk up to some stranger and strike up a conversation, especially one about God. Can you walk up to the new kid in the playground and tell them the good news about Jesus and His resurrection? Every day God puts people in our lives who do not know the Lord. How could we share the love of Jesus with these people? “Gospel” means “good news” and people need good news today for sure. Because Philip told him about Jesus, the Ethiopian believed, was baptized, and took the good news back to his home in Africa!

3. We’ve now met all the Persons of the Trinity. This is a mystical concept, confusing to even adults. But let’s discuss it briefly. Practice making the sign of the cross and saying “in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Who is the Father? Remind the children of the Lord’s Prayer; say it together. Who is the Son? (Jesus) Who is the Holy Spirit?

4. Simple craft? Take 3 craft sticks and glue together in a triangle. Write Father, Son, Holy Spirit on each one. One triangle, 3 sides. Trinity snack? How about 3-flavor Neopolitan ice cream? 1 sundae, 3 flavors.

5.  Review the service of baptism: What happens and why? How many were baptized at Pentecost? What was the first thing Philip did with the eunuch from Ethiopia? Why was this step important? With Pentecost and the baptism of the minister from Ethiopia, God’s word about Jesus was already spreading. Many of the people baptized at Pentecost settled in Jerusalem, but many returned to their own countries. The minister returned to Ethiopia in Africa and there began the Ethiopian Church, still in existence today.

4. Now think about the service of chrismation, the descent of the Holy Spirit, which occurred the first time at Pentecost. How did the Spirit descend then? Do we see tongues of fire now?

5. Play a learning game: Bible Match – Write a question from today’s lesson on one slip of paper and the answer on another. Give each student one piece of paper. Each student must find his partner; the one with the answer to the question. Then they sit down together. If class is small, you may need to play twice.

How did the Holy Spirit appear at Pentecost?                       Tongues of Fire

Who preached at Pentecost?                                                   Peter

How many were baptized at Pentecost?                                 3000

Who baptized the eunuch?                                                     Philip

Where was the eunuch from?                                                 Ethiopia

6.   Make a Diorama: Take a shoebox. Glue light blue paper in the back and decorate with

Clouds of cotton, etc. Instead of grass on the bottom, since this is the desert, try sandpaper. Make chariot with a cup and wheels of cardboard with a pipe-cleaner axle and shafts. People can either be made from pictures cut from icons and taped to a pipe-cleaner stand or shaped completely from a pipe-cleaner (2 for a horse). Stick legs in clay to stand up. Arrange nicely in box. Can you tell the story from your diorama?

Too involved for your space and time period? Take the icon figures, cut them out, bend the bottom back so they will stand up. Tape or staple to a piece of sandpaper on a paper plate. 

8. Close with prayer: Lord, help me to share your love with someone each day, as Philip did with the eunuch.