How do you want your life to end? Use this Stoning of Stephen Bible Object Lesson to discuss the race of life and how focusing on Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit is how one runs a good race.
Scripture Focus: Acts 6-7
Materials:
- White or chalk board (if you create the chart)
- Trophy, ribbon, or some other major award
Geography: Israel; Jerusalem
Background: The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the upper room and more and more people joined the new church. Miracles and preaching caused an uproar in Jerusalem. The apostles were persecuted, but they responded with thanksgiving. And more and more people were joining the early church each day.
Object and Bible Lesson for the Stoning of Stephen:
{This is a great event with which to create a comparison and contrast list. Keep it simple for young children. Show the trophy and ask:}
- Have you ever won an award? [Allow for answers.]
- What did you have to do to earn the award? [Allow for answers. Hopefully answers will include terms such as, trained hard, worked hard, studied a lot, persevered, etc.]
{Read Acts 6:1-8.}
After the apostles were persecuted, the church continued to grow and grow and grow! And because there were so many people, a complaint was made by a group of Greek Jews. They claimed that their widows were being neglected by the apostles. The twelve men did not want anyone overlooked, so they gathered everyone together and said, “Choose seven men among you so that they might do this business.” The apostles needed to teach and pray, not serve every need. Others could do that.
{Ask:}
- What type of men were to be chosen? [They were to have a good reputation, be full of the Holy Spirit, and wise.]
- What does having a good reputation mean? [Allow for answers; guide children to describe a person of good reputation as well thought of by other people.]
- What does it mean to be full of the Holy Spirit? [Allow for answers; once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of him or her; can also mean being sensitive to the Spirit and having a desire to follow the Spirit.]
- How do you know if a person is wise? [Allow for answers; explain to children that a person can know a lot of information and not be wise. On the other hand, a person can be less intelligent and be very wise. A wise person is someone who, through life experiences, knows how to use knowledge well.]
Seven men, or deacons, were chosen and one was Stephen. The scriptures say he was full of faith, the Holy Spirit, and power. He also did wonders and signs among the people.
Then a group of people started to argue with Stephen.
{On the board write: “Enemies” and “Stephen”. This story is filled with action! As you tell the story, or read the scripture, write down the verbs describing the actions of each. Read Acts 6: 8-15 and then go to Acts 7: 54-60}
| BEFORE STEPHEN’S SERMON | |
|---|---|
| ENEMIES | STEPHEN |
| Argued with him Persuaded others Stirred up people Seized him Brought him Set up false witnesses | Spoke with wisdom Full of the Holy Spirit |
| AFTER STEPHEN’S SERMON | |
| Cut to the heart Gnashed teeth Cried out Stopped their ears Cast him out Put cloaks Stoned him | Gazed into heaven Saw the glory of God and Jesus Called on God Forgave his enemies |
These enemies of Stephen were so angry! And they couldn’t seem to “beat” Stephen when he spoke and preached about Jesus.
{Ask:}
- Why could they not “beat” Stephen? [He was filled with the Holy Spirit. Stephen preached in such a way that the Council could not “beat” him.]
- What do you notice about the enemies? [Allow for answers]
- What do you notice about Stephen? [Allow for answers]
Picture this: The mob grabbed Stephen and dragged him outside the city. He was thrown down and the people surrounded him. They picked up rocks and threw them at Stephen. Stephen lifted his head up to heaven and saw Jesus standing beside the Father.
This is significant! Nowhere else in scripture do we see a picture of Jesus standing beside the Father. Usually He is sitting beside the Father.
{Ask:}
- Why is it that when Stephen saw Jesus, He was standing? [Allow for answers]
Life Application of the Stoning of Stephen:
{Show the trophy an ask:}
- Have you ever been to a race, or watched one on TV? What are the spectators doing? [Standing and jumping and yelling for the racers.]
- When you earned your trophy or award what did the audience do? [Allow for Answers. Applauded.]
The Bible tells us that every Christian is running a race, a race of life. And we want to run our race in such a way that it pleases Jesus.
I think Jesus was standing for Stephen. I think Jesus was pleased with Stephen and the way Stephen ran his race. The stoning continued and Stephen forgave his enemies. He closed his eyes…and then he was with Jesus. And I think he heard, “Well done good and faithful servant!”
Stephen was the first martyr, or person to die for his faith in Jesus. There have been many, many more martyrs through the years, including people today who are killed because they believe in Jesus.
What can we learn from the Stoning of Stephen? Life is an adventure. It’s a race. It isn’t a race where we compete with others to win, but a race we train for, persevere through, and cross the finish line of death into heaven. How will you choose to run your race? Like Stephen?
Videos for the Stoning of Stephen:
