READ the Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

TALK about the Scripture: Ludolph Van Culen died in 1610 at the age of 70. His gravestone reads, “3.14159265358979323846264338327950288…” Ludolph was a mathematician who spent his entire life trying to calculate the mathematical constant known as Pi. He was able to calculate the number up to 35 digits, which was a major accomplishment considering he didn’t have a calculator or computer.

Ludolph Van Culen had a mission. The numbers on his gravestone show just how important this mission was to him. So important in fact that he would spend his whole life working to complete it. For those who follow Jesus, life has an even greater mission.

Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He gave instructions to all His followers. The mission He gave them was to go and make other disciples by telling them about Jesus and all He had said. The Holy Spirit would fill His followers with power, and their witness would spread to the ends of the earth! Today, we carry on this mission Jesus gave to His disciples. When we become followers of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fills us with the same power to tell others about Him until the mission is complete. Our life has a mission, and it’s more than just a bunch of numbers!

Christ Connection: Jesus left earth and returned to heaven, but He did not leave us alone. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and help us do God’s work. One day, Jesus will return to make all things new and to rule as Lord over all.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: Jesus Gave His Followers a Mission

LEARN the Scripture: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

PRAY as a Family: Jesus, help us live out the mission You called us to complete. Show us the people who need to hear about You and give us the power to be Your witness to all the world.

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: How does the Holy Spirit help Christians?

A: The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God's glory.

READ the Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

TALK about the Scripture: In show business, there is a common phrase that says, “The show must go on!” This means that no matter what happens, everyone in the play is committed to continue performing until the show is complete. The actors have a mission to entertain the audience and give them their money’s worth, so this phrase is a reminder that they will complete this mission at all costs.

However, this phrase is even more true of the mission God has called His followers to complete. The disciples were committed to the mission of telling others about Jesus—even after one of their friends betrayed Jesus. They knew the mission mattered more than anything, so they chose a replacement for Judas and continued the mission.

God has called believers to spread the good news of Jesus across the whole earth and see people trust in Him as Savior and Lord. No matter what hard things we face or what might happen to us, we can keep serving others and keep sharing the good news because the mission matters. We can work together to see God do great things as He builds His church.

Christ Connection: Matthias was chosen to join the apostles in sharing what they learned about Jesus. God calls us to join in this mission of sharing the gospel, working in community and seeking Him in prayer.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: The Disciples Replaced Judas

LEARN the Scripture: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

PRAY as a Family: God, thank You for allowing us to be part of Your mission of making disciples. Help us face hard times with the attitude that Your mission matters. We want to tell the world about Jesus so they can know and follow Him!

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: How does the Holy Spirit help Christians?

A: The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God's glory.

READ the Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

TALK about the Scripture: This week’s Bible story taught us about the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Several weeks after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, the Holy Spirit came to the waiting disciples just as promised. Immediately, they were filled with power and began to share the good news with others! Peter told the people to turn away from their sins and be baptized. As the people heard the message of Jesus in their own language that day, about 3,000 of them believed in Him!

This all happened on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost is a special day when the people of Israel would celebrate God’s faithfulness to provide a plentiful harvest. When the Holy Spirit came, the disciples celebrated an incredible harvest as so many people joined them in following Jesus. On this day, the church was born, and the message of Jesus began to spread throughout the world. Now, the harvest continues as the Holy Spirit empowers every believer to share the hope of Jesus with others!

Christ Connection: God kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit’s help, Jesus’ disciples could begin their work to share the gospel with the entire world. God gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: The Holy Spirit Came

LEARN the Scripture: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

PRAY as a Family: Thank You, God, for sending Your Holy Spirit as promised. As we learn more about Jesus, help us trust in Him as Savior and Lord. Give us opportunities to share the gospel with those around us so that the whole world may hear about Jesus and believe in Him!

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: How does the Holy Spirit help Christians?

A: The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God's glory.

READ the Scripture: Galatians 5

TALK about the Scripture: Have you ever seen a fruit tree that is ready for harvest? Its branches are full of ripe fruit that is ready to be picked and enjoyed. Not only does the good fruit teach us what type of tree it is, but the fruit also shows us that the tree is healthy and growing as it should. You can tell a lot about a tree by its fruit!

When Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, he warned them about false teachers who say they had to follow the old laws of Moses in order to be saved. Paul told them to instead live by following the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in every person who trusts in Jesus, and the Spirit gives them the power to become more like Jesus.

When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes the way we think and act. As we obey the Spirit and follow Him, He begins to produce fruit in us that shows we belong to Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Just like a healthy tree produces good fruit, a growing follower of Jesus can be identified by the fruit of the Spirit!

Christ Connection: The Holy Spirit changes our minds and hearts so that we want to obey God, and He gives us power to obey. The Holy Spirit guides us as believers as we live out God’s mission for us to share the gospel in all the world.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: The Holy Spirit Changes Us

LEARN the Scripture: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

PRAY as a Family: God, thank You for giving us Your Spirit when we trust in Jesus. We want to know Jesus more so that we can grow to be more and more like Him. Help us grow and produce good fruit that honors You!

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: How does the Holy Spirit help Christians?

A: The Holy Spirit comforts us, shows us our sin, and guides us as we live for God's glory.