Hechos para actuar - Orar es actuar

Introduction to the Series

Overview of the Series and Themes

• Welcome message introducing the series "Hechos para Actuar," focusing on the friends of Jesus and their adventures after His ascension.

• Emphasis on learning about biblical stories, particularly from the Book of Acts, with a recap of previous lessons.

Transformation of Saul to Paul

Key Biblical Figures

• Discussion on Saul's transformation into Paul after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, highlighting his love for God and evangelism.

• Introduction to Cornelius' vision and its significance in sharing God's love universally, emphasizing that God does not discriminate between Jews and Gentiles.

Understanding Prayer Responses

The Traffic Light Analogy

• Use of a traffic light as an analogy for how God responds to prayers: green (yes), red (no), yellow (wait).

• Explanation that each color represents different responses from God regarding our requests: green means we can proceed; red indicates a need to stop; yellow suggests waiting for a better time.

The Persecution of Early Christians

Contextual Background

• Introduction to King Herod Agrippa's reign in Israel and his persecution of Christians, including the arrest and execution of Apostle James.

• Description of Herod's intent to arrest Peter during Passover but delaying execution due to religious observance.

Peter’s Imprisonment and Divine Rescue

Miraculous Events

• Despite being heavily guarded, Peter remains calm, trusting in God's plan while believers pray fervently for his release.

The Miraculous Escape of Peter

The Angel's Intervention

• After crossing the door, Peter realizes he is free and understands that God sent an angel to rescue him from Herod.

• He heads to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where many believers are gathered in prayer for his release.

The Reaction of Believers

• When Peter knocks at the door, a young girl named Rhoda recognizes his voice but forgets to open the door due to her excitement.

• The other believers doubt Rhoda’s claim that Peter is outside, thinking she might be out of her mind.

Confirmation and Surprise

• Despite their disbelief, it truly is Peter at the door; when they finally let him in, they are astonished by his presence.

• Peter instructs them to lower their voices and shares how God rescued him through the angel's intervention.

Sharing the Good News

• He tells them to inform James and other church members about God's miraculous acts on his behalf.

• Recognizing Herod's intent to kill him after Passover, Peter leaves quickly to avoid being recaptured.

The Power of Prayer

• The Christians' prayers were answered as God sent an angel for Peter’s liberation; this highlights God's attentiveness to their requests.

• It emphasizes that while God may not always respond immediately or in expected ways, His answers are ultimately for our good.

Encouragement for Prayer

• Children are encouraged to maintain a prayer journal where they can note down prayer requests and track God's responses over time.

Memorization of Scripture

• A verse from 1st Peter 3:12 is introduced: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their prayers."

Understanding Righteousness

• The speaker explains that righteousness involves choosing actions pleasing to God; thus, He listens closely to those who live justly.

How to Create a Simple Communication Device

Introduction to the Experiment

• The lesson begins with an introduction to a simple experiment involving communication using two disposable cups and string.

• Instructions are provided on how to prepare the cups by making holes at the bottom and tying knots in the string for stability.

Conducting the Experiment

• The setup is completed, with one participant holding one cup while another holds the other, ensuring that the string is taut for effective sound transmission.

• A demonstration follows where one person whispers a phrase into their cup, while the other writes down what they hear, verifying if communication was successful.

Reflection on Communication

• After confirming that the experiment works, reflections are made about how simple tools can facilitate clear communication.

• The speaker draws parallels between this experiment and prayer, emphasizing that God does not require physical tools for communication.

Importance of Prayer

• It is highlighted that God is always attentive to prayers and responds according to His perfect will, unlike human-made devices which may fail.

• Encouragement is given to communicate with God through prayer during various emotional states—whether sad or happy.

The Prayer Glove Craft

Learning from Peter's Friends

• A story about Peter’s friends praying for him illustrates how prayer can lead to miraculous responses from God.

Creating a Prayer Reminder

• A craft project called "the prayer glove" is introduced as a tool to remember whom to pray for. Each finger represents different groups of people:

• Thumb: Pray for those closest (family and friends).

• Index Finger: Pray for guides (teachers and mentors).

• Middle Finger: Pray for authorities (government leaders).

• Ring Finger: Pray for those in need (the sick or weak).

• Pinky Finger: Remember to pray for oneself.

Crafting Instructions

• Materials needed include scissors, glue, markers, and fabric. Steps involve tracing hands onto fabric and cutting them out carefully.

Finalizing the Prayer Glove

• Participants are guided on assembling their gloves without gluing parts where fingers will be inserted.

• Finally, each finger of the glove is labeled with reminders of who should be prayed for daily.

Closing Remarks and Resources for Sunday School

Summary of the Session

• The speaker expresses hope that the children enjoyed their craft activity and encourages them to use it for daily prayer.

• Gratitude is extended to the children for participating in the Sunday school series titled "Hechos Hechos para Actuar."

• The speaker reminds attendees to visit their website, bsmperu.org, for activity sheets related to the session.

• Children are encouraged to follow their social media accounts on Facebook and YouTube under "PCM Perú" for more content.