This month, we’ll cover Jesus’ ascension, Mother’s Day, Pentecost, and Samuel listening to God.  We’ll also look at another great woman of the Bible – Hannah, who prayed diligently to become a mother.  Select which of the materials below you want to use for each Sunday.  May 9th is about the time of Jesus’ ascension; May 12 is Mother’s Day; and May 19th is Pentecost.

Bible Stories and Discussion Questions

Jesus Ascends
Read Mark 16:15-19; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:1-14 Jesus Goes Home; Jesus' Last Meeting with His Disciples

• According to Luke, what does Jesus do before he ascends?
• Where is Jesus going?
• In which city did Jesus tell the disciples to stay?
• What were they to do?
• What are they waiting for?
• Who wrote Acts? (Luke, Acts is volume 2)
• How are the accounts in Luke and Acts different from each other?
• How are they similar?
• How were the disciples to receive their power? (Acts 1:8)
• What were the disciples required to do?
• Who told them to leave?
• Where did they go?
• Who was in the upper room?
• Would you have been willing to serve with the 11 disciples?
• How would you tell the story of Jesus' life?

Hannah Prays For a Son
Read I Samuel 1 & 2; A Special Prayer; Hannah Gives Samuel to the Lord

• What was I Samuel about?
• Who was Hannah?
• Why did Eli ask Hannah if she had had too much to drink? (see Bible Characters - Hannah)
• What did Hannah ask God for?
• What did she promise God?
• Could you have given your child to God?
• What was Hannah's child's name?
• What was special about Samuel?
• Where did Samuel live?
• What did Hannah do for Samuel every year?
• Did Hannah have more children after Samuel?
• Do you think Hannah was a good mother? Why or why not?

Samuel Hears a Voice in the Night
Read I Samuel 3; A Voice at Night; God Calls Samuel; Samuel Listens; God Speaks to Samuel

• What did Samuel hear?
• Who was speaking to Samuel?
• Whom did Samuel think was calling him?
• What did Eli tell Samuel to do?
• Memorize the verse: I Sam 3:9 Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.
• Are you listening to God?
• Have you ever heard God speak to you?
• What is the book of I Samuel about?
• Who are the main characters?

Pentecost
Read Acts 2; Wind and Fire; The Coming of the Holy Spirit

• What is the day of Pentecost? (A Jewish harvest festival)
• When was it celebrated? (Fifty days after Passover)
• What was special about this Pentecost? (This Pentecost was 10 days after Jesus' ascension and was known as the birthday of the Christian Church.)
• What happened in that house? (Acts 2:2)
• What do you think happened to them?
• Why did people think they were drunk?
• What do you think the fiery tongues above their heads represented?
• Which prophet did Peter quote? (the prophet Joel, see Acts 2:16)
• What did he tell the people who had gathered outside the house?
• Do you know that the early church met in homes early on Sunday mornings?
• Which day was considered the first day of the workweek? (Sunday)
• What did Peter preach?
• How did people receive his message?
• How many were baptized that day?
• Why was Peter's message so moving?

Exercise: God's Qualities
List God's qualities as "Mother." Use Bible verses to support your list. For example: God comforts us like a mother.

Isa 66:13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Use a Bible concordance to help find verses that relate to the qualities on your list.

Exercise: Name some mothers in the Bible.
Make a list of mothers in the Bible.

For example: Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Hannah, the Shunamite mother, Bathsheba, Naomi, Elisabeth, Mary (mother of Jesus).

• What qualities do they have in common?
• What makes each one different?
• What makes a great mother?
• What do we learn about mothering from each one?
• Who is missing from the list?

Exercise: What Kind of a Mother was Hannah?
Who was Hannah? What was her special request from God? What did she promise Him? Think about how hard it would be to give up a child you love. Could you do it? Would you do it?

Exercise: Ascension are you ready?
Put the names of the disciples in a hat. Let each student pull a name. Each student is now that disciple. Ask each one how he felt when:

• Jesus was crucified?
• Jesus was resurrected?
• Jesus said farewell and ascended into heaven?
• What are you feeling now that Jesus is gone?
• What are you going to do now?

Exercise: When Pentecost became a birthday party!
Plan a birthday party for the early church.

• Instead of wrapped presents, what kinds of gifts would you bring that would help the church grow?
• All parties require preparation.
  • How do you plan for this event?
  • Whom would you invite?
  • What activities would be appropriate?
• At birthday parties, people often talk about the person being celebrated.
  • What would you say about Pentecost and the birth of the church?

Exercise: Create a newspaper or magazine that features the birthday of the Early Christian Church.
Ask each Sunday school pupil to write an article or draw pictures for the publication.

Some articles or headlines might include:

• 10 Days After Jesus Ascended, the Holy Spirit Blew into Town
• Pentecost Was Never Like This
• The Barley Festival Turned Upside Down
• Peter Preaches
• The Holy Spirit Speaks So All Can Understand
• Jesus' Church Starts in a Home
• An Interview with Preacher Peter
• An Eyewitness Account of the Rushing Wind
• Interviews with Mary Magdalene; Mary, Jesus' Mom; Jesus' Brothers
• Meet the Newest Disciple – Matthias
• Who are these Women? Mary Magdalene, Joanne, Susanna [see Women Disciples]

Exercise: News Reporter (Part 2)
Ask a member of the class to act as a news reporter. He/she has to get the scoop on the day of Pentecost. Some possible questions to ask:

• What did it feel like when the Holy Spirit entered the house?
• What did you feel personally?
• How are you different now?
• What languages did you speak?
• What are you ready to do with your life?
• Tell me three things you learned from Jesus.

Exercise: Create a job description for the empty disciple post left by Judas.

• What kind of qualities should a disciple possess?
• What kind of experience is required?
• What will he or she need to do, if hired?
• Now, after filling out the job description, have each member of the class apply for the job. After they have written their applications, interview each one and explain what they will be expected to do.
  • Optional – a) the class could vote for who should be selected, or
  • (b) after the interview process, see if they still want to serve.

For games associated with the Bible stories this month go to Kids Korner Fun and Games.

For Bible stories go to Kids Korner Bible Characters.