Preteen Lesson on Purpose
Use this lesson to help preteens understand their purpose as a follower of Jesus.
The lesson is based around these Bible verses: Acts 9:1-22 and 2 Corinthians 5:17.
It also includes a fun opening game – Straight Line, Squiggly Line.
Enjoy!
– Nick Diliberto, Preteen Ministry
Topic – Purpose
OPENING ACTIVITY: Straight Line, Squiggly Line
SUPPLIES
Pens/markers
Sheet of paper for each preteen
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
Give each preteen a blank sheet of paper and a pen or marker.
Have them pass the paper to the person on their right.
Instruct that person to draw a straight line anywhere on the page.
The line can be any size and point in any direction.
Pass the paper back to the original owner.
Instruct preteens to now pass the paper to the person on their left.
Instruct that person to draw a squiggly line anywhere on the page.
The squiggly line can be any size, shape, or direction.
Pass the paper back to the original owner.
Give each preteen 3-5 minutes to make a “new creation” using the lines drawn on their page.
After preteens have finished, judge the drawings and choose a winner for “Most Creative” or “Best Drawing.”
After the activity, say: You made some great “art!”
You were given a straight line and a squiggly line, but you managed to create something beautiful out of it.
Your drawing had a “new purpose”.
We are going to talk today about someone whose life was changed when he met Jesus.
Jesus gave him a “new purpose”.
TEACH
Do you remember Paul from the Bible?
He was a great missionary of the Gospel and he wrote several books of the Bible.
But Paul was not always Paul.
Paul used to be Saul.
Saul had a life-changing experience one day that also changed his name.
Open your Bibles to Acts 9.
Acts 9 tells us the story of Saul.
Saul did not believe in Jesus.
In fact, Saul was so opposed to Jesus that he persecuted those that did believe in Him.
He made it his mission to arrest and punish those that preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
On one occasion, Saul had permission to go and hunt down Christians in the city of Damascus.
This is where Saul’s life would change.
On the way to Damascus, something happened.
Read Acts 9:3-4
Saul was knocked off his horse by this bright light.
We don’t know how bright it was, but it must have been pretty impressive to startle the horse and send Saul tumbling to the ground.
Saul was probably terrified but he decided to ask whom it was that was speaking to him.
Read Acts 9:5-6
It was Jesus!
Jesus was the light that had knocked Saul off his horse and stopped him from going to Damascus.
Then, Jesus gave him specific instructions on what to do next.
You see, Jesus had a different plan for Saul.
Instead of persecuting Christians, Jesus was calling Saul to follow Him and lead others to Christ.
The whole incident left him blind for three days.
God sent a man named Ananias to confirm the calling the Jesus had given Saul—to preach to Gospel to others.
After Ananias spoke to Saul, he could see again.
This experience was definitely life changing for Saul.
The Bible says that Saul believed in Christ and was baptized.
Afterward, he decided to change his name to Paul so that everyone would know about his change of heart.
Saul was an enemy of God, but now Paul was a follower of Christ.
He was a new person and a new creation.
Listen to these words that Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Paul understood that an encounter with Jesus changes everything.
When we begin a relationship with Him, he makes something new.
He has the power to transform us into a new creation.
We discover our purpose when we meet Jesus. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus said, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
The men that met Jesus that day had a life-changing experience.
Each of them dropped everything and began to follow Jesus so that they could teach others about Him.
After we begin a relationship with Jesus, he gives us a “new purpose”, which is for us to share Him with others.
After Paul met Jesus, he became the most determined follower of Christ.
He shared Jesus with people all round the world!
He was beaten, put in prison, even almost murdered—but he continued to share the Gospel just like Jesus had called him to do.
Jesus gave him a new identity and a new purpose.
Paul spent the rest of his life trying to fulfill the purpose that Jesus had given him.
There are many ways that you can share Jesus with others.
You can serve at church.
You can share your testimony with friends at school.
You can create opportunities to serve others in your community just to show them that Jesus loves them too.
Let’s pray and then head to small groups to discuss some ways that we can fulfill this new purpose that God has given us.
Pray and dismiss preteens to small groups.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Break into small groups and discuss the following questions:
Why do you think Saul changed his name to Paul? Why couldn’t he keep the same name?
How did Paul’s life change after He met Jesus?
What do you think Paul meant when he said those in Christ were a “new creation?”
What are some ways that you can point others to Jesus?
In Acts 22 and 29, Paul shares this story with other people so that they would believe in Jesus. Have you ever shared you faith story with someone? If not, what would make it easier for you to do so?
What tools has Jesus given us to help us with our new purpose/mission?
SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY: The Change
Supplies: food coloring, test tubes with caps (http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/test-tubes)
Give each preteen a test tube filled with water.
Discuss some ways that preteens can share Jesus with friends of family.
As you discuss, pass the food coloring around to each preteen.
Instruct them to place 3 to 4 drops into the test tube and watch the color change that occurs.
Explain that this change is a reminder for the change that occurs when we meet Jesus Christ.
He changes our lives and gives us a new purpose.
ONE YEAR PRETEEN CURRICULUM, VOLUME 3 – One year of preteen ministry curriculum designed to help 4th-6th graders explore their faith and wholeheartedly follow Jesus.
4 Replies to “Preteen Lesson on Purpose”
Josh
First let me say thank you for providing lessons such as this free of charge. With tight budgets and packed schedules your studies are an excellent resource to tap into. We are currently using the back to school series on work with our students.
As I always tell my students, it is important that they are constantly in the word so that they can fact check what I am teaching them. I am not perfect and get it wrong sometimes. It is in this spirit that writing this now.
In this lesson you state that Paul experienced a name change due to his redefined purpose. This is a common misconception due to the usage of names beginning in Acts 13. We tend to view this change in the same light as Abram to Abraham or Jacob to Israel, since these men also experienced a significant work of God in their lives. When it comes to the Apostle Paul this is not the case.
Being a Roman citizen, Paul would have had three names. The last of those names being the Latin for Paul. The other two names have been lost to history. It was also common for a fourth name to be given at birth. This name would have been used in a more informal or cultural context, for Paul this would be the Jewish name of Saul.
Acts 13:9 states, “But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him” (ESV). Note the important “also.” Acts 13 is a significant chapter as Paul transitions his work from primarily being Jewish oriented to focus more on getting the gospel to the gentiles. In Jewish circles Paul would have always been known as Saul. To the gentile masses Saul would have always been known as Paul. As Luke is compiling the book of Acts, he is simply noting this transition. There is no doubt that Paul experienced a significant change in his life, but his conversion was not highlighted with a name change.
Again, you do great work, and I am thankful for the resources you provide. I hope this is not taken as overly critical, but if something as simple as a name change is misspoken, how can our students trust that we are rightly imparting the deeper truths of Scripture?
Nick Diliberto
Josh, thanks for your thoughts here. Appreciate them!
Camdenlli
Thank you for sharing this lesson! This is just what I needed!
Nick Diliberto
You’re welcome! We’re glad you can use it!
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