1. Tech Que: “Strike a Pose” Title Graphic

2. (Enter the teaching area while holding a deflated balloon
(Enter the teaching area while holding a deflated balloon.) Hello everybody! I hope you’re ready for the very last week of…(strike a crazy pose) “Strike a Pose!” For one more week we’ll be striking different poses like a statue to learn about some of the very first followers of Jesus.

3. Before we get started, though, I want you to look at this balloon
Before we get started, though, I want you to look at this balloon. (Hold up deflated balloon.) How many breaths do you think it would take me to blow this balloon all the way up? (Take guesses from kids.) Those are some great guesses. Are you ready to find out how close you are? (Kids respond.) Alright—count out loud as I blow it up.

4. (Blow the balloon up as kids count along with each breath
(Blow the balloon up as kids count along with each breath. Stop blowing when the balloon becomes very full and pinch the end closed.) Whoa—some of you were really (or kind of) close! It took me...(as you begin to announce the number of breaths, release the balloon and allow it to blow away.) Oh no!

5. Look defeated while retrieve the balloon
Look defeated while retrieve the balloon. Give it a couple more pitiful breaths. After each breath, resume the counting from where you left off. (For example, blow, 10, blow, 11.)

6. Oh never mind. (Give up and let the couple of breaths out
Oh never mind! (Give up and let the couple of breaths out. Hold up deflated balloon.) Have you ever felt like this balloon before? Like all the air has escaped you. Like you’re deflated, defeated, and discouraged. I have!

7. Share a story about a time when you felt discouraged or defeated
Share a story about a time when you felt discouraged or defeated. Make it a story where you were able to recover through the giving, help or encouragement of another person, but don’t share that part of the story until later.

8. We’ve probably all felt that way before—like we’re a little bit deflated. That’s nothing new, though! There were even people in the early church who felt that way, but they had a guy who knew just what to do when that happened. Let’s find out who it was and what he did. Tech Que: “Big Bible Story” Graphic

9. Invite three kids to join you in the teaching area
Invite three kids to join you in the teaching area. Decide which kid will play each of the following characters: Poor Person, Barnabas, and Saul. Tell the kids to remain stiff like a statue throughout the story. When indicated in the story, reposition the kid’s bodies as described, then have them hold that position.

10. With the help of the Holy Spirit, more and more people became followers of Jesus. A lot of the people who followed Jesus had enough money and possessions to take care of themselves, but others didn’t. (Place a donut in Poor Person’s hand and position near mouth.)

11. Some of the followers of Jesus didn’t have enough to eat, (place a pillow in Poor Person’s other arm and hold against body) or a place to sleep, (drape a jacket over Poor Person’s shoulders) or clothes to wear. But God had a plan for how to take care of those people—He would use His church!

12. God’s church isn’t a building
God’s church isn’t a building. The church is all of the people who love and follow Jesus. When one person in the church couldn’t take care of themselves, the other people would jump in to help. They would sell some of their extra stuff and give the money to the poor.

13. One of those people was named Barnabas
One of those people was named Barnabas. The Bible says that Barnabas was “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” (Acts 11:24) (Make Barnabas hold hands out with palms up. Place some paper money in his hands.)

14. One day, Barnabas sold some land that he owned and gave all of the money to the disciples so they could buy food, shelter and clothes for people who needed them.

15. Barnabas wasn’t just giving, he was also a great helper
Barnabas wasn’t just giving, he was also a great helper. (Put Paul’s hands to his mouth as if calling out.) There was a man named Paul who was trying to tell everyone he could about Jesus. There was only one problem—Paul was also called Saul at one time. And before Saul knew Jesus, he tried to arrest and kill Jesus’ followers.

16. (Remove props from Poor Person and place them in a running position
(Remove props from Poor Person and place them in a running position.) Now, when the followers of Jesus saw Saul coming, they would run away in fear. (Move Barnabas next to Paul and put his arm around Paul’s shoulder.) But Barnabas knew that Saul had changed, so he decided to help him. He took Saul to the disciples and told them all about how Jesus had appeared to Saul and changed his life.

17. With the help of Barnabas, the followers of Jesus were willing to give Saul a second chance. And with the help of Barnabas, Saul was able to travel all over the world and tell people about Jesus.

18. Not only was Barnabas giving and helpful, he was encouraging too
Not only was Barnabas giving and helpful, he was encouraging too. In fact, the name Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” (Make Barnabas hold hands out with palms up. Place an open Bible in his hands.) In the city of Antioch, there was a huge number of people who heard about Jesus and started to believe in Him for the first time.

19. But they were discouraged because they wanted to know more about Jesus and there was no one to teach them. So Barnabas traveled all the way there to teach them everything He knew about Jesus.

20. More than that, Barnabas encouraged the new believers to stay faithful to Jesus with all of their heart. (Have audience applaud for helpers and dismiss them.) Tech Que: “Big Bible Story Questions” Graphic

21. At the end of the Bible story ask the kids the following questions: What was your favorite part of this story? What are some ways that Barnabas helped the followers of Jesus? What difference did Barnabas make in the lives of the believers? What could you do to be more like Barnabas? After a few minutes, draw their attention back to the teaching area.

22. (Hold up deflated balloon again
(Hold up deflated balloon again.) In our story for today, some of the early followers of Jesus were feeling a lot like this balloon— deflated. Fortunately, they didn’t stay that way because they had Barnabas to encourage and build them up. Let’s see if we can remember all of the ways he did that.

23. Ahead of time, fill a 16.9 fluid ounce clear plastic water bottle halfway with vinegar. In a separate small container, measure out 2 tablespoons of baking soda. At this time, insert the small end of a funnel into the opening of the balloon.

24. When some of the believers didn’t have enough money for food, shelter and clothing, what did Barnabas do? (Take answer.) That’s right—he sold some of his land and gave the money to the disciples so they could help the poor people. (Place a spoonful of baking soda into the balloon using the funnel.) Let’s pretend this spoonful of baking soda is “giving.”

25. When Saul wanted to tell people about Jesus, but people ran away from him in fear, what did Barnabas do? (Take answer.) Right again—he helped Saul by taking him to the disciples and telling them how Saul had met Jesus and changed his life. (Place another spoonful of baking soda into the balloon.) Let’s pretend this spoonful of baking soda is “helping.”

26. When the new believers in Antioch were discouraged because there was no one to teach them about Jesus, what did Barnabas do? (Take answer.) You got it—he taught them everything he knew and encouraged them to stay faithful to Jesus. (Place the remainder of baking soda into the balloon.) Let’s pretend this spoonful of baking soda is “encouraging.”

27. (Remove funnel and hold up deflated balloon
(Remove funnel and hold up deflated balloon.) Some of the early followers of Jesus were feeling deflated, but Barnabas poured into them by giving, helping and encouraging. And look at the effect it had on those people.

28. Securely attach the balloon to the mouth of the water bottle
Securely attach the balloon to the mouth of the water bottle. When attached, hold the balloon upright so the baking soda pours into the bottle with vinegar. The chemicals will react and gas will inflate the balloon.

29. The followers of Jesus weren’t deflated anymore
The followers of Jesus weren’t deflated anymore. Barnabas had filled them with encouragement. He had built them up by giving and helping. In fact, Barnabas had done exactly what the Bible tells us to do. Let’s take a look. (Tell kids to open their Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 5:11a. Choose a kid to read it aloud or read it aloud yourself.)

30. Tech Que: Bible Verse Slide 1 Thessalonians 5:11a That verse isn’t just for Barnabas—it’s for all of us! God wants for every single one us to encourage and build each other up. If we see someone in need, we can give to them. If we see someone who’s having trouble, we can help them. If we see someone who’s feeling down, we can encourage them. That’s what someone did for me! Do you remember the story that I told earlier?

31. Briefly recount the story about feeling discouraged or defeated
Briefly recount the story about feeling discouraged or defeated. Finish the story by sharing how someone made a difference by giving, helping, or encouraging you.

32. That person was like a Barnabas to me
That person was like a Barnabas to me! And you could be a Barnabas to someone else. God is still building His church today—He’s still adding people to this big family of believers. And He wants you to be a part of it by encouraging others and building them up. Let’s pray and ask God to help us do that. Tech Que: “Strike a Pose” Title Graphic