The Message: “Christ Alone”

“You will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Dear Parents,

The church in Antioch praised God for His grace to Paul on his first missionary journey. Though Paul and Barnabas were strongly opposed in some places, many people heard the gospel and believed. Paul and Barnabas took the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. But a problem arose when some Christians began saying that the new followers of Jesus—the Gentile believers—needed to obey the Law of Moses in order to be right with God.

Paul and Barnabas debated this issue with other church leaders in Jerusalem. They met together to answer a tough question: Can a person be saved by faith alone or was something more needed? When Paul addressed the council, he insisted that God saves Gentiles the same way He saves Jews: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Paul testified to the things God had done among the Gentiles. God had given Gentiles the Holy Spirit. James cited the prophets Amos and Isaiah in support. The group agreed that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, He alone is all we need to be saved. They also agreed that they should not make salvation more difficult for Gentiles by adding unnecessary rules.

The church chose two men—Judas and Silas—to go with Paul and Barnabas to the church at Antioch. They wrote a letter for the Gentile believers there, encouraging them and giving them instructions for how to live as followers of Christ.

The church leaders met in Jerusalem to answer a tough question: Can a person be saved by faith alone or was something more needed? The early church agreed that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, He alone is all we need to be saved.

The message for the Gentile believers was important: Whether Jew or Gentile, salvation comes only through faith in Christ. No one is saved by the law but by grace alone. Emphasize to your kids that, while the Bible does give us plenty of instruction for how to live, sinners are made right with God only by the grace of Jesus. Salvation is a gift. To receive this gift, Jesus is all we need.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

KEY PASSAGE: Acts 1:8

BIG PICTURE QUESTION:

• How do people hear about Jesus? God uses Christians to tell others about Jesus.

BIBLE STORY:
PAUL’S CONVERSION AND BAPTISM

• Saul saw a bright light on the 
road to Damascus.
• Jesus spoke to Saul.
• God sent Ananias to Saul to 
heal Saul’s eyes.
• Jesus saved Saul from his sins.

FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS:

• How did Jesus change Saul when He saved him?
• Why would Ananias have been afraid to visit Saul at first?
• Why were people amazed to hear Saul telling people about Jesus?

FAMILY ACTIVITY:

• Take a long walk with your family. Talk about how Paul must have felt to see a bright light.
• Invite those in your family who have trusted in Jesus to tell how their life changed after becoming a Christian.

NEXT WEEK “Paul’s Second Journey” (Acts 16:11-34)