Free Bible lesson for kids · The Church Begins

Waiting and Praying

The disciples went back to Jerusalem and prayed together in an upper room with the women and Jesus’ mother and brothers, waiting for the promise of the Holy Ghost.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Acts 1:12–26
Big idea: God’s people pray together while they wait.
Memory verse: These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14 (KJV)
Ages: Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time: About 45 minutes
Included, free: Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

After Jesus went up into heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet (Acts 1:12). They went up into an upper room where Peter, James, John and the other apostles stayed (Acts 1:13). “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,” with the women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers (Acts 1:14). They were waiting for the Holy Ghost, as Jesus had told them (Acts 1:4–5).

About one hundred and twenty believers were together. Peter said someone must take the place of Judas, who had guided those who arrested Jesus (Acts 1:15–16, 21–22). They chose two men, Joseph called Barsabas and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen” (Acts 1:23–24). The lot fell on Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles (Acts 1:26).

Read it in the Bible: Acts 1:12–26 (KJV)

¹²Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. ¹³And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. ¹⁴These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. ¹⁵And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) ¹⁶Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. ¹⁷For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. ¹⁸Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. ²⁰For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. ²¹Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. ²³And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, ²⁵That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. ²⁶And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Questions to ask

Where did the disciples gather?
In an upper room in Jerusalem.
What were they doing?
Praying with one accord.
Who was chosen to take Judas’s place?
Matthias.

What this story teaches

God’s people should pray together with one heart (Acts 1:14).
Waiting on God’s promise is a time to pray (Acts 1:4, 14).
God’s Word always comes true, just as He said (Acts 1:16).
The Lord knows the hearts of all people (Acts 1:24).
We can ask God to guide our choices (Acts 1:24–26).

Jesus Helps Us Pray

Because Jesus is our great High Priest, we can come boldly to God in prayer and find help when we need it.

Hebrews 4:14–16

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Pray together for our church.
10 min	The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 min	Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God’s people pray together while they wait.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Acts 1:14 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 min	Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 min	Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.

Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes

Prayer Stations

You need: Four tables with signs and simple prompts: Thank You, I’m Sorry, Please Help, Bless Others

Kids visit each station in small groups.
At each one, they draw or say a short prayer, using the sign as a start.
Finish together in a circle.

The disciples prayed together in the upper room while they waited for God’s promise.

For youth group · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes

Prayer Chain

You need: Strips of colored paper, tape, pens

Everyone writes prayer requests on paper strips, one per strip.
Link them into a long paper chain and hang it in the youth room.
Each week, take a link, pray for it all week, and share any answers.

They “all continued with one accord in prayer.” Prayer links us together.

Pray

Pray together for our church.