Sunday Spotlight is where we share our Children’s Ministry Bible lesson topic each week for kids of all ages. Use this lesson for a Family Night devotion or a review time to talk about what your kids learned at Calvary this week! We post a new lesson every Wednesday.

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Sunday, May 19

Lesson Title: Jesus is For All

Bible Passage: Acts 10-11

Key Passage: Romans 12:5a

Big Picture Question: What is the church? The church is all Christians everywhere, who gather together in their communities to worship and serve God.

Lesson Summary

The story of Peter’s revelation in Acts 10 reveals a core tenet in the Gospel of Jesus Christ: God saves all who come to faith in His Son, regardless of their past, cultural differences, or their upbringing. The Gospel is for all people, and it took Peter — just as it will require us today — great humility to see that God shows no favoritism. The ones whom God calls clean are clean; the ones He brings into His family are in His family forever. 

What did these visions reveal to both Cornelius and Peter? How did these animals in the vision correlate to a deeper truth about God’s gift of salvation and invitation for all? 

God prepared both Cornelius and Peter for the invitation that would change the makeup of Jesus’ church forever. Cornelius, a God-fearing Gentile centurion, was not welcome within Jewish social circles nor was he accepted in any way as clean according to Jewish beliefs. Even still, God used him to open Peter’s eyes to the reality that the Gospel builds bridges between people groups rather than dividing them even further. 

Peter’s vision seemed to be much less direct than Cornelius. Yet, God was patiently repetitive in instilling the greater message that the ones whom He purifies through faith are brought into the family of God — with no stipulations due to custom or culture. This revelation was contrary to the Jewish traditions and defied favoritism, which later caused tension within the early church (Acts 11:1-18). Still, as Peter preached the good news and declared that Jesus is Lord of all, the Holy Spirit fell on all who believed the Gospel –– confirming God's desire to save anyone who trusts in Jesus. 

Explain to your kids that the good news of Jesus Christ is for all people, and we are all called to faithfully invite others to believe the good news of Jesus Christ. May this reality be as true in our churches and social circles today as it was in Cornelius’ home all those centuries ago. 

Christ Connection

This is the big idea of how this week's Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: God showed Peter that the good news about Jesus is for everyone.

• Younger Preschool: God showed Peter that the good news about Jesus is for everyone. God wants believers to tell everyone the good news about Jesus no matter what. Jesus is the Lord of all.

• Older Preschool: God showed Peter that the good news about Jesus is for everyone. God wants believers to tell everyone the good news about Jesus no matter who they are or what they do. Jesus is the Lord of all.

• Kids: God showed Peter that just as there is no “clean” and “unclean” food in Christ, there are no “clean” and “unclean” people. God calls believers to tell everyone the good news about Jesus, no matter who they are or where they come from. Jesus is the Lord of all.

Big Picture Question & Answer

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Who is the church? The church is all Christians around the world.
   
• Older Preschool: What is the church? The church is all Christians everywhere.
   
• Kids: What is the church? The church is all Christians everywhere, who gather together in their communities to worship and serve God.

Key Passage

Romans 12:5a  This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: "We are one in Christ." (Romans 12:5a)
   
• Younger Preschool: "So we, though many, are one body in Christ." (Romans 12:5a)
   
• Older Preschool: "So we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another." (Romans 12:5a)
   
• Kids: "So we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another." (Romans 12:5a)

Next week: Peter was Rescued from Prison (Acts 12)

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