The Early Church

An Agape Feast Food Lesson

Summary of Lesson Activities:

This is a wonderful lesson teaching about the early church's practice of the Agape Feast. But more importantly, it demonstrates BEING a Fellowship that Feasts together.

Scripture Reference:

Acts 2:42-47

Bible Background

Major Impressions:
The early church, filled with the Holy Spirit, saw God work in amazing ways. They were filled with holy fear, awe, and wonder at the miracles and provision of God. Community and Koinonia led to sweet magnetic joy. The Pentecost flames seemed to spread as 3,000 new believers joined the Church. When God’s people come together and follow God (through prayer, worship, agape meals, Lord’s supper?, and teaching), Christ is glorified and made known.

Then and There:
History of the birth of Christianity, it was an exciting time to be a Christian, the Holy Spirit was at work, people were being baptized, turning to God, and joining into the community of believers. The church was growing stronger through prayer, fellowship, breaking of bread (Lord’s supper?) the apostles’ teaching, sharing, hospitality, and worship. But the Jews were not open to the new religion (so they met in both the synagogue and homes) and it would soon become illegal. The church was small and in the minority but growing. The Acts 2 church seems to be in the honeymoon stage (with no major persecution and no major sin issues in the church) And God was at work: miracles, joy, goodwill, and new believers daily.

Here and Now:
The same Holy Spirit at work in Acts 2 still dwells in the believers hearts and is still in control of the church today. Often this passage makes me feel disheartened (why is the church not growing and living in fullness like in the beginning), but it should give hope because God is unchanging. God can (and does) work through his church, despite the mess Western Civ and sin has made. The message has not changed: Christ crucified and risen, bringing the gift of new life. We need to return, I need to return, to the basics of the apostles’ teaching, prayer, fellowship, prayer, worship. Hopefully the same results will follow: joy, goodwill, and new believers to the glory of God. The Church as a bride instead of a whore.

Week One: Better Together
Acts 2:42-47

Hook: Start by talking about birthdays. The excitement of new babies (Show picture of new nephew). Do any of you have little siblings or cousins? How did you feel when they were born? Pentecost is called the “Birthday of the church.” Today we are going to learn about the exciting time when the church was brand new!

Book: Our passage takes place in Jerusalem, a big city with a lot of different people. While the church started out small it will soon be making a big impact. The church grew from a few followers of Jesus to 3,000 in one day! Think if next week at Kingdom Klub we had 3,000 kids! It would be very exciting.

Read Acts 2:41-47 (together?)

Look and Took: Love Feast!

The following "tables" are like "stations" the kids move to. Each has a guided lesson.

Teaching Table
Food: Milk
Why do we drink milk? Who else does? (babies)
Like Milk is essential to grow, learning about the Bible is essential to grow as followers of Jesus.
What are ways we can learn about God and the church?
(during this time my group will be getting a take-home kids devotional book for the unit)

Fellowship Table
Food: "M and Ms"
What is fellowship?
M and M Icebreaker (each kid picks on M and M and answers the question for their color)
R: What is your favorite subject?
O: What is your favorite sport?
Y: Where was your favorite vacation?
G: Who is your favorite singer?
B: What is your favorite season?
Br: What is your favorite color?

Breaking Bread -The Lord's Table
Food: Bread
Do you have family dinners?
Eating is a great way to know people. Talk about communion and how this might be what the passage is talking about. Either way, disciples shared their lives with one another.

Prayer Table
Food: Pretzels
What is prayer?
Tell the kids the legend of the pretzel (reminder to pray)
Share prayer requests
Pray together

Sharing Everything Table
Food: Nothing
Some people do not have enough food, people in the church shared so everyone had enough.
Draw a picture (5 mins) of something you could share or give away to help others…or some way to help other people.

Worship Table
Food: Chips and Salsa (Or Cheese and Crackers or PB and J)
What is worship?
The early church meet at the synagogue and at homes. Chips are great and so is salsa (eat a big spoonful of salsa if you are feeling adventurous), but together they are amazing! As Christians it is important to worship God at both home and church.
Share one thing you thank God for.

Praising God Table
Food: Pop Rocks
Who has had pop rocks? What do they do?
People were so excited about what God were doing they couldn’t keep it inside!
Sing a worship song

FRUITS Table
Food: Chocolate bar, Fruitbar
The very sweet results of the church was the Goodwill of the people, Joy, and more people coming to know Christ. What are the "fruits" of our labor?

A lesson by Sarah Morehouse and Susan Brunk from: Covenant UMC,
Lancaster PA

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Editor's Note:
"The Tables" --what a great concept! But they need fleshed out more, and more content. Please post your suggested improvements HERE BELOW.