Rotation.org Writing Team

Pentecost: Wind, Fire, and Faith!

Joel 2, Acts 2, Me 2 !  ...a Model Rocket Workshop

Summary of Activities

"The Holy Spirit powers our faith! Our church is your launchpad, and here are the things which guide us as we soar..." In this very special workshop, your students will prepare a model rocket and launch it —taking their understanding and enthusiasm to new heights in a lesson they'll never forget about Pentecost and the empowering Holy Spirit.

About Model Rockets and This Lesson

Even if you've never launched a model rocket, you can do this lesson. It's easy, safe, and spectacularly memorable. This lesson invites your students to label the "pieces" of the rocket, launchpad and launch experience —relating them to key ideas and key phrases from the Pentecost story to launch their faith to new insights and heights, powered by the Holy Spirit and the exciting experience of launching a model rocket (two or three times!)

There are many different sizes and "power levels" of model rockets. Typically, rocket engines are rated A through D, with 'A' rockets being the least powerful, lowest flying, and thus, easiest to use in a small space, such as a church parking lot. If you have a larger area, you can use a stronger rocket for greater height.

When the rocket burns out, it discharges a blast of mighty wind which pops the rocket top and deploys the shoot. Your rocketeers will add a bit of confetti to make this visible.

Undoubtedly, you have someone in your congregation who has launched model rockets when they were young. This is an excellent opportunity to reach out to them.  They may have a rocket to share, and a launch "tower," or be willing to assemble an inexpensive rocket for you. You can also buy an inexpensive kit that comes with a pre-assembled rocket, launch platform, a pack of rocket "engines," and an ignition device for under $40 from various online stores (check "Estes"––the most well-known name in model rockets). Rockets are made of paper tubes and balsa wood or plastic fins.

Your Pentecost Rocket - As part of your Bible study, your students create a design on the rocket that includes Acts 2 scripture, perhaps a prayer, and a name for your rocket. They'll also label the "guidance fins" and write on the parachute, and the confetti which will float down after the launch.

A note about safety:
Model rocket engines have been used safely for decades. Launched by an adult after a "countdown" and with the kids at a safe distance, they zoom up super-fast, and blow their top to deploy their parachute, then float back down. Aiming, tracking and recovering the rocket is a lot of fun (and are metaphors for discussion as well.)  Launching is best done in a field, but can be done in a parking lot as well. Most rockets are featherweight, but if you have cars or structures, be sure to get one that is paper and wood, and not plastic, so as not to scratch anything on the way down. Be sure to do your own TEST LAUNCH to make sure your fins are straight and that your nosecone comes off easily at apogee so the parachute will deploy.

Scripture for the Lessons

Acts 2:1-8, 12-18, 36-47 ~ the story of Pentecost
(Teachers should read the entire story Acts 1:1-2:41)

Key/Memory Verse
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” -- Acts 1:8 (NRSV)

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives, and lots of great "ways to explain this story" to your kids.

Consult the "Additional Study and Talking Points" at the end of this lesson for more insights to share.

Preparation and Materials

• Read the Bible Background and scripture.
• Bibles.
• Pre-assembled model rocket, launch pad, rocket engines, parachute with wadding, ignition device (under $40).
• Confetti you can write on.  (Strips of tissue paper, approximately 1" x 1/2")
• Pens to write messages.
• Markers to label parts of the rocket.
• Test launch (be sure your nosecone isn't too tight and the parachute deploys).

Lesson Plan

Open

Welcome students and describe the activities for the day, and show them the rocket.

Tell them that after the Bible study, they will need to name their rocket, name the guidance fins, the parachute, and write on the confetti prior to launch —all based on ideas and verses from Acts 2.  

TIP: You do not need to belabor any of these points, as you will have time to reinforce and expand on them out at the launch pad.

Read the scripture, then ask the following questions, and begin to label the parts of the rocket and launch system:

What words in this scripture remind you of a rocket launch?  (wind, flames, visions and dreams?)  

What was the disciple's "launchpad"?

What was keeping the disciples from launching their ministry/church?

What was the thing that lit the disciples on fire and launched them into the crowd?

What is the church's "engine"?

Who powers us?   ...write this on the rocket engine.

We are powered by God's Spirit, but what guides us?  ...label each fin.  (scripture, Spirit, prayer, church, parents, pastor, experiences, mistakes, successes we learn from)

What launches us in our faith? ...write this on the launchpad.  (family? an encounter with God? church? Sunday School?)

What sign should be put on the launchpad?  (church? worship? Sunday School?)  How are each of those a "launchpad" for your faith?   You are on that launchpad right now, aren't you, but why do some people launch and others just seem to sit on the "pad" ??

Based on all our insights thus far, and looking again at Peter's quoting of Joel's vision in Acts 2, let's decide on a name for our rocket and write it on the side of the rocket.

Now pass out pieces of confetti. These will be placed loosely in the rocket between the 'wadding' and the parachute. You can only place about six or seven pieces of confetti. It must go between the wadding and the parachute. (The wadding keeps the heat from the rocket from burning the parachute. What uplifting message from Acts 2 would we like to include and have float down on people if they were to find our slips of confetti?

Now look at the parachute and decide what message to write on it based on the Acts 2 scriptures.  The parachute is a form of protection, a promise.

Launch!

After labeling the rocket, fins, rocket engine, parachute, confetti pieces, launchpad, and assembling all of it, take it outside to begin your launches. Reinforce key points as you work.

Be sure to pick a location and direction for your launch that takes into account wind-drift.  As you're aiming the rocket, ask your students, "Who aims your life?"  "What happens if you aim your life in the wrong direction?"  

Go over safety rules, and recovery rules. If you have a large empty field, the kids can chase to recover the rocket. If there are cars/streets, you will want to pre-position students and adults just prior to launch in the expected recovery area, rather than have them run after the rocket. The rocket engine will be warm after it is spent.

Recover and Reflect!

You'll reflect in-between launches, extended the metaphor, doing more "compare and contrast." See the "Additional Bible Study and Talking Points" below for suggestions.

Finally, pass around additional pieces of blank confetti to each student and a marker. Ask them to write a message they'd like to share with others about the Holy Spirit/Pentecost based on Acts 2 and their experience today, and then put those confetti pieces in their pocket. Conclude with a prayer that each of us would welcome the Holy Spirit to launch our faith, and "pop" our nosecone confetti among friends so that they would hear from us what a great and saving God we worship.

Additional Bible Study & Talking Points for this Lesson

The story of Pentecost is the story of the one thing all believers need: the Holy Spirit empowering our lives, to lift us up and make us bold disciples. As the story reminds us, the Holy Spirit is not always quiet or subtle. At Pentecost, it came in like a mighty wind and appeared like flames.

The Rocket: Our rocket (church, faith life, courage to proclaim Jesus is Lord) is nothing without the engine (Holy Spirit) that powers it.  We are called to proclaim, not just sit here doing nothing or just fizzling. We are called to let the Spirit lift us up, —to have vision,  —to get up where we can see what's coming, —and to tell others about the Christ that we have seen, heard, and believed.

Acts 2 says that God pours out his Spirit on EVERYONE, but we learn from the rocket that we need GUIDANCE. At Pentecost, Acts 2 says that God poured out his Spirit in a way to bring people TOGETHER to worship and learn and care for one another. You can be filled with God's Spirit, but then also need guidance. That's why we come to church and read scripture.

The Launchpad: Sunday School can build you (the rocket), and put you on the launch pad (the church), but for your faith to really take off, you need to invite the Holy Spirit within you.

The Launch: Through Joel 2 and Acts 2, God promised to perform miracles in the sky.  And that's what we're going to do today. But let me tell you a secret: we pray today that the miracle won't really be in the sky, but in your heart. That you would believe in Jesus, and today dedicate your life to him, and be empowered by his Spirit to live the life he calls you to, and tell others about him.  God doesn't call us to fizzle or sit on the launchpad.

The Recovery:  ...so we can launch again. Is life in the Holy Spirit always flying high? What do disciples do to re-ignite?  What happens to us when we "crash and burn"?

What label do we want to put on this rocket:  How about "Joel 2, Acts 2, Me 2 !"

In addition - Try This Dramatic Variation!  
If you have a spare rocket and a big field, remove one of the fins to show how a Spirit-powered disciple still needs GUIDANCE to soar in their faith. Stand way back and fire off the rocket with missing fin.

Tip:  Write down the insights you want to share and questions to ask and take them with you to the launch site (you might forget them in all the excitement).

Written by Neil MacQueen for the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2016, Rotation.org Inc

Photo permission: Children at launch from The Bemidji Pioneer
Other photos from retailers: Estes Rockets and Apogee