​Read all or parts of ACTS 15:1-35 from your Bible or watch the Bible story video.

STORY: 

   Jewish and Gentile people were hearing the good news and trusting in Jesus. But there was a problem—the Gentile people didn’t grow up with the same rules Jewish people followed. They believed that Gentiles needed to follow the laws of Moses and that this would show they were saved.

   Paul and Barnabas had been sharing the gospel with Gentiles, and they believed these Jewish Christians were wrong. The church met together to figure out if people only needed to trust in Jesus to be saved or if people needed to also follow the laws.
 

   Peter reminded the people that no one can obey the law perfectly. Only Jesus perfectly obeyed God and never sinned. Every person sins and disobeys God. Then James reminded the church that God had always had a plan to save both Jews and Gentiles by faith in the Messiah—Jesus.

   After everyone spoke, the church decided that only faith in Jesus saves people from their sins. We can’t earn our salvation through the law. We must trust in Jesus and believe that His death and resurrection is enough to save us. 

   Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas went to the Gentiles in Antioch and gave them a letter that helped teach them what they should not do now that they were Christians. Being a Christian means we live differently from the world. Through Jesus we are changed from the inside out. Only faith in Jesus saves us from our sin.

DISCUSSION QUESTION #1:   Do we need to follow all the laws or rules of God to be saved? Why not? 

ANSWER:  Remind kids that the law was never meant to save people. Explain that the law shows us our sin because no one perfectly obeys it. Explain that the law is good because it shows us God’s perfect ways and helps us see our need for Jesus since we cannot save ourselves.

DISCUSSION QUESTION #2:   If the law can’t save us, can we live however we want? Why not?

ANSWER: Discuss how we are saved only by faith in Jesus and that we are given the Holy Spirit who changes our hearts to want to live for God. Remind kids that the church sent Barnabas, Paul, and other believers to Antioch to help the people know that Christians live to please God. Tell kids that the Holy Spirit gives us power to walk in obedience to God. 

MORNINGS:

Dear Heavenly Father, 

    God, we are so thankful for the gift of salvation through Jesus. Help us receive it by faith as we remember we cannot earn our salvation. Help us remember our mission as Christians: to make disciples of all nations by the power of the Holy Spirit.

EVENINGS: 

Dear Heavenly Father,

    Thank You that through faith in Jesus we can be saved from our sin. We recognize we could never earn the forgiveness our sins need. Please help us remember Your grace so that we can live for Your glory. Amen.