In this lesson, children learn that the name of Jesus is more powerful than anything else, and that following Him means turning away from things that take His place. It suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the reading and the activity.
Big Idea
Jesus is more powerful than anything that tries to take His place, and when we follow Him we can give up the things that pull us away from Him.
Memory Verse
Acts 19:20
So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
(WEB)
Put both hands together in front of your chest, then slowly spread them wide open as you say the words. Show children how the word of the Lord grows bigger and bigger like your arms opening up.
The Story: Acts 19 for Kids
Paul travels to the city of Ephesus, where he finds a group of believers who have only been baptized the way John taught. Paul tells them about Jesus, and they are baptized in His name. When Paul prays and places his hands on them, the Holy Spirit comes to them, and they begin to speak in new languages and to tell others about God.
Paul spends a long time in Ephesus, teaching in the synagogue and then in a lecture hall every day. People from all over the region hear about Jesus. God does special miracles through Paul, so that even cloths that touched Paul’s body can heal sick people and make evil spirits leave.
Some men try to copy Paul by using Jesus’ name to chase out evil spirits. One day an evil spirit answers them, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” The man with the evil spirit attacks the seven sons of a priest named Sceva, and they run out of the house hurt and without their clothes.
Everyone in Ephesus hears what happened, and they are amazed. Many people who had been doing magic bring their scroll books of magic and burn them right in front of everyone. The books are worth a lot of money, but they burn them anyway because they want to belong to Jesus.
Later, a silversmith named Demetrius gets angry because people are no longer buying the little statues of the goddess Artemis that he sells. He calls his workers together and says, “Our business is in danger!” The people in the city begin shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” for a long time, until a town leader calms them down and sends the crowd home.
Read It Together
Acts 19:2-6
2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
(WEB)
Point out that Paul asks these believers whether they received the Holy Spirit, and that they had not even heard about Him yet. Explain that Paul teaches them more about Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit comes to them after they are baptized in His name.
Acts 19:11-12
11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
(WEB)
Show children that God’s power is what does the healing and the miracles, not Paul himself. Remind them that God can use ordinary things and people to show His love and strength.
Acts 19:17-20
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
(WEB)
Ask children what the people in Ephesus did when they saw how powerful Jesus is. Point out that they chose to burn their magic books, which shows that they wanted Jesus more than anything else.
Talk About It
- What do you think the people felt when they saw the evil spirit get the better of those men?
- Why did the believers in Ephesus decide to burn their magic books, even though the books were worth so much money?
- What are some things that might try to take Jesus’ place in our hearts today?
- How did the Holy Spirit change the people who received Him in this story?
- What can we do this week to show that Jesus is more important to us than our favorite things?
Activity Ideas
Burning Book Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a small metal bowl for safety. Have children draw something they love but want to give to Jesus, such as a toy or a game. Let them fold their drawing and place it in the bowl, then tear it up together to show how they choose Jesus over those things. Talk about how it feels to make that choice.
Ephesus Crowd Game
You will need a open space and a few chairs or cones. Choose one child to be Demetrius and the rest to be the crowd. The crowd shouts “Great is Artemis!” while the leader tries to get them to stop by holding up their hands. Then switch roles and have the children shout “Great is Jesus!” instead. Talk about how Jesus is greater than any idol.
Take-Home Verse Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and glue or tape. Write the memory verse on one side of the card and let children decorate the other side with drawings. Encourage them to take it home and show it to a family member, reading the verse together and doing the hand motion. This helps them remember the verse during the week.
Teacher Notes
This chapter shows that the good news of Jesus spreads through the power of the Holy Spirit and changes lives in visible ways. For adults, it also reveals how easily worldly interests can compete with faith, as seen in Demetrius’s concern for his profits. The chapter reminds us that God’s word grows even when people push back against it.
Avoid suggesting to children that God will always punish anyone who doesn’t follow Him right away, or that miracles happen automatically when we pray. Focus instead on God’s faithfulness and His desire for us to trust and follow Jesus.
A Prayer to Close
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are more powerful than anything in this world. Help us to follow You every day and to choose You above our favorite things. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we can love and serve You. Amen.
