Game / Bible / Life Connection:  In the Game Players saw the light and ran the race better / In the Bible Saul saw the light and became a new person / In our Life We can see the light and become a new person

 This is Step 1

(socks needed)

1.  Divide into 4 teams. For each team have players partner with one other player, if there is an extra player the coach can join that team.
   2. Instruct one partner to place a blindfold (three socks tied end to end) over their eyes, explain that the player with the blindfold has to make it to the other side of the playing field.
   3. The partner without the blindfold on can talk the blindfolded player to the other side, but they cannot touch the blindfolded player. Players try to make their way to the other side.
   4. After they get to the other side, players change roles.
   5. Keep playing until all players have been a helper and the blindfolded player.

Game / Bible / Life Connection:    In the Game Players saw the light and ran the race better / In the Bible Saul saw the light and became a new person / In our Life We can see the light and become a new person

Change: Change happens all around us.  Day changes to night. Seasons change. Leaves on trees fall and new leaves are born. What is it to turn over into a new leaf? It means the old leaf is dead and gone and a bright new life emerges! Can you imagine life without change?

The story of Paul; Caterpillar to Butterfly: How many of you like caterpillars? Would you hold one in your hand? Can you imagine that the same caterpillar that destroys all the leaves on a plant goes through a transformation and becomes a beautiful butterfly!  Such are the miracles of God!

Paul or Saul: Saul was an angry man who did not like Christians at all. He abused them, beat them up, and sometimes even killed them. One day, Saul was traveling on the road to Damascus. He wanted the leaders of the city to give him permission to hurt more Christians. Suddenly, a bright light shone from above.  It surrounded Saul. He tried to cover his eyes but the light was too bright! Then, a voice spoke. “Saul! Saul!  Why do you want to persecute me? “Saul, not recognizing the voice, said, “Who are you?”

The answer came back, “I am Jesus.” Of course, Saul was terribly afraid. He was shaking and trembling and could hardly speak. In a weak voice he said, “Lord, what should I do?” Jesus replied, “Go into the city, and someone will meet you and tell you what to do.”  The friends who were with him were astonished! They didn’t see the light. They didn’t see a person. They only heard the voice.

When Saul uncovered his eyes, he couldn’t see anything. His friends had to hold his hands and lead him into the city of Damascus. For three whole days Saul couldn’t see anything at all.

Inside the city of Damascus: The people were still scared of Saul. They knew he hated Christians. There was a Christian man named Ananias who loved the Lord very much. God spoke to him in a vision, telling him to go find Saul. Ananias spoke to the Lord: “What if he even wants to kill me? The Lord spoke to Ananias again, and told him that everything would be fine. Ananias found the house where Saul was staying. He prayed for Saul and the blindness left him. The Lord healed him so he could see again.

Saul stayed in Damascus with the Christians. Saul was beaten many times by people like his old self, for changing in the Lord. He was stoned and left to die, beaten with rods three times, whipped with 39 lashes five times, attacked by an angry mob, imprisoned, was in a shipwreck and had many near death experiences, yet in all this God protected him.

Saul came to be known as Apostle Paul. He visited many places, established churches and led people to Christ. He made his last trip to Rome to defend his faith before the Roman Empire, and eventually laid down his life for the good news he now strongly believed in and talked about.

  Game / Bible / Life Connection:    In the Game Players saw the light and ran the race better / In the Bible Saul saw the light and became a new person / In our Life We can see the light and become a new person

Memory Verse:  “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”  Galatians 2:20b