Theme Discussion
Do you like having friends over to your house? It’s something we’re missing during this pandemic for sure – inviting friends in or going to their houses to play or study or listen to music, just to hang out together. Most of you probably have some really close friends that you like to do this with. They are welcome in your house and you are welcome in theirs. Sometimes we say a close friend is almost like a brother or sister! - but, there are some differences, aren’t there?
Most friends wouldn’t go ask your Mom or Dad for a snack if they were hungry or just go look in your fridge – they’d be more likely to ask you and then you would ask your parents or just go get them something. If they were cold, they might ask to borrow a jacket or a sweater, but it’s not likely that they would just go open your closet and help themselves. There are some things you can do when you are at home that you just wouldn’t do when visiting someone else’s house, no matter how close a friend they are.
Of course, you are very welcome and they want you to be happy and comfortable in their home, but there is just something different when that home isn’t yours. Your friend’s parents might love you very much, but it’s unlikely that they would treat you exactly the same way they treat their own children. They probably wouldn’t check to see if you finished your homework, or tell you what to wear, or pack your lunch for school every day. It’s unlikely that they would plan your birthday party or expect you to be with them on Christmas morning. No matter how much they love you, that would be strange. You are a friend and a guest – but you aren’t their child.
In today's Bible passage, Peter and other Jewish followers of Jesus were asked to go teach a group of non-Jewish people about Jesus, and they felt pretty weird about it because it went against their customs to even associate with them. Peter shared about Jesus, and these 'outsiders' understood this gospel and were filled with God's Holy Spirit. Peter and his friends were surprised! They had welcomed these new friends into their faith, but God took that welcome a big step further and made them part of the family.
1. How is a friend the same as a member of your family? How are they different?
2. What are some things you expect to do when you are at home with your family that you wouldn’t expect at a friend’s house?
3. Have you ever been the new kid at school or on a team or in a club? How does that feel? What needs to happen before you feel like you belong in the group?
4. How do you think we can make people feel welcome in our church? How do you think we can make them feel like they belong?
Response Activity Ideas
You Are Welcome Here
The lyrics for one of the CGS and Bell Canto Singers’ favourite anthems is on this worksheet. It’s about someone who is not sure they belong, but the rest of the group welcomes them and reminds them that ALL are welcome in God’s family. Read (or sing!) through the words and in the space below or on a separate page, draw a picture that represents the lyrics.
Click to print PDF
All Are Welcome Here Book
Read and listen to the story:
What are some ways the teachers and classmates made each other feel welcome?
What would it be like to be at a school like that? Does your school have the same feeling? Why or why not?
What do you think would happen if that same welcoming attitude carried on into the community outside of school?
How could we make everyone feel welcome in our neighbourhood?
Colouring Sheet
Click to print PDF