Hi everyone, it's Aunt Frenita!
Today's story is called "The Make-Believe Christian".
The memory verse is from 2 Corinthians 5:17.
It says:
"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has gone, the new has come."
Today's message is:
"Knowing God changes my life."
Pierre and Marie caught a creepy crawly caterpillar
and put it in a big glass jar.
Marie added a little stick for it to crawl on.
Each day, Pierre and Marie
brought in leaves to feed it.
One day, they watched the caterpillar
wrap itself in silky threads.
After awhile, it was all covered up,
and hanging from the stick!
Mother told them that the caterpillar
was in a cocoon.
After many days,
Pierre and Marie saw something very special.
The cocoon opened and out came
a beautiful butterfly!
What a change from the creepy crawly caterpillar!
Our bible story today tells about people;
some people who changed,
but one man who did not.
Philip took a deep breath
of the fresh early morning air.
It was good to be alive!
It was good to be working for the Lord!
He looked around.
The merchants were setting up in their stalls
in the marketplace.
Soon the women would begin shopping for the day.
Men and women smiled at Philip
and greeted him as they passed.
He smiled back.
The city was a different place now.
The people had listened carefully
to the message Philip had preached.
They had listened,
believed,
and were baptised.
They had seen miracles done in the name of Jesus.
Many, many evil spirits
had been driven out of people.
And many weak and crippled people
had been healed.
The town was different, alright.
People now had hope, and joy,
and a reason for living.
Philip glanced up
and saw Simon approaching.
Simon had lived in the city for a long time.
He had been a magician,
amazing the people of Samaria with his tricks.
If Samaria had been television,
Simon would have been the star.
Simon had joined the crowds
listening to Philip.
He had seen the miracles.
He wanted to be a part of this, too.
So Simon was baptised
and stayed close to Philip.
He was amazed at the great wonders and miracles
that Philip did in Jesus' name.
Earlier that day,
Peter and John arrived from Jerusalem.
Philip greeted them with big hugs.
It was so good to see his brothers in the Lord.
Peter and John joined Philip in his work.
Together, they asked the Holy Spirit
to come to the new believers,
just as He had the believers in Jerusalem.
Then, Peter and John
laid their hands on the believers,
and the Holy Spirit came upon everyone.
Except Simon.
Simon thought this was the neatest trick
he had ever seen!
He wanted to lay hands on people like that.
He pulled Peter and John aside,
and showed them his fat purse.
He whispered, "I can pay!"
"Give this power to me too!"
Peter's face turned red.
"You have no part or share in this ministry!"
he exclaimed.
"Your heart is not right before God!
"Repent of this wickedness,
and pray to the Lord!
Perhaps He will forgive you
for having such a thought."
The Bible does not tell us what Simon did.
But we know that Simon did not
understand the free gift of God's grace.
He knew about God,
but he really didn't know God.
That is why he wasn't changed.
Knowing God changes lives.
www.gracelink.net
Close captions by Bernice Leong