The Great Commission

• Main Storyline: Jesus redeems Peter, The Great Commission 

  • Bible verses you can reference: 

    • John 21:1–19 (Jesus redeems Peter)

    • Matthew 28:16–20

    • Acts 1:1–9

  • Jesus reveals himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias

    • Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and 2 other disciples

  • The disciples did not recognized Jesus at first. (Did not catch any fish until after they recognized Jesus)

  • Peter goes back to his old way of life and still not brave enough to go back to preaching the Word. Jesus appears to him and calls him like his first calling. 

  • Jesus asked Peter 3 times if Peter loves Jesus, and Peter replied with a Yes every time (mirrors Peter’s 3 denials of Christ)

  • Afterwards, Jesus appears to the 12 and tells them to “Go out and make disciples of all nations” and promises to be with them always and the Holy Spirit.

• Connection to your Apostle: Peter and Judas are both known for denying Jesus, but Peter is the one who accepted Jesus’s forgiveness. Jesus asks Peter 3 times, “Do you love me?” - each time undoing a denial and redeeming him, calling him to still lead the church: “Feed my sheep.” It reminds us of Peter’s denial, but it also reminds us of his initial calling with the first miracle of the fish. It shows us that even when we fall, Jesus redeems us and still calls us. 

Call of the 12 Apostles 

• Main Storyline: Calling of Peter, James, John, and Andrew/Miracle of Fish

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Matthew 4:18–22

    • Luke 5:1–11 (miraculous catch of fish)

    • Mark 3:13–15 (purpose)

  • Peter, Andrew, James and John were called upon after the miracle that Jesus performed. As Jesus continued to preach and perform other miracles, the other 8 apostles also dropped everything to follow him. 

  • Peter and Andrew = brothers, James the greater and John = brothers 

  • Both Andrew and John were witnessed during John the Baptist’s identified Jesus as the Lamb on God/ Messiah

    • Both ran to their brothers to share the good news 

• Connection to your Apostle: Andrew is known for always bringing others to Christ: After he sees John the Baptist, he brings his brother Peter to Christ, and at the Feeding of the 5000, he brings the boy with bread and fish to Jesus. This skit sets the tone for the whole series: leaving everything to follow Christ, running out to our brothers and sisters and bringing them to Christ. 

More persecution of the Apostles 

• Main Storyline: Apostle James the Greater’s death, Peter gets thrown into jail, Herod’s death

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Acts 12:1–19

    • Acts 12:20–24

• King Herod killed James the Greater (the brother of John) with a sword, and then seeing it pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter also. 

• An angel rescues him, releasing him of his chains, telling him to dress, and to follow the angel. Peter was able to pass the guards without being seen and the iron gate was opened by itself. Peter then realized that the lord has sent the angel to rescue him 

• Herod doesn’t give the glory to God, an angel of God strikes him and he was eaten by worms and died.

• Connection to your Apostle: James the Greater is known as the first Apostle to be martyred for the sake of the Good News. King Herod kills James the Greater by the sword, then arrests Peter, who is freed by an angel. Herod is struck down for not giving glory to God. This skit shows that the Apostles’ mission carried real danger, but God’s plan still triumphs. 

Fear and Betrayal of the Apostles 

• Main storyline: Peter denying Jesus 3 times

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Luke 22:54–62

    • Matthew 26:69–75

  • After the Last supper, as Jesus is getting arrested, all of the Apostles have abandoned Him. Peter denies Jesus 3 times. After Jesus’ death, fear struck over all the Apostles. 

  • Important to note: Both John and Peter followed Jesus after His arrest. Peter denied Jesus 3 times whereas John remained with Jesus 

    • • Jesus’ last wish was for John to take Mother Mary into his care

• Connection to your Apostle: John is known as the only Apostle who stayed with Jesus through the Crucifixion. This is right after the Last Supper, when Peter declared, “I will lay down my life for you,” but then denied Jesus 3 times. John’s loyalty contrasts Peter’s denial and highlights his quiet courage of staying with Jesus, even when no one else does. 

Persecution and the Martyrdom of Stephen

• Main Storyline: Apostles are thrown in jail, Stephen’s death

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Acts 5:17–29

    • Acts 6:8–15 

    • Acts 7:51–60, 8:1.

  • Jewish authorities arrest the Apostles. Apostles are freed by an angel and told them to continue their preaching. After hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach

  • The prison was locked and there were guards standing at the doors, but when the officers came to look for them, no one was inside

  • They were arrested for a second time but the apostles boldly declared their obedience to God over human authority 

  • Stephen, the first martyr, is accused but continues preaching until he is stoned. The Church is scattered, spreading the message. Stephen’s death is witnessed by Saul.

• Connection to your Apostle: Philip is led by the Holy Spirit to ask a stranger reading Isaiah, “Do you understand what is is you are reading?” who responds, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” (Acts 8:26–40) After Philip shares the Good News, the stranger says, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” and Philip baptizes him. Philip reminds us that one moment of sharing Christ can change everything, so what is preventing us and holding us back from following the Holy Spirit? The Apostles spread the Good News to the ends of the earth, even when it leads to persecution, imprisonment, and death, like Stephen, the first martyr. 

Teaching and Ministry of Jesus

• Main storyline: The feeding of the 5,000 

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Matthew 14:13–21

    • John 6:1–14

  • All of the 12 apostles were present when seeing Jesus preach and perform this miracle. Jesus then gave them the mission to go out and preach as well in pairs, giving them His authority to heal and perform miracles as well to prepare the way for Him. 

  • Heathens came to Philip and expressed their desire to see Jesus. Philip reported this to Andrew and they both went to Jesus.

• Connection to your Apostle: Nathaniel is known for his honesty: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Yet when Philip invites him to “Come and see,” Nathaniel is willing to give Jesus a chance, and follows him when Jesus reveals that he saw him under the fig tree. Through Nathaniel’s willingness to come and see, Jesus knowing him under the fig tree, and the Feeding of the 5000, this skit reflects Jesus’ early ministry as Nathaniel and the Apostles begin trusting that Jesus invites us, knows us personally, and provides even when it seems impossible. 

Resurrection and Doubting of Thomas 

• Main storyline: Apostles in the upper room, Thomas doubts the appearance of resurrected Jesus

  • Bible verses you can reference:

• • • John 20:19–29

    • Luke 24:36–49

  • As the Apostles are in the upper-room, fearing for their lives, Resurrected Jesus appears to them and says “Peace be with you.” All Apostles are present except Thomas. 

  • The other Apostles tell Thomas, but he doubts. 

  • 8 days later, all 12 apostles returned to the upper room and Jesus appeared to all of them again. Seeing Jesus, Thomas began to believe. Jesus responds, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

• Connection to your Apostle: Thomas is remembered for doubting, but also for seeking truth honestly. When Jesus appears, he proclaims one of the strongest confessions of faith in Scripture: “My Lord and my God.” His story is powerful for those who wrestle with belief. 

Conversion of Saul (Paul)

• Main Storyline: The conversion of Saul, Apostles acceptance

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Acts 9:1-22

    • Acts 9:23–30

  • Saul persecutes Christians and received permission from the high priest to arrest followers of Jesus 

  • On the road to Damascus, he encounters Jesus who appeared in a blinding light, blinding Saul. Saul fasted and prayed for 3 days. Afterwards, God told a disciple in Damascus to go to Saul and lay his hands on him to restore his sight. Saul’s sight was restored and he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

  • Saul got baptized and began to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God.

  • At first, the apostles were afraid to accept him, not knowing if they can trust he is a disciple. 

  • Barnabas defends him, and he begins preaching as Paul. 

  • Marks the beginning of Saul’s transformation into Paul the Apostle.

• Connection to your Apostle: Matthew is known for being a tax collector before following Jesus, and he knew what it was like to be hated and distrusted. He would understand Paul’s rejection and eventual acceptance into the Church. 

Paul’s Final Words for the Church 

• Main Storyline: Paul is in Jail, final words

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Acts 27:13-44 (Storm at sea and shipwreck)

    • Acts 28: 1-6 (Bitten by a snake but unharmed)

    • Acts 26:1–29 (Paul’s Testimony before Agrippa) (almost convinces him to convert)

  • Paul is in a storm at sea, and is shipwrecked, but continues to give hope to those around him in their suffering. Paul is bitten by a snake but shakes it off unharmed. Paul is imprisoned in Rome, but continues to encourage the church. In his final letter (2 Timothy), he writes: “I have fought the good fight… I have kept the faith.”

• Connection to your Apostle: James the Lesser represents those who are faithful to the end, not flashy. This skit reflects Paul’s closing words: that the mission is hard, but worth it: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” The Church is built on quiet strength as much as bold witness.

Missionary Journeys of Paul

• Main Storyline: 

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Acts 14:8–20 (Paul gets stoned and gets back up)

    • Acts 16:22–34 (Paul & Silas in Prison & converts guard)

    • Acts 20: 7-12 (Boy falls out of window and dies, Paul raises him)

  • Paul heals a crippled man and people try to worship him as a God, Paul stops them and they try to stone him. Paul casts out a demon from a slave girl, he gets arrested, and converts his guard. Boy falls out of window and dies, Paul raises him from the dead and continues to preach the Good News to others throughout his journey. 

• Connection to your Apostle: St Thaddeus, often known as St. Jude, is best known as the patron saint of impossible causes, which fits for Paul’s impossible trials and miracles. Paul is stoned, imprisoned, and shipwrecked, but continues to perform miracles, survive, and be set free from impossible situations, never giving up preaching the Good News. 

Miracles and Growth of the Early Church

• Main Storyline: Peter and John performs a miracle, High Priest proclaims punishment for preaching, more works and wonders of the Apostles 

  • Bible verses you can reference: 

    • Acts 3:1–16

    • Acts 4:18–20 (proclaiming jail time if Apostles preach)

    • Acts 5:12–16

  • The Apostles continue to preach, perform miracles, and do good work in Jesus’ name. The High Priest begins to proclaim punishment for those who keep praising God or doing wonders in His name. The Apostles continue to grow the church and build on the community. 

• Connection to your Apostle: The Apostles boldly preach the Good News and perform miracles to spread the Kingdom of God. This can remind us of how Simon was known for being a Zealot, a radical group who wanted to fight for what they thought was the Kingdom of God for the wrong reasons, but now he does it through sharing the love and sacrifice of Christ.

Pentecost and the Birth of the Church

• Main Storyline: Choosing Matthias, Pentecost, Holy Spirit comes in Upper Room 

  • Bible verses you can reference:

    • Acts 1:15–26

    • Acts 2:1–41

  • The Apostles were praying in the upper room for the Holy Spirit to come. They chose the Apostle Matthias to replace Judas. The Holy Spirit comes down on the Apostles and there they start speaking different tongues. Many people thought they were drunk, but the Apostles spoke out and said no. 3,000 people were baptized that day. 

• Connection to your Apostle: Matthias is known as being chosen by the Holy Spirit to replace Judas, as the Apostles pray for 9 days. On the 10th day, at Pentecost, the Apostles receive the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim the Gospel.