Heralds to Hearts
Senior primary · 25 lessons

The Church and Life in the Spirit

Follow the risen Jesus gathering His church through the Holy Spirit. Acts and the letters help learners understand worship, church belonging, love, service and witness.

Explore the lessons

Explain how the risen Jesus forms and strengthens His church through the Spirit, and practise reading Acts alongside the letters that address real churches, their beliefs and their conduct.

Unit 1 Lessons 1–6

The Spirit forms a witnessing community

Acts

  1. Lesson 1

    The risen Lord prepares His witnesses

    Acts 1:1–14

    The risen Jesus gives His witnesses a mission dependent on the promised Spirit.

  2. Lesson 2

    Pentecost explains Jesus' exaltation

    Acts 2:1–8, 22–41

    The risen Jesus pours out the Spirit so His witnesses proclaim Him and call for repentance.

  3. Lesson 3

    A community formed by the gospel

    Acts 2:42–47

    Those who receive the gospel share teaching, fellowship, prayer and generous care.

  4. Lesson 4

    Prayer under pressure and open hands

    Acts 4:23–37

    God's people answer opposition with prayer for witness and practical generosity.

  5. Lesson 5

    Ananias and Sapphira deceive the church

    Acts 5:1–11

    The holy God cannot be deceived by a pretence of generous devotion.

  6. Lesson 6

    A neglected group is heard

    Acts 6:1–7

    The church protects both the ministry of the word and fair practical care.

Unit 2 Lessons 7–12

The gospel crosses boundaries

Acts; Galatians

  1. Lesson 7

    Barnabas welcomes and strengthens

    Acts 9:26–31; Acts 11:19–26

    Encouraging service helps a diverse church recognise grace and grow in the Lord.

  2. Lesson 8

    The Spirit welcomes Gentile believers

    Acts 10:34–48; Acts 11:1–18

    God gives the same saving gift to Gentiles, so His people must not deny them fellowship.

  3. Lesson 9

    Antioch sends and the gospel confronts

    Acts 13:1–12

    The Spirit directs the church's witness and the Lord's teaching overcomes opposition.

  4. Lesson 10

    The church refuses an added saving condition

    Acts 15:1–21

    God saves by grace through Jesus, and His church must not add circumcision as a condition of salvation.

  5. Lesson 11

    Peter's conduct contradicts the gospel

    Galatians 2:11–21

    Justification through Christ calls believers to a fellowship consistent with grace.

  6. Lesson 12

    From guardianship to adoption

    Galatians 3:23–4:7

    Faith in Christ brings God's children into an inheritance and the Spirit's filial relationship.

Unit 3 Lessons 13–17

The word equips a mature people

Acts; Ephesians

  1. Lesson 13

    Apollos learns more accurately

    Acts 18:18–28

    God strengthens witness through willing learning and careful explanation of Scripture.

  2. Lesson 14

    Paul charges the Ephesian elders

    Acts 20:17–38

    Church leaders must guard Christ's flock through faithful teaching, example and care.

  3. Lesson 15

    One new humanity in Christ

    Ephesians 2:11–22

    Christ reconciles formerly divided people to God and to one another.

  4. Lesson 16

    Gifts for a mature body

    Ephesians 4:1–16

    Christ gives His people gifts so they grow together in truth and love.

  5. Lesson 17

    Learning Christ changes ordinary life

    Ephesians 4:17–32

    Learning Christ calls for a renewed life expressed in truthful, generous and forgiving conduct.

Unit 4 Lessons 18–22

Love, ordinances and accountable service

1 Corinthians; Romans; 1 Timothy

  1. Lesson 18

    Many members, one body

    1 Corinthians 12:12–27

    The Spirit unites different believers whose gifts and needs call for mutual honour.

  2. Lesson 19

    The indispensable way of love

    1 Corinthians 13:1–13

    Spiritual gifts without love fail to serve the lasting good of Christ's people.

  3. Lesson 20

    The meal that must not shame the poor

    1 Corinthians 11:17–34

    The Lord's Supper proclaims Christ's death and rebukes selfish divisions among His people.

  4. Lesson 21

    Baptised into Christ's death and life

    Romans 6:1–14

    Those united to Christ must not treat grace as permission to remain in sin.

  5. Lesson 22

    Character before office

    1 Timothy 3:1–13

    Church service calls for tested character and faithful care rather than status or display.

Unit 5 Lessons 23–25

Grace, witness and final fellowship

Titus; 1 Peter; Revelation

  1. Lesson 23

    Grace trains a teaching community

    Titus 2:1–14

    God's saving grace trains His people to live faithfully and teach what is good.

  2. Lesson 24

    A people who declare His excellencies

    1 Peter 2:4–12

    Christ makes His people a holy community whose worship and conduct bear witness to His mercy.

  3. Lesson 25

    A people from every nation before the Lamb

    Revelation 7:9–17

    The Lamb gathers and shepherds His redeemed people into worship and lasting comfort.