ASCENSION

JESUS ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN

BIBLE REFERENCES: Matt 28:16-20; Mk 16:14-18; Lk 24:46-53; Acts 1:4-14

DECLARE THE WORD OF GOD AT THE CLASSROOM DOOR:

  • Today’s Bible Story is about Jesus going up into the clouds and back to heaven.  He said, “Don’t be afraid.  I will always be with you!”
  • Clap each word together: JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH ME
  • Teach them the sign language
  • Repeat text with actions

 

WORKTABLES: PDF

  • Printing Text: JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH ME
  • Drawing: Jesus going up into the clouds step-by-step

SONGS:

 

LESSON: 

Bible Story Format: You can read THE ASCENSION STORY (from the classroom Bible or a child’s Bible) OR retell it from the main points outlined below OR watch an Ascension Story video.

Bible Story Main Points / Manipulatives: World Floor Mat, Rock, JESUS, 2 angels, 11 disciples.

  • Jesus had died. He had come alive again.
  • He had appeared to His disciples. Remember the stories…
    1. To the women at the tomb;
    2. On the road to Emmaus;
    3. In the room with the disciples and Thomas;
    4. And to the fisherman, on the beach.
  • Jesus had finished what the Father had sent Him to do on earth. He paid the price for our sins. He saved us. Now it was time for JESUS to go back to the Father in Heaven.
  • Were the disciples going to be left all alone?  No!
  • Jesus told the disciples that when He got back to heaven the Father would send a Helper, the HOLY SPIRIT, to be WITH them and never leave them alone.
  • Jesus said it was better for Him to go back to heaven and for the HOLY SPIRIT to come.  When Jesus was on earth, He was here as a man.  He had a body.  He was in one place at a time, teaching people about the Kingdom of God.  But the HOLY SPIRIT is a SPIRIT and He will be everywhere with everyone at the same time, not just in one place at a time!!!  Jesus was going up but the HOLY SPIRIT was coming down.
  • JESUS told the disciples to WAIT in Jerusalem until the HOLY SPIRIT arrived.
  • Then JESUS blessed His disciples and went up into a cloud.
  • While the disciples were looking up at the sky, two men dressed in white clothing came and stood beside them. The two men said, “Why are you still looking up into the sky? Don’t worry! He will come back in the clouds one day.
  • No one knows the day but we will all see Him come down in the clouds and we will hear the sound of trumpets.
  • So the disciples obeyed what Jesus had instructed them to do. They went back to Jerusalem. They waited altogether in an upper room. They were waiting for the HOLY SPIRIT to come and be with them, as JESUS had promised.
  • COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

 

PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: PDF

  • If you were with the disciples watching Jesus go up into the clouds, what would you want to say to Him? (Write their responses on a  helium cloud balloon.  Release the balloon in the classroom and watch their praise responses rise up to Him.)

 

RELEASE TO PLAY:

  • Call the children one at a time to choose a center
  • SPECIAL SENSORY TABLE: Make shaving cream clouds. Make letters in the clouds.

  • OR use 3-D white paint on blue paper to make cloud shapes

CLEANUP: each child helps clean up the center where they were playing.

BOOK NOOK: Children are directed to read books at the carpet while waiting for their parents to arrive.  Students cannot return to play in centers after cleanup.

OVERTIME ACTIVITY:  Should the service extend beyond the normal dismissal time, there are some CIRCLE GAMES that can be played (Marbles, Bean Bag Toss, Doggies Bone, I Spy etc).   These games are under the TV stand.

RELEASE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS:

  • Ask the class to call out “Goodbye (name of student)” as he/she leaves the classroom.
  • Families check student mailboxes.
  • Child picks a snack to go.