Jesus Returned to Heaven - Sunday November 29, 2020

Sunday November 29, 2020 (Vol 9, Unit 27, Session 4)

Hi-there parents! Welcome back! Or if you're new here, welcome! The following blog is here to be a tool for you to help your kids grow in their faith. Please feel free to use as much of it as you choose. You know your kids and are the best possible teacher for them. God has given you the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do more than you think possible (Eph 3:20).  

If you would like to join us in person, we are excited to announce that Children's Church for Kindergarten through 5th grade has resumed and is meeting during the 10:30 service. We would love to see your kids there!   

Parent Devotional: This week’s lesson, "Jesus Returned to Heaven" is found in Matthew 28 and Acts 1.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He appeared to His disciples over a 40-day period. At one point, He appeared to more than 500 people. During that time, Jesus taught about the kingdom of God. Some of them wondered if Jesus was finally going to overthrow the Roman government and set up His kingdom on earth. 

Jesus had a different plan for the disciples. He directed the Eleven to go to a mountain, where He appeared to them again. They worshiped Him, but some still doubted. (Matt. 28:17) On the mountain, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission. He commanded His disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel, the good news about Him.

The Great Commission is not just for missionaries far from home. All believers are called to share the gospel with others, teach them to obey God’s commands, and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus finished His commission with a profound promise: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Jesus told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received the Father’s promise—the Holy Spirit. Those who repented of their sins and trusted in Jesus’ death and resurrection would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would give them power to live holy lives and take the gospel to the ends of the earth. After Jesus told the disciples these things, Jesus was taken up into the sky—right in front of their eyes!

Jesus is alive in heaven, waiting to return for His people. Jesus told the disciples He was going to prepare a place for them, and when we die, we will be with the Lord. (John 14:1-3) In the meantime, Jesus has not left us alone. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us and help us do God’s work. One day, Jesus will return to make all things new and to rule as Lord overall.

As we begin to explore this week’s lesson, take a moment to remember the verse from Deuteronomy about teaching your children the scriptures. Deuteronomy 6:9 says: "You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Maybe you don't have time to sit and have an hour of Bible time all at once, or maybe your children are too young to sit for that long. Take the key points and ask God to give you opportunities to speak them into the hearts of your children throughout the week. Let the Bible become a part of your day to day. Be blessed this week my friends!  

Each week we include songs, activity pages, the bible lesson video, memory verses and possibly a craft or 2. We pray this will help you find ways to engage your kids spiritually. It is written in script form from the K-2nd grade lesson so you can read directly from it or change it up to suit your children. Take a few moments to look at and print the activity pages as well as the additional activities and information (found in the links at the bottom of the page) also to review the lesson so you can make adjustments as needed. I have included the Bible and Discussion questions along with a breakdown of the Gospel in the Older Kids Activities pages and loads of activities and crafts on the Preschool Extra Activity Pages. Once you are ready,go ahead and start with these songs if you'd like or pick some of your favorite worship songs and then jump right in! Have fun! And remember, this does not need to be done in one sitting! Feel free to break it up over the course of the week. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I'd love to hear from you!

So, let's get started. I like to begin each week with Blessings and Bummers. Tell me, what have you seen the Lord doing in your lives this week? What have your greatest blessings been? How about your biggest bummers? 

Parents share your blessings and bummers and encourage the kids to do the same. 

Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father God, Thank you. Thank you for providing for our needs. You are so good to us even though we don't deserve it! Thank you for continuing to bless us Lord. Thank you for being patient with us. Thank you for our friends as well as our families. Most importantly, thank you for sending Jesus to live a perfect life and die to pay for our sins. Thank you for raising Him from the dead and promising us life with you forever if we believe. Help us to appreciate all you do for us and to look to you in all that we do. In Jesus name, Amen. (please add to or customize prayer time to fit your family)

Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers! 

Prompt kids to share about a time they were asked to do something that felt impossible.

Say • Sometimes the chores we have to do might feel too difficult for us. A tough job may feel like it would take so long to complete that it is impossible. Today we will learn about a job Jesus commanded His disciples to do. It may have seemed like an impossible task, but God would give them the power to do it and fill them with joy as they worked.

Optional Session Starter Activity Pick one of two options, or do both, this is your party. These are found in the activity pages attached below.

We’ve finally arrived at the story our big picture question has been hinting at. Where is Jesus now? Jesus ascended into heaven where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus’ work to save sinners is complete, and His place in heaven is one of honor and glory.

After God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat sin and death, Jesus taught that all the Scriptures point to Him. Then, Jesus proved He is alive by appearing to the disciples. Today we will learn the last thing Jesus commanded the disciples to do before He returned to heaven.

When I was younger, I didn’t fully understand this story. If you are like I used to be, you may hear about Jesus’ going back to heaven and feel a bit sad—like when you reach the end of a book or movie series that you really enjoy. I used to think that Jesus’ going back to heaven was, in a way, like the end of Jesus’ story. That’s not the truth though!

Jesus’ story didn’t end when He returned to heaven because He sent the Holy Spirit to live within His disciples. Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission. The story of God’s loving plan for the world is still going on, even today! Now, when I think about Jesus’ ascension, I don’t feel sad. Instead, I feel excited and overjoyed to know that I get to be a part of the story!

God’s love for the world is incredible. He did not send Jesus to save only people from Israel, but from every nation, tribe, and people group in the entire world.

Jesus left earth and returned to heaven, but He did not leave us alone. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with us and help us do God’s work—to teach people everywhere about Jesus so they will trust in Him as their Lord and Savior. One day, Jesus will return to make all things new and to rule as Lord overall.

Bible Time! 

Distribute a Bible to each kid. Help kids find Acts 1. Explain that Acts was written by the same man who wrote Luke, and it is a continuation of the events in Luke. 

 Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:

Where did Jesus tell the disciples to wait? (Jerusalem, Acts 1:4)

What did Jesus say the disciples would receive? (power from the Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8)

How will Jesus return? (in the same way He went to heaven, Acts 1:11)

How can we make disciples? Guide the kids to think through the parts of the Great Commission. Part of the command helps explain how to make disciples: teach them to obey Jesus and baptize them. Help the kids remember that baptism and obedience do not save us, but they are important signs that help show a person has put her faith in Jesus. 

How is having the Holy Spirit with us more beneficial than having Jesus still on earth? Point out that everything God does is always best. We know that the Holy Spirit with us is better because that’s how God planned things to be. In addition, it is better for the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers everywhere, than for Jesus to be on earth in one place at a time.

How do you feel knowing that Jesus will come back? Help the kids focus on the hope we have for the future. The world is still broken by sin, but as we obey Jesus and make disciples, there will be more and more people trying to do God’s will and bring justice and peace to the world. Someday, Jesus will come and bring perfect, everlasting peace and justice.

Say • Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission. Each of us who has faith in Jesus is part of that same mission today! We live on mission to make disciples.

 Great job with the discussion guys! Let's take a look at our memory verse: John 11:25.

Jesus did more than just rise from the dead; He completely defeated sin and death so that we, too, can rise from the dead when Jesus returns. If anyone has faith in Him, she will live even after her physical body dies.

Memory Verse Activity:

Provide each kid with an index card and a pencil. Instruct the kids to sit in a circle. Each kid will write the first word of the key passage on his card and then pass that card to the left. Then each kid will write the second word of the key passage and pass the cards again. Continue in this way until each card has the entire key passage written out. Allow the kids to check the card they ended up with against the key passage poster. Then, invite the kids to find their original cards by looking for the ones which have the first word matching their handwriting.

Say • Jesus said these words right before He brought Lazarus back from the dead. A few days later, Jesus had died on the cross and God raised Him from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection proved that He had defeated sin and death. Everyone who has faith in Jesus has hope for eternal life.

That's it for this week!

Let's pray:  God, thank You that Jesus did not leave us alone. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to help us obey Jesus and live on mission. Give us wisdom and courage to be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission. Amen

Thanks for joining us! I hope to meet you here again next week!

Additional Activities and Information