Scripture: Acts 1: 3 – 10 or page 461 in the Golden Children’s Bible
Target Age Group: 1st through 6th grade
Welcome the children to the classroom and chat with them about their week as they gather around the table.
Pray and ask God to teach the children not just head knowledge, but also heart knowledge.
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Bible Lesson:
Have the children open their Bibles to Acts 1: 3-10 or page 461 in The Golden Children’s Bible.
(Read the story to the children because at this age some of the children do not read smoothly, which hinders comprehension for the whole class.)
- How long did Jesus stay with the disciples after he had risen? 40 days.
- What did he teach them about during that time? the kingdom of God
- What did he tell them to do? To wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- What were they to do after they received the baptism of Holy Spirit? They were to be witnesses for Jesus.
- What do you think Jesus wants you to be doing until he comes back? Praying, telling others about him, etc.
- Where were they to witness? Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
- Where do you think Jesus expects you to witness for him? At home, at school, on the playground, everywhere that I go.
- How did Jesus leave them? He rose up into the clouds.
- While they were looking up after him, what happened? Two men dressed in white came and stood beside them.
- What did the men say? Jesus would come back again in the same way that he left.
- Matthew 28:20 says Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Did Jesus really “leave” the disciples? No.
- Jesus is with you, too, if you have asked him into your heart. Let’s thank him for being there always…
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During the remaining class time do activities that help to reinforce what the children have learned. Here are some suggestions…
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Memorize the verse.
Matthew 28:20b “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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Show the children a video of this story.
Video #1 from Crossroads Kids Club
Video #2 from Superbook
Video #3 for Crossroads Kids Club
Show them the story “Going Home” from The Jesus Storybook Bible. Be sure to get the deluxe edition, which has the DVD’s narrated by David Suchet.
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Take the kids outside and launch a helium balloon that you have drawn a face representing Jesus on it, (or his name on it). Let them watch it fly higher and higher until they can’t see it anymore.
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Make the booklet, “Jesus Went Back to Heaven” from Lambsongs. (Scroll Down past the links for “publisher” to those marked “download”. You can print them up in color or black and white for coloring.)
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Share this great children’s sermon from Sermons4kids.
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Read the story “Till He Comes” from Keys for Kids. This is a great site! There is a nominal fee to become a member, but it is so worth it. These are stories that help children apply the scriptures to their daily lives.
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Have the children make this ascension craft and snack idea by Heather Haupt in her blog post “From Rising to Rising”. There is a template for this craft to the right of the booklet “Jesus Went to Heaven” from Lambsongs. (Scroll down to Activity 1 and Activity 2.) Here is another variation of this craft.
This is a similar craft from Christianity Cove.
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This lesson from Ministry to Children is helpful for teaching this passage to older children.
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Have the children use colors or pastels to draw their own vision of the story on a sketch pad page. Or have them color a color page related to the story. Color page #1, Color page #2 . An excellent color page book is “Through-the-Bible Coloring Pages For Ages 4-8” by Janet Skiles. The pages are reproducible.
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Sing missionary songs:
Sing the song, “Be A Missionary” by Christian Songs and Videos. Or sing “Go!” by FLCkidslife. Or sing “Send Me Out” by Steve Fee.
Sing “This Little Light of Mine” by Lifetree Kids, or “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam” by A Mother’s Lullabies.
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Evaluate what the children have learned. While they are coloring or crafting ask each one what they learned today.
Send each child’s parent an e-mail (or a hard copy) of the Parents’ Page.
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