Lesson 2: Jesus goes up.
Passage: Acts 1:9-11 - In this passage, Jesus is with his disciples for the last time before he is taken up into the clouds before their eyes. As they are staring into the sky after him, an angel appears and asks them why they are looking at the sky. He then informs them that Jesus will one day return in the same way that he left.
Big Idea: Jesus is with us in Spirit.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: Movement Book — Activity Leader
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Last week we learned about how Jesus gave his friends a big job before he left the Earth. That job was to share the good news of God’s love with the whole world!
Let’s watch our video to find out what happened next…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What was the cool thing that Jesus did in the story?
What did Jesus promise to give his friends before he left?
How do you think Jesus’ friends felt when they saw Jesus go up into the clouds?
Even though we can’t see Jesus, how do we know that he is still with us?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today, about how even though Jesus went up to heaven, we know that he is still with us today through the Holy Spirit. Thank you that you give all of us your Spirit to live in our hearts and fill us with your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Jesus’s Ascension Craft— Activity Leader
Kids can use markers and felt to create the ground and sky, and cotton balls for the clouds. They will then glue on a picture of Jesus floating up, along with the Bible verse provided.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: Body Magnets — Activity Leader
You can use any category, but we will use “ice cream” for the example…
Have the children give you two different flavors of ice cream. Then, have the kids come up with actions for each flavor (ie. when they hear vanilla, they wave their bodies around, but when they hear mint they shiver).
Repeat this activity with new flavors, or you can come up with actions for 3-4 flavors at a time so kids will have more of a challenge to try to remember the actions as you call them out.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Last week we learned about how Jesus gave his friends a special mission before he left the Earth, which was to share the good news of his love and forgiveness with the whole world. Today we’re going to find out exactly what went down when Jesus left.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What was the cool superhero thing that Jesus did in the story?
How do you think the disciples felt when they saw that Jesus had left?
What did Jesus promise to give them before he left? What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?
What are some signs that Jesus is still alive and with us today?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today, about how even though Jesus went up to heaven, we know that he is still with us today through the Holy Spirit. Thank you that you give all of us your Spirit to live in our hearts, fill us with your love, and guide us each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Jesus’ Ascension Craft— Activity Leader
Kids can use markers and felt to create the ground and sky, and cotton balls for the clouds. They will then glue on a picture of Jesus floating up, along with the Bible verse provided.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class.
Warm Up Activity: Excuses Excuses Game — Activity Leader
Set up a scenario where someone is late (for school, church, dinner with grandma, etc.). The cast of characters include: the late person, the authority person (boss, teacher, president, grandparent, etc.), and the helper or helpers (depending on how many players you have).
Before the game starts, let the “late person” leave the room while everyone else comes up with an excuse for why they would be late (fun and silly excuses). Then, once the group has decided, the “late person” comes back and has to guess (by looking at the helper/s) why they are late.
The helper/s can only use charades (actions without words) to communicate the excuse when the “authority person” has their back turned. At any moment, the “authority person” can turn around and “catch” the helpers mid-gesture.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are continuing our series about the early followers of Jesus and how Jesus gave them an important mission before he left.
Can anyone remember what that mission was?
What did Jesus promise to give them to help with their mission?
Read: Acts 1:9-11.
Now let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
What do you think about the way Jesus left in the story? How do you think the disciples felt seeing Jesus rise up into the clouds and disappear before their eyes?
Do you think it helped them to know that Jesus would soon send them the Holy Spirit to be with them?
What do you think it means that the Holy Spirit is like a power inside us?
If you were one of the early disciples, what would you have done right after seeing Jesus go into the clouds? What did the disciples end up doing?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
Dear God, thank you the lesson we learned today about how even though Jesus left the Earth, he promised to still be with his followers through the Holy Spirit. Thank you that we have the same Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts, fills us with God’s love, and guides us in our lives. Please help us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance each day and to know that you are always with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity: Jesus’ Ascension Craft — Activity Leader
Kids can use markers and felt to create the ground and sky, and cotton balls for the clouds. They will then glue on a picture of Jesus floating up, along with the Bible verse provided.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
Can you show me how Jesus went up into the sky like a superhero?
How do you think Jesus’ friends felt when they saw him leave?
What did he promise to give them so they would never feel alone?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
If you were one of Jesus’ first disciples, what do you think you’d ask or say to him before he left?
Have you ever felt like God was close to you, even though you couldn’t see him?
What are some ways we can remember that Jesus is still with us?
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What was the story you learned about in class today?
How would you explain the Holy Spirit to a friend who doesn’t know what about it?
What does it mean to you that even though Jesus left, he is still with us through the Holy Spirit?
Can you think of a time when you felt guided, comforted, or reminded that God is with you?
What are some ways that the Spirit helps us follow the mission that Jesus gave his followers (to share the good news of God’s love with the world)?
