Footprints In The Sand – Jesus’ Future Return To Rule Earth
urn To Rule Earth- Week 11
Memory Verse: Revelation 20:15
Bible Truth: When we accept Jesus as our Savior our name is written in the Book of Life.
1. Open in prayer
2. Introduction –
When we accept Jesus as our Savior our name is written in the Book of Life.
3. Praise and Worship Songs –
___________________________________
___________________________________
4. Memory Verse
Revelation 20:15 NKJV
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
5. Millennial Reign
Seven years after the rapture Jesus will come to the earth, put the devil in a bottomless pit, and rule over the earth for 1000 years. This is called the millennial Reign of Jesus. During this time life on earth will be good. At the end of the Millennial Reign of Jesus, the devil will be loosed. He will be defeated in a war with Jesus and thrown into the lake of fire forever.
Revelation 20:1-3 NKJV
“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”
6. Game – Jig-Saw Relay Race
Revelation 20:15 NKJV
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Need: 2 poster boards (of different colors), a marker and 2 small baskets.
Write the memory verse on each poster board, then cut the poster boards into ten pieces each. Keep each one separate.
Divide the group into two teams. Line up the two teams in lines. Place the puzzles in two small baskets a short distance from the teams. At a signal the first person on each team must go to the puzzle pieces and put their puzzle together. Once the puzzle is together they must read it out loud, then put the puzzle back in the basket and run back to their team. The next person will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.
7. Great White Throne Judgment
After the millennial reign God will judge sinners – those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. This judgment is known as the Great White Throne Judgment of God. The sinners names will not be found in the Book of Life so God will have to punish them and send them away from His presence forever. They will be thrown into the lake of fire with the devil forever and ever.
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The lake of fire is a very dark place which has a fire that never goes out. It is a place of great torment with crying and groaning. When we accept Jesus as our Savior our name is written in the Book of Life. This is the only way to go to heaven instead of hell / lake of fire. To accept Jesus we must pray admitting we have sinned, believe Jesus died and rose again for our sins, and confess our sins and ask Jesus to forgive us.
2 Peter 3:14 NKJV
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless”
Revelation 21:7-8 NKJV
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
After accepting Jesus as our Savior we must live our lives every day doing what Jesus would want us too. When Jesus returns we must be without spot, blemish, or blame.
8. Game – What’s In The Basket
Need: a basket, a small cloth to cover up the basket, 10 small items to put in the basket, paper, pencils
Put ten small items in a basket. Pass around the basket with the items in it for everyone to look at. Cover up basket.
Give each person a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct everyone to write down what was in the basket (as many things as they can remember).
9. Judgment Seat Of Christ
The Judgment Seat of Christ is not for unbelievers. Only believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ. In Romans, Paul addressed the believers, reminding them that they would all stand before Christ – the weak believers and the strong believers.
Romans 14:10 NKJV
“For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
Jesus will judge the believers and determine their faithfulness to Him and reward each person appropriately. This judgment is not to determine their eternity, but to determine their rewards.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
Wanting to be with Christ in eternity should cause us to desire to please Him. Not only because we want to be with Him, but because our works will be evaluated and rewarded accordingly.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NKJV
“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
10. Game – Cup Stacking Relay
Need: 2 teams (everyone can play, however the teams need to be even), and cups to stack (stacking
cups) / 10 per team
Line the teams up in 2 rows. At the signal the first person on each team will run to the cups and stack them up.
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Then they will unstack them and run back to their team. The next person will do the same and so on. The team that finishes first is the winner.
11. All Things New
Revelation 21:1-4 NKJV
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
After the final judgment, the great white throne judgment, God promised He would make a new heaven, a new Jerusalem, and a new earth.
2 Peter 3:5-13 NKJV
“For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Jesus will give His millennial kingdom to God the Father, the supreme ruler. All true Christians will live with God forever in a beautiful new universe. This new heaven will be so beautiful and the most wonderful place to live. Revelation 21 gives us several descriptions of it. There will be no more tears, no sun or moon, no more mourning, no more pain, no night or darkness, walls of precious gems, gates of pearl, streets of gold, and a river of life. And the best part of all is that we will live there forever with God.
The new Jerusalem, will come down out of heaven and will shine with the glory of God. The city will be made of gold and will be decorated with precious jewels, and the streets will be made of pure gold, as transparent glass.
Revelation 21:18-21 NKJV
“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”
It will have a great wall with 12 gates made of pearls. The city will not need any light from the sun or moon because Jesus, the Lamb of God will be the light.
Revelation 21:22-23 NKJV
“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”
Revelation 22:1-5 NKJV
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
Down the middle of the city will flow the river of life, and on each side of it will grow trees of life. The throne of God will be in the city, and people will worship God forever. There is so much more about heaven that we don’t know, and it will be far better than we could ever imagine. While here on earth we can draw close to God in true worship, and we’ll begin to experience a small portion of how wonderful it will be when we stand before God in His holy presence.
John 4:23-24 NKJV
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The throne of God will be in the city, and people will worship God forever. There is so much more about heaven that we don’t know, and it will be far better than we could ever imagine. While here on earth we can draw close to God in true worship, and we’ll begin to experience a small portion of how wonderful it will be when we stand before God in His holy presence.
12. Game – Book Of Life Relay
Need: 2 books with a cover on them that says “BOOK OF LIFE”.
Line the children up into two teams. Give the first person in line a BOOK OF LIFE. At the signal they will pass BOOK OF LIFE over their head to the person behind them. When the BOOK OF LIFE reaches the end of the line, that person will run to the front of the line and say the memory verse. Then they will pass the BOOK OF LIFE over the head to the person behind them. The process continues until the person who was originally at the front is back in the front (they must say the memory verse also). The team that finishes first is the winner.
13. Worship Song – __________________________________
14. Challenge and Altar
When we accept Jesus as our Savior our name is written in the Book of Life. This is the only way to go to heaven. To accept Jesus we must pray admitting we have sinned, believe Jesus died and rose again for our sins, and confess our sins and ask Jesus to forgive us. Then we must live our lives every day doing what Jesus would want us too. When Jesus returns we must be without spot or blame.
Luke 3:8 NKJV
“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”
Your lifestyle will tell (show) if you have a personal relationship with God and Jesus or not. If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus you are not saved and you will spend an eternity in hell. The choices YOU make while YOU are alive determine where You will spend eternity.
These are not fruits of repentance…
profane language (profanity) or behavior.
Cussing
Vulgar talk rude or obscene, particularly with regard to sex or bodily functions and behavior
language or behavior that shows disrespect for God
profane word or phrase that shows disrespect for God
Coarse joking or jesting
Ephesians 5:1-13 NKJV
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”
Where will you spend eternity? God has given each of us a choice- the choice is ours and ours alone to make.
Joshua 24: 14-15 NKJV
““Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Allow the children time to pray.
15. Refreshments or a light meal
16. Crafts
CRAFT IDEAS:
Footprints In The Sannd – Jesus’ Future Return For His Bride (The Rapture)
Jesus’ Future Return For His Bride (The Rapture) – Week 10
Memory verse: John 14:1-3
Bible truth: Jesus will return for true believers.
1. Open in prayer
2. Introduction
Revelation 3:10-13 NKJV
“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Before Jesus returns to rule the earth, the earth and the people on it will go through a great time of tribulation. However, if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and we continue to follow Him, we will not have to go through it.
3.Praise and Worship Songs –
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
4. Memory Verse
John 14:1-3 NIV
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5. A Catching Away
I Thessalonians 4:16-17 NKJV
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming again. One day Jesus will appear in the sky and a trumpet will sound. Jesus will only appear in the sky – His feet will not touch the ground. Those who are true Christians, known as the bride of Christ, will go to be with Him in heaven.
John 14:1-3 NKJV
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Jesus is in heaven right now preparing a home for us. He is also sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding, praying, for us.
Hebrews 10:12 NKJV
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God”
We refer to this return of Jesus in the sky as the rapture or a catching away. It is also known as the blessed hope. It means Jesus is coming back to take true Christians to heaven with Him!
6. Game – Wedding Gift Memory Verse
Need: two small boxes, two chairs, and a sign.
Wrap up 2 empty shoeboxes or other small boxes for this game. The boxes should be equal in size and shape. Write the memory verse on each box. Make a sign that says, “Jesus Is Returning For His Bride”
Place sign with a chairs a short distance from the lines.
Divide the group into two teams and have them line up in two line. Give each team one wrapped box. The first person on each team is to balance the gift box on their head, hurry to the chair with the sign “JESUS IS RETURNING FOR HIS BRIDE” . At the sign they are to take the box off their head, say the memory verse then run back to their team. The next person will do the same. The team that finishes first is the winner.
7. Ready At All Times
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are His legal bride. The Bible calls people who trust in Jesus for eternal life, the bride of Christ. One day Jesus will come and take His bride to His home. We refer to this as the rapture. We should be ready at all times for Jesus to return because we do not know when He will come.
Matthew 24:44 NKJV
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
In the Jewish wedding, if a bridegroom arrived to get his bride and she was not ready or if he found her not pure the wedding was off. Many times it cost her life.
We must be ready when Jesus returns. If He finds impurities or sin in you when He return, you will not be part of the bride of Christ. Only those who have properly prepared themselves will be the bride of Christ. Sin keeps a person from being properly prepared! Failure to prepare to be the bride of Christ has serious consequences that last forever and ever.
Matthew 22:11-14 NIV
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
John 3:16 NIV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
As the bride of Christ we must…
forsake (leave, turn from) our sins.
undergo sanctification (to be set apart).
be cleansed by the washing of the Word.
conform to what the Word of God teaches.
have a desire to please our groom, Jesus.
have an intimate relationship with Jesus, not just know His name.
make ourselves ready for His return.
8. Game – Be Watchful Relay Race
Jesus can come at any time. No one knows when He will return so it is important for us to be watchful and make sure we are ready when He returns. We’re going to play a game naming places we might be when Jesus returns.
Need: a play watch for each team
Divide the group into teams.
Line the teams up in rows. At your signal, the first person in each row puts on a toy watch, then they must say “Jesus can come at any time. He might come when I am ___________________________________”. Then they are to take off the watch and hand it to the next person on their team and they are to repeat the process. The game continues until everyone on team has had a turn. The team that finishes first is the winner.
9. Jesus Will Return
In the Jewish marriage, the groom was responsible to provide a suitable home for the bride. Usually it was a room, wing or section added to the father’s home. He did this during the preparation step. While the bride was making herself ready to be a suitable bride for the groom, he was preparing a home for her. One of Jesus’ purposes when He returned to heaven at the ascension was to prepare a place, a home, for His bride.
John 14:1-3 NIV
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me.”
Signs that the rapture will happen soon are found in various places in the Bible. Some of these signs are wars and rumors of war, earthquakes and famines, Christians will be hated, and the Gospel will be preached in every nation.
Mark 13:5-8 NKJV
“And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
10. Game – Can Stacking
Need eight cans and paper plates.
Divide the group into teams. Line each team up in front of a table. On the table in front of each time place four cans and paper plates. At the signal the first player on each team will stack four layers of cans, with paper plates in between. Then they will take the cans and plates down. The next person on the team will repeat the process. The team that finishes first is the winner.
11. Wedding Feast and Tribulation
When Jesus takes the true Christians, both those alive and dead, to heaven in the rapture it will be to a feast known as the wedding feast of the bride. This feast will last for seven years. During these seven years while the true Christians are at the feast, the people left on earth will being going through a very horrible and frightening time known as the great tribulation.
12. Game – Separate The Sweets
Need twelve bowls – six for each team, five types of mini candy bars ( ten of each kind)
Divide the group into teams. Line each team up in front of a table. On the table in front of each time place five empty bowls and one bowl of five types of mini candy bars ( five of each kind).
At the signal the first player on each team will separate the candy bars, placing five of each kind in the bowls. Then they will put all the candy bars back into the original bowl. The next person on the team will repeat the process. The team that finishes first is the winner.
13. Worship Song – _______________________________
14. Challenge and Altar
Everyone will live somewhere forever and ever. The bride of Christ will live in heaven with joy and happiness and everyone else will live in the lake of fire in torment and pain.
Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Have you prepared for Jesus’ return? Are you watching and waiting for His return.?
Are You Preparing?
Are you devoted to God?
Are you set apart for God’s service?
Are you striving toward spiritual perfection?
Are you trying to do your very best for Jesus?
Are you pure in heart?
Are you genuine?
Are you perfectly clean?
Are you spotless?
Are you without evil?
Are you without sin?
Do you have the same qualities and characteristics as Jesus?
Have you set yourself apart for Jesus?
Have you shut out everything that would keep you from being what God desires you to be?
Are you active in your worship to Jesus?
Are you active in prayer?
Does God respect you?
Are there impure things in your life?
Is your behavior appropriate for that of a Christian?
Are you Christ-like?
Do you behave in a correct manner?
Are you being cleansed by the washing of the Word?
Are you renewing your mind?
Are you conforming to what the Word of God teaches?
15. Refreshments or a light meal
16. Crafts
CRAFT IDEAS
Footprints In The Sand – Jesus’ Life After Resurrection and His Ascension To Heaven
Jesus’ Life After Resurrection and His Ascension To Heaven – Week 9
Memory Verse: Acts 1:8
Bible Truth: Jesus did not leave us alone.
1. Open in prayer
2. Introduction
The Feast of Weeks is also known as the Feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is a Greek word for fifty. It was during the Feast of Weeks that the Holy Spirit was given to believers. Fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in believers.
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house were they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
3. Praise and Worship Songs –
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
4. Memory Verse
Acts 1:8 NKJV
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
5. Jesus Appears To Mary
John 20:1-2 NKJV
“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Early Sunday morning Mary Magdalene went to the tomb of Jesus and found the stone rolled away. She ran and told the disciples and they returned with her to the empty tomb. After the disciples left the tomb she stayed behind looking into the tomb. Two angels appeared to Mary and asked her why she was crying. As soon as she told them she heard a voice behind her. Turning around, Mary saw a man who asked her the same question, “Why are you crying?”
John 20:3-15 NKJV
“Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,
and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
Mary thought this man was the gardener, however after He began to speak, she realized that He was Jesus. Mary was so excited that she wanted to reach out and touch Jesus. But Jesus told her not to touch Him because He had not ascended to heaven yet. Jesus asked Mary to go and tell the disciples and tell them that He was going to the Father in heaven.
John 20:17 NKJV
“Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”
6. Game – People Shuffle
Acts 1:8 NKJV
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Divide the memory verse up into parts. Make 2 sets of card with the memory verse dived up on them, each set a different color.
EXAMPLE:
/ “But you / shall receive / power when / the Holy / Spirit has / come upon / you; and / you shall / be witnesses / to Me / in Jerusalem, / and in / all Judea / and Samaria, / and to / the end / of the earth.” / Acts 1:8 NKJV /
For the above example you will need two teams of eighteen children. Divide to memory verse up according to the group size.
Divide the group into two teams. Tape a card on each of the children’s backs. At the signal they are to find their team (each team’s cards are a different color) and arrange themselves so that the verse can be correctly read (in order). The first team to do so correctly is the winner.
7. Jesus Presents His Blood In Heaven
After speaking to Mary, Jesus went to the temple in heaven and presented His own blood as a sacrifice for all the sins of every person. Later that day, Jesus returned to earth and appeared to His disciples. Jesus showed them the scars on His hands and His feet.
John 20:19-25 NKJV
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples
were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, had not been with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them. When he arrived they told him about Jesus appearing and the scars on Him. Thomas did not really believe them. He made the comment the he would not believe it was Jesus unless he could actually touch the scars for himself.
John 20:26-28 NKJV
“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Eight days later Jesus appeared to the disciples again. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus stood in front of Thomas and told him to touch His scars. Thomas immediately believed it truly was Jesus.
8. Game – Ping Pong Ball Tic-Tac-Toe
Need: Nine glasses (or jars), ping pong balls (two different colors)
Set glasses up in a grid of three glasses in three rows.
Divide group into two teams.
One player at a time, and alternating teams, they must bounce a ping-pong ball into a grid of glasses and try to get it in a glass. Only one bounce per person each turn. The team that gets three in a row first is the winner.
9. Ascension To Heaven – 40 Days After Resurrection
Acts 1:1-3 NKJV
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
For forty days after His resurrection Jesus stayed on the earth appearing to many different people and teaching them many different truths. Jesus gave the disciples the command to go into all the world and make disciples. We call this commandment “The Great Commission.” After Jesus gave the command, He told them that they would receive power to be His witnesses.
Acts 1:4-8 NKJV
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
As soon as He spoke that He began to float up into heaven. Those standing there watch Jesus go out of sight. Then two angels appeared to them and told them that Jesus would return to earth the same way He left.
Acts 1:9-11 NKJV
“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion He told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit, however they really did not understand Him.
John 14:26 NKJV
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 14:16 NKJV
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever”
John 15:26 NKJV
“And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”
Jesus knew that the time was soon approaching when He would not physically be with His disciples any longer. He wanted them to know that He would send them another counselor to them. Jesus even told them that it was to their advantage that He go away.
John 16:7 NKJV
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
Jesus told His disciples to go to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit, the gift that God had promised.
10. Game – Up In The Air
Need balloons (already blown up)
Mark out a start and a turn around line. Divide the group into two teams and have them form two lines. Give the first person on each team a balloon. At the signal the first person will run to the turn around mark and then back to their team, while keeping the balloon in the air by gently tapping it. They will pass the balloon to the next person in line and they will repeat the process. The team that finishes first is the winner.
11. Jesus’ Promise Is Given
Thousands of Jews had journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. It was during this time that Jesus’ followers obeyed His words and went to a room where they waited for the promised helper.
Acts 2:1-4 NKJV
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
For ten days for the true followers of Jesus were in an upper room waiting and praying. On the tenth day, the sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the room where they were. The Holy Spirit filled the upper room where the early believers were waiting. Tongues of fire appeared over each of their heads, and they all began to speak in different languages. They began to worship God in the foreign languages that were spoken and understood by the Jews that had come to Jerusalem for the feast.
Acts 2:5-12 NKJV
“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
Jesus’ followers had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. The people in Jerusalem heard Jesus’ followers declaring the wonders of God in many different languages. The Holy Spirit came Jesus’ followers and empowered them to witness. They left the upper room full of power and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness.
12. Game – Moving Tic Tacs
Need: four bowls, ten tic tacs, two pair of tweezers
Each team will need two bowls, five tic tacs and a pair of tweezers. Place five tic tacs in one bowl of each team.
Divide the group into two teams. Line the teams up – each in front of their set of bowls. At the signal the first person on each team will use tweezers to relocate the five Tic Tacs from one bowl to another. When they finish they will give the tweezers to the next player on their team. The team that finishes first is the winner.
13. Worship Song – _______________________________
14. Challenge and Altar
Each one of us are to share the message of Christ with those who do not know Christ as Savior. There are many people have never heard about God and how much He loves them. They don’t know that God gave His Son, Jesus for us. And they don’t know Jesus died on a cross for their sins. How will they ever know unless someone tells them?
Matthew 28:19 NKJV
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
God does not want anyone to be lost so He has commanded us to tell them the good news. Each of us have the responsibility to go and make disciples. We should witness out of obedience and because of the need to spread the gospel. We should not worry about acceptance or rejection, because God draws the person to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit, not us. Remember, power to witness is available to everyone.
Acts 1:8 NKJV
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Allow the children time to pray.
15. Refreshments or a light meal
16. Crafts
CRAFT IDEAS
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