Children's Church Lesson: God's House (John 14:1-14)

Story

Say: Have you ever thought about heaven?  What do you think heaven is like?  (Take answers)  Those are great answers.  In today’s story Jesus shares a little bit about heaven. 

Read “God’s House” in any story bible, or read John 14:1-14.

Lesson

Say: What is God’s house in heaven like? (Big, room for everyone) Why was Jesus going to heaven? (To get it ready for everyone) How do we get to heaven to be with God?  (Jesus is the way!) 

Jesus teaches us two things about heaven in this story.  The first thing he teaches us is that there is room for everyone in heaven!  That is great news isn’t it?!

The Second thing that Jesus tells us about heaven is that he is the only way to get to heaven.  What did Jesus mean by that (take answers).  That’s right!  Jesus made a way for us to get to heaven.  Jesus loves us and wants us to go to Heaven one day. How do we get to Heaven? We have to believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We must know that Jesus died for the wrongs we have done. We must tell Jesus we are sorry for our sins and ask Him to forgive us. Then, we must ask Jesus to come into our heart and help us live for God in all we do. Jesus promises to stay with us forever and take us to Heaven one day. If you want to know more about Jesus, talk to us anytime about it.  

Big Idea

Jesus is the way to heaven!  We go to heaven when we admit our sin and accept his gift.   

Memory Verse

Jesus said “I am the way, to God.” -  John 14:6

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests or prayer joys Say a short prayer thanking God loving us and asking Him to help us love others.  

Craft

Heaven’s Gate Craft 

Youth Discussion: A Heavenly Perspective (Philippians 3:10-4:1)

Bible Verse 1: Philippians 3:10-4:1

         

Video:  “Evermore” Dan Stevers 

Bible Verse 2:                                   

Five Questions:

1.     Are you ever afraid of death?  Why?

2.     What does Paul say happens when people don’t follow Christ? (Philippians 3: 18-19)

3.     What happens to people who follow Christ as his Disciples?  (Philippians 3: 20-21)

4.     In the video those who go to heaven are themselves only better.  How does this make you feel?

5.     Does the video answer some questions you might have about death and heaven?  Do you have others?

6.     How does knowing that God had a plan from the very beginning help you to be less afraid?  How does it help you to trust God?

Wrap Up:

Verses 18 and 19 describe those who live as “enemies of the cross of Christ”. “Their mind is on earthly things”; in other words, they can’t see beyond the here and now (i.e., “whose god is their belly”), and they only live for the present moment. But, says Paul, “our citizenship is in heaven” (v 20). To know Christ, we must understand that heaven is our home. We are called “heavenwards” (v 14), we belong there (v 20), our Saviour will return from there (v 20), and he will transform “our lowly bodies” (v 21) into glorious bodies that will spend eternity there. Keeping that heavenly perspective, says Paul, is “how you should stand firm in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1).

Supposing we decide that our country is no longer worth living in, and we become convinced that Peru is the place to be. We receive our Peruvian citizenship, but must wait six months before we move there. What will we do in the meantime? We will not spend our time building up our attachment to our old country – extending our home, buying things that we will have to leave behind when we move, forming relationships that have no future. We will spend time getting ready to live in our new country – learning the language, the customs, the national anthem, the history. And we will think about and talk to each other about how marvellous it will be when we move there. Knowing Christ should change the way we look at everything – our homes, our work, our relationships, what we spend our money on, what we give our time to. Knowing Christ is not just the aim of life; it is life.

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests. 

Youth Lesson: The New Nature (Colossians 3:5-14)

Bible Verse 1: Colossians 3:5-14

         

Video:  “Can You Here Me Now”- Skit Guys 

Bible Verse 2:  Colossians 3:12-14   

Five Questions:

1.     Do you think that in the video “Trevor” is angry at his friend, the phone or both? Why?

2.     In the passage in Colossians how does God say we are to treat others?

3.     Why is it so hard to be patient with one another?

4.     Should both friends in the video forgive each other or does only one friend need to forgive the other? Why?

5.     What does it mean that God forgives us so we must forgive others?

6.     How well do these verses describe this group and this church?  What can we do to be more like what Colossians 3 calls us to be?

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests. 

Salt and Light

Story/Passage

Say: What do your friends and family say that you are like? (take answers)  In today’s story Jesus shows us how we can be like salt and light.  Let’s take a look!

 Read “Salt and Light” in any children's bible (Matthew 5:13-17)

Lesson

Say: Do you like salt? What does food taste like when there is no salt in it? (Let the children answer). When salt is added to some foods they taste much better. God put Christians in this world so that we can make the world better. Are you salt? Do you make this world better? Tell me some ways you make your school better? (Let the children answer and then go on to talk about ways they can make home, sports, etc. better by living a Christian life.)

What do you think Jesus meant when he said: “You are the light of the world”? Did he mean we are not human but that we are light bulbs? Of course not. He was saying a parable to tell the people something very important.  Many people in this world do not know about God. Jesus said that it is like they are in a very dark place. They need someone to give them some light so that they can see. When Christians obey God then it is like a light is shining. People see Christians doing good things and it makes them want to follow God.

When we live like Jesus and tell others what we he has done for them we are being like salt and light.

Big Idea

When we live like Jesus and tell others what we he has done for them we are being like salt and light. 

Memory Verse

Matthew 5:16 …let your light shine…

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests or prayer joys Say a short prayer thanking God loving us and asking Him to help us be like salt and light to the people around us.  

Song

This Little Light of Mine