Curriculum
Up, Up And Away - Ascension
Memory Verse:
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:9
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus can be trusted to do what He says He’ll do. Following His resurrection, He continued interacting with the disciples for 40 days until He returned to heaven.
Scripture Summary
Luke continues his account of Jesus Christ and the continuation of His ministry in the book of Acts. Following Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, He spent 40 days interacting with His disciples. The disciples were transformed and many of their questions were answered. They no longer quarreled among themselves but came together in preparation to begin the Church.
Jesus appeared to the disciples on many occasions to prove He was alive and to continue teaching them. After seeing the risen Jesus with their own eyes, the disciples became more fearless in sharing the Gospel with others.
But Jesus wanted the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had everything they needed. Timing is everything. And Jesus wanted to be sure the disciples received the Holy Spirit and His accompanying power. The Spirit would comfort, remind them of Jesus’ words, and guide them.
While Jesus was on earth, the disciples asked lots of questions about His kingdom. When would it come? What is it? But the kingdom Jesus spoke of was a spiritual kingdom that exists in the lives and hearts of believers and where the Holy Spirit dwells.
The disciples and the Jews withered under the Roman reign. The disciples wanted Jesus’ kingdom to come now and for Him to deliver all people from the Roman empire. Jesus’ spiritual kingdom will come in God’s time, and that’s not for any of us to know when.
The best is yet to come. Just as the “men dressed in white” shared. Jesus will one day come back to us from heaven.
Why Is This Important
Jesus completed His mission on earth and ascended to heaven, just as He said. Jesus keeps His promises and will return again someday.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
The King Is Coming
“‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.’”Acts 1:11
I love what Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised…” Jesus wanted to be sure the disciples had everything they needed before He left them. The gift was the Holy Spirit, and Jesus knew the Spirit would be a constant guide and comfort for the disciples.
Once Jesus ascended into heaven, “men dressed in white” asked the disciples why they were looking up. Jesus was in heaven but will come back. Oh, what a beautiful promise! The story wasn’t over when Jesus was captured and tortured. The story wasn’t over when Jesus was crucified. The story wasn’t over when Jesus rose from the dead. And the story wasn’t (and isn’t) over until Jesus returns. He’s coming again!
Until that time, we have the Holy Spirit–a constant presence–to comfort us, to guide us, to be present with us in the big and little days of life.
And the Spirit also reminds us that Jesus is coming again.
There’s an old song, "The King Is Coming." Read an excerpt of the lyrics.
Work on earth is all suspended As the King comes thro’ the gate O the King is coming
The King is coming
I just heard the trumpets sounding And now His face I see
O the King is coming The King is coming
Praise God, He’s coming for me Little children and the aged Hand in hand stand all aglow
Who were crippled, broken, ruined Clad in garments white as snow
What stood out to you in the lyrics? Take a moment to ponder what you’re anticipating when the King comes to us again.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that Your story isn’t over. You sent Your Son to redeem us, and You’re sending Him again to return to us. Please help me remember that You’re the one in control of the story as I tend to focus on my own ups and downs. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Three balloons, Fine-tipped marker
Get Ready: Inflate and tie off all three balloons. Then write the following on the balloons.
- Balloon 1— “He was taken up before their very eyes”
- Balloon 2— “a cloud hid him”
- Balloon 3— “from their sight”
“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:9
SAY: Today we’re going to use balloons to help us learn our Bible memory verse. If these balloons had helium in them, they would float up, up, and away. These balloons just have normal air, but we will pass them and repeat what’s written on each balloon.
Invite the kids to circle up. Pass the first balloon. As each child holds it, read the balloon’s phrase and have them repeat it. Pass all three balloons around the circle.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bible
Acts 1:1-11
Form two groups with each group having an adult leader.
SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, Jesus had an important word for His followers before He went up, up, and away to heaven.
Read Acts 1:8 aloud.
SAY: Jesus explained to His followers that the Holy Spirit would come and give them power to be His witnesses. Witnesses bring the good news of Jesus. Today you’re going to get a chance to deliver some good news to others.
Explain to the children that their adult leader will send them out on good news missions. Some examples are:
- Run and tell three people you’re glad they are here today.
- Go sing a song to a teacher.
- Go give 5 high-fives.
Allow three minutes for play.
THEN ASK:
- What was the best good news mission you were sent on?
- How did it feel to receive the good news?
SAY: In our activity you got to give good news to others, and while it was fun, it wasn’t exactly life-changing. The good news these followers were to share would be about Jesus. They would be witnesses all over the world to tell the good news of Jesus.
ASK:
- Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus?
- How can you be a witness of the good news of Jesus to that person?
PRAY: God, thank You that when Jesus went back to You in heaven, we were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that the Holy Spirit brings power to believers to share Your good news around the world. Help us see people who need to hear Your good news. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Snack
Ascension Treat
You’ll Need: Pudding cups - one per child, Whipped cream, Teddy grahams, Spoons, Napkins
Use these instructions to help children complete this AscensionTreat.
- Give each child a pudding cup.
- Place whipped cream on top of their pudding cup to represent clouds.
- Give each child a Teddy Graham to put on top of the whipped cream to represent Jesus going up, up and away in the clouds.
- Eat and enjoy.
SAY: In today’s lesson, we learned that Jesus went up, up, and away to return to the Father, but He didn’t leave us alone. He shared with His followers that the Holy Spirit would come and live, and give power to believers. That’s great news.
Game
Sharing Jesus Tag
You’ll Need: Flashlight - one for each child
Remind kids about how Jesus told people to share about Him with others. Explain that they’re going to play a game to help them think about that.
Play a version of Flash Tag as follows:
- Have kids spread out in the room.
- Turn off the lights.
- On “go,” shine your light on a child, and have that child shine the light on another child.
- As soon as a child is tagged, he or she sits down.
- Continue until everyone has been tagged with the light.
- Repeat, as time allows.
AFTERWARD, ASK:
- What happened in our game?
- How could that be like what happens when we tell others about Jesus?
SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, Jesus told His friends to tell others about Him because He wants everyone to believe and become forever friends with God. Like in the game, we can try to add the whole world to our “believing blob” by sharing about Jesus and inviting them to church.
Craft
Up, Up, and Away Craft
You’ll Need: Up, Up and Away How-to Video, “The Ascension” coloring sheet - one per child, Small paper cups, String, Cotton balls, Scissors, Glue, Crayons, Tape
Help children follow these steps to make their Up, Up, and Away craft.
- Color the picture of Jesus.
- Ask an adult to cut out your Jesus picture.
- Cover the paper cup with cotton balls.
- Tape the string to the back of the Jesus cutout and thread it through a small hole in the bottom of the cup.
- Tie a knot in the string.
- Pull the string to bring Jesus up into the clouds.
SAY: Take your Up, Up, and Away craft home as a reminder that after Jesus went up, up, and away, He promised to bring power to His followers through the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Cloudy Prayers
You’ll Need: “Cross Outline” handout, Cotton balls, 10 per child, Scissors, Glue
SAY: Today we are going to make cloudy crosses with each of our prayers. Begin thinking now about things you would like to talk to God about.
Help children follow these steps to pray through their Cloudy Prayers.
- Cut out the cross from the “Cross Outline” handout.
- Glue cotton balls to the inside of the cross.
- For each cotton ball, say a prayer for yourselves or others.
SAY: God wants you to share all the things in your heart with Him.
He hears our prayers. He also gives the Holy Spirit to live in and help comfort those who believe in Him.
