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Copy of How Can We Get to Heaven? by Jennifer Tolbert
This lesson is focused on review. Through all of the stories in this study, there is a common theme: God keeps His promises! Even when His people couldn't fulfill their side of the agreement. Through every story, we see God weaving together a special plan to fulfill the very first promise he made to Adam and Eve--a helper is coming and God has a plan to fix this mess of sin!
If age appropriate, consider introducing the word "covenant" to your children. If younger, the word "promise" or "make a deal" may be better. A covenant is an agreement in which two sides agree to terms. It's like a contract! Key Themes: 1. God keeps His promises! 2. Heaven is our goal! 3. God has a special plan to overcome sin so that we can be with him again! Memory Verse
12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
Ephesians 2:12-14
or (for younger kids) Numbers 23:19 ‘Whatever God promises, He does.”
Songs
Books of the Old Testament
Books of the New Testament God Told Noah God is so Good Blue Skies and Rainbows Do Lord You're the One Standing on the Promises* *for older kids Story
Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
Open Class in Prayer Introducing the Story Ideas 1. Making a Promise or Covenant Supplies: a Treat such as candy or snack SAY: Let's make a covenant or promise today. I have a special treat. I promise to give you the special treat at the end of class if YOU promise to be very good and quiet during class. Is that a deal. (Allow kids to agree). So, let's review the terms of our covenant. I promise to: (allow kids to answer) IF you (allow the kids to answer). Okay, then it's a deal! We just made a covenant. Today, we are going to review the covenants or promises that God made throughout the Bible. 2. Pledges and promises: Come up with a list of vows or pledges that people recite. This could include things like the Pledge of Allegiance, a scouting oath, or wedding vows. Discuss what it means to say such things, and how important it is to stick with your word. (Source: Ministry to Children.com) READ the story God Keeps His Promises. EMPHASIZE that
Visual AidsGod is...
Connect their story back to God and his character. Explain how this story fits into God's plan for salvation.
Activity Ideas
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How Can We Get to Heaven? by Jennifer Tolbert
Like all good stories, God's story has the happiest of endings-especially for us! Learning about heaven as a real place that we want to be should be exciting--until you realize you might not get to go!
For younger kids, we are just introducing them to the idea of baptism. You may want to explain that they are still in the hearing and believing step! They should keep coming to Bible class so they can HEAR all about God's plan! For older kids, you may want to encourage them to continue studying and giving serious thought to if they believe the story of God; and if so, talk to their parents about taking those next important steps! Key Themes: 1. God created us so that we could someday live with Him forever! 2. Heaven is our goal! 3. God has a special plan to overcome sin so that we can be with him again! Memory Verse
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Songs
Books of the New Testament
There is a Flag that Flies in the Castle of My Heart Heaven is a Wonderful Place He's Got the Whole World in His Hands My Father's House Oh You Can't Get to Heaven Saint's Medley This World is Not My Home* When the Roll is Called Up Yonder* I'll Fly Away* *If you have older kids, it may be fun to teach them one of the older hymns about heaven. Kids love I'll Fly Away Story
Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
Open Class in Prayer Introducing the Story Ideas 1. Story of Jesus's Baptism SAY: Before we begin today's lesson, I want to remind you of something that Jesus did. Do you remember when Jesus was baptized? Read thestory from a children's Bible, or show a quick video about John the Baptist baptizing Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. God left us lots of signs about his plan for salvation all through the Bible. Jesus showed us how important it was to be baptized! 2. Washing It All Away Tub of water (big enough to submerge items) and a plate. First, make sure the item is "dirty." You can easily put small smears of hazelnut butter or chocolate pudding to represent dirt. SAY: Is this dish clean? (The kids should agree no.) I wouldn't want to eat off of this dirty plate, would you? SAY: Okay, let me clean it. (Dip just a small part of the plate in the water.) Say, okay there we go, it's clean! Who wants to eat from it now? (Allow kids to say no.) SAY: Okay, maybe we can do better. (Sprinkle the plate with some water). Well, that cleaner, but I still wouldn't call it completely clean. No, if we want something to be clean, we need to make sure that EVERY single part of it is washed. In order to do that, I need to put the WHOLE plate under the water. (Put it under the water and wash it). That is what the word baptism means, it means to submerge completely under the water, making sure every part is washed. Story: Do you like movies that have a happy ending? I know I do! God's story is one that has a happy ending--for Him and for us! Each story in the Bible gives us a clue or points to the next step in God wonderful plan. But now that Jesus has come and saved the world, you may be wondering what is next! The book of Revelation is a beautiful picture of exactly what is coming next--Heaven! One of the things that would make heaven extra special for me is if YOU are there! Fortunately, God made a special plan for us to get to Heaven. We learn about it in the New Testament. Jesus even demonstrated it for us. We call it baptism. SHOW the story of How Can I Get to Heaven? EMPHASIZE that:
Visual AidsActivities
Citizenship in Heaven by Jennifer Tolbert
Have you ever felt left out? Or maybe like you didn't belong? Maybe it was when you went to a new school or traveled to a far away place where they speak a different language. It's not a very happy feeling is it? Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians because they felt out of place in their own country! They believed something different. They acted differently than the other people in Philippi. They didn't feel like they fit in anymore at all! But, that was a good thing!
Paul used the idea of citizenship (or belonging to a certain country) to illustrate that their home was no longer in this world! They had citizenship in a new place-heaven! So, they should feel like out of place because their heart knew they belonged somewhere else now--heaven! Key Themes: 1. God created us so that we could someday live with Him forever! 2. Heaven is our goal! 3. God has a special plan to overcome sin so that we can be with him again! Memory Verse
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Songs
Books of the New Testament
There is a Flag that Flies in the Castle of My Heart Heaven is a Wonderful Place He's Got the Whole World in His Hands My Father's House Oh You Can't Get to Heaven Saint's Medley This World is Not My Home Story
Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
Open Class in Prayer Introducing the Story Ideas 1. Types of Homes SAY: People live in different kinds of homes all over the world. Let's talk about the different kinds of houses people live in. You can show this video about different kinds of homes. People all over the world live differently. Would you feel out of place if you tried to live in an igloo? It would be different than what you were used to and you might feel a little out of place. The Philippian people were starting to feel out of place in their own country. 2. Walk & Stop Play a game where the kids walk in a story or across the room. When you say walk, the students begin walking around the room. When you say stop, they must freeze in place. The last person to freeze is out. Do this for a couple of rounds, and then switch the meaning, now “Walk” means to stop, and “Stop” means to walk. The student is out when they fail to follow the proper direction. The last student remaining wins. If you are limited on space you can also do "sit" and "stand" or "stop" and "hop." Story: Do you know what an alien is? It is a not a green martian that travels in a space ship! When someone whose citizenship is one country goes to live in another country, they are called aliens. Many times, if you are an alien in a different country, you have to learn new customs, a new language and eat new kinds of food and drinks! The alien will probably feel out of place for a little while. Once we realize we belong (or are citizens) in heaven, we begin to feel out of place here on Earth! As Christians, we behave a different way, talk a special way, and even sometimes eat and drink different foods than people living on Earth! When we see how different we are, we might start to feel like we don't belong here anymore! The truth is, we don't! We are like aliens! The entire story of the Bible is map leading us to one special place-heaven. That is where we belong! SHOW the story of Citizenship in Heaven or read Philippians 3:12-20. EMPHASIZE that:
Visual AidsGod is...
Connect the story back to God and his character. Explain how this story fits into God's overall story.
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