“Jesus Has Gone…But He’s Coming Back” – Easter Sunday

YEAH! Church - Sunday, April 17, 2022

"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Jesus Has Gone…But He’s Coming Back” – Easter Sunday

Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcFw8pLBSIo (Saddleback Kids – The Ascension)

Jesus Returns to Heaven
Acts 1:6-11
“6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Over a period of 40 days, Jesus proved to his followers that he really was alive again. When it was time for him to return to heaven, he made sure they were there to see the event and to give them final directions. Their job was to continue Jesus’ work of telling people how much God loved them and how they could go to heaven to be with Jesus.

As the disciples watched Jesus rise into the sky, any doubts they might have had disappeared. They worshipped Jesus, not just because he was a good teacher or because he could perform miracles, but because they recognized that he was God!

Angels came and asked the disciples why they were still standing around looking into the sky. Jesus was gone and he wasn’t going to be returning until the time was right. Today, we are still waiting for Jesus to return. But rather than watching the sky, we too need to be busy doing the work Jesus told his followers to do—telling people about God’s love and what Jesus has done for each one of us!

Engage:
• The Bible tells us that Jesus died for us. Why? What does that mean?
• But Jesus didn’t stay dead. How can we be sure he rose from the dead?
• Jesus then returned to heaven. What did he tell his disciples they should do?
• Today, I can still be a follower of Jesus. What does that mean?
• Jesus told us that he has gone to prepare heaven for our arrival. What do you think he’s doing?

Weekly verse:
John 14:1-3, NLT – “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Prayer – Dear God, thank you that we can live in heaven with you. Help me to follow Jesus well—by listening to his instructions and obeying his directions. Thank you, Jesus, for preparing a place for me!
~ Pastor Jane