Jesus Ascends

Gra

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s K-2 Leader Guide

STORY AT A GLANCE

Grades K-2. Jesus Ascends Leader Guide. Holy Moly. wearesparkhouse.org. © 2013 sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only provided each copy carries this notice.

cLOsInG PRAYeRdear God, Thank you for helping the disciples and us believe that Jesus really is alive! You are AWesOMe! We know that when Jesus said good-bye it wasn’t forever. Thank you for your blessing and promise to always be with us.

Amen!

supplies:

Holy MolyDVD

Holy MolyLeaflets

Holy MolyBible Storybooks

Crayons Clear Tape String/Yarn Scissors Hole Punch

disciples• In Jerusalem

after Jesus’ resurrection.

• Heard about the resurrection from Mary Magdalene, the other women at the tomb, and Cleopas.

• Afraid when the risen Jesus first appears because they think he is a ghost (Lk 24:37).

• Say good-bye to Jesus in Bethany, then go joyfully to Jerusalem to wait for the promised Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49-52).

Bethany• Village outside of Jerusalem on the east side of the Mount of Olives.

• Home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Jn 11:1).

• Location of Jesus’ ascension in Luke.

Jesus• Appears to the disciples for the

last time in the Gospel of Luke. This ascension story is repeated at the beginning of Acts.

• Eats fish in front of the disciples, showing he isn’t a ghost or vision, but has a physical body.

• Leads disciples to the town of Bethany, outside Jerusalem, where he ascends to heaven.

• Opens disciples’ minds to understand that he has fulfilled the law, prophets, and psalms (Lk 24:44-47).

Fewer kids?Once mobiles are assembled, invite kids to take turns retelling the story of Jesus’ ascension. With mobiles as props, have them show what’s happening. Encourage them to use their imaginations fully!

More time?Crumple up pieces of white tissue paper and glue onto the sky tube clouds for a 3-D effect!

More kids?Create mobile assembly stations kids move through. At 1 station kids color and assemble sky tubes. At another they cut out mobile pieces, punch holes, and tape, rather than tie, pieces together.

Less time?Have kids color the tubes at home. They can easily be retaped.

ACTIVITY TIPS

KeY VeRse While [Jesus] was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.

Luke 24:51

It’s not the end when Jesus ascends.

8 Holy Moly!When Jesus ascends he is going back to God. But, before he goes, he blesses the disciples and promises to send them something.

• What must it have been like to watch Jesus ascend into the sky?

• Where do you think Jesus went? What do you think it’s like there?

• What does Jesus promise God will send?

• I wonder how Jesus can go back to God and be with us at the same time.

Tell the story of Jesus’ ascension by holding the sky tube in 1 hand and the sun in the other. Lift up on the sun so that Jesus ascends into the sky until he disappears in the clouds!

(10-15 min.)

(5-10 min.)

(20-30 min.)

(5-10 min.)

dIscOVeR

ReLATe cOnnecT

cReATe

color both sides of the sun and the clouds.

Punch holes where indicated on the sun, Jesus, disciples, and

cityscape pieces.

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Get ReadyLearn how to say good-bye in different languages. Do your best to pronounce them correctly. Invite kids who know how to say good-bye in these languages, or in some not listed, to teach everyone!

• Spanish: Adios! (ah-dee-OSE)

• Swahili: Kwaheri! (kqwa-HAIR-ee)

• Mandarin Chinese: Zai jian! (dza’i chi’en)

• Arabic: Ma’a salama! (mah-sah-LAH-mah)

• Polynesian: Aloha! (ah-LO-hah) [also means “Hello!”]

• French: Au revoir! (oh-reh-VWAR)

How would you say good-bye in Holy Moly?

Introduce the characters• The disciples are sad because Jesus has died.

• Jesus suddenly appears in the room with the disciples. They are afraid at first and think he might be a ghost!

• Jesus shows he is alive when he eats fish and his disciples can touch him.

• Even though Jesus has to say good-bye to his friends, he promises them they will not be alone.

Watch what happens when Jesus blesses

his disciples before he leaves them.

If time permits, watch it again!

Play the Jesus Ascends Video

Talk about the Jesus Ascends Video• How did the disciples react when they first saw

Jesus? Why?

• How did Jesus show them he was really alive?

• Where did Jesus tell the disciples he had to go?

• I wonder what Jesus said to each disciple just before he left.

• What surprised you about how Jesus went back to God?

• How did the disciples react to Jesus’ ascension? Where did they go to tell others about it?

Open the Holy Moly Bible storybookRead A Blessed Good-bye on pages 25-30.

The disciples thought Jesus was still dead.

• Would you be afraid if you saw someone you thought had died?

• What did Jesus do to prove he was alive?

• What would you ask Jesus if he suddenly appeared in your home?

I wonder what the disciples felt when they said good-bye to Jesus.

• Where was Jesus going?

• How can you share the love of Jesus with others?

Jesus’ GOOd-BYe BLessInG: Kids create a mobile that will lift Jesus into the sky over and over again.

cOnTInues...

2 Holy Moly!Give kids time to imagine and help them reflect.

• Talk about a time when you had to say good-bye to someone you loved very much. Who was it? A friend, family member, pet?

• I wonder how Jesus’ blessing comforted the disciples as they said good-bye to him. Who has blessed me?

cut along the line to remove the sky and clouds piece. cut out other mobile pieces: sun, Jesus, disciples,

and cityscape.

Roll the sky piece into a tube and tape where indicated. Make sure the tube is wide enough for the

sun to fit through.

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cut 6 in. pieces of string or yarn, 4 pieces for each mobile.

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Tie the mobile pieces together in the following order: sun - Jesus - disciples - cityscape.

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Thread the mobile through the sky tube so that the sun is on top. Make sure Jesus is still below the sky tube until he’s ready to

ascend and return to God.

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