Jesus Ascends to Heaven Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God keeps his promises.”
Jesus was alive again! For forty days he came to his friends. That is a lot of days! They saw him again and again. He showed them that he was really alive. He talked with them about God’s Kingdom.
One day Jesus was together with his friends in Jerusalem. That is the big city where Jesus had died and risen again. He said, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.” Depart means go away.
Long before, John had baptized people in water. But now Jesus said, “You will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” The Holy Spirit is God’s own Spirit. God was going to send his Holy Spirit to them. God keeps his promises.
The friends asked Jesus, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?” They wanted to know when Israel would be a great kingdom again.
Jesus answered them. “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set.” Only God the Father knows the right time.
Then Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
A witness tells what he has seen. The uttermost parts of the earth means everywhere, all over the world! Can you point far, far away? Jesus’ friends would tell about him everywhere. And they did!
Then Jesus led them out of the city to a mountain. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. And while he blessed them, Jesus was taken up. Up, up, up he went, while they were watching! Then a cloud took him out of their sight. Can you look up high, like the friends?
The friends kept looking into the sky. They looked and looked and looked. Suddenly two men in white clothing stood by them.
“You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?” they said. “This Jesus will come back in the same way.” God keeps his promises.
Jesus had gone up into heaven, to God the Father. But he had promised that the Holy Spirit would come. And Jesus would come back one day. That was good news!
First they worshiped Jesus. Then they went back to Jerusalem with great joy. They walked down from the mountain called Olivet. It was not far, just a short walk.
They went up into the upper room where they were staying. An upper room is a room upstairs. Peter, John, James, Andrew, and the other friends were all there.
There they prayed together, day after day. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there too. Other women were there, and Jesus’ brothers. Can you fold your hands to pray with them?
They waited and waited for the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said. Not many days, and he would come! God keeps his promises.
Jesus is with God the Father now. One day he will come back. God keeps his promises.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think the friends saw when they looked up into the sky?
- What do you think the friends talked about on the way back to Jerusalem?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 2 men in white and the 1 cloud.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Will come back in the same way” — Acts 1:11 (will come back → wave your hand: come here; in the same way → point up to the sky)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you are with God the Father. Thank you that you will come back one day. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Jesus is always with us
Memory verse: “This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.” — Acts 1:11 · WEB
The Bible story
After Jesus rose from the grave, He gathered His friends one last time, gave them a wonderful promise, and was taken up into heaven.
Talk about it
- After Jesus came back to life, how many days did He stay with His friends? — Forty days
- How did Jesus show His friends that He was really alive? — He ate and talked with them
- Where did Jesus lead His friends? — Up the Mount of Olives
- How far would the friends tell about Jesus? — To the ends of the earth
- What wonderful Helper did Jesus promise to send? — The Holy Spirit
- What happened to Jesus as His friends watched? — He was taken up to heaven
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus didn't go up to heaven to leave us behind. He said he was going to prepare a place for us and would come back to take us to be with him (John 14:2–3). Right now, the Bible says, Jesus is at God's right side, speaking to the Father for us (Romans 8:34). Even from heaven, Jesus is busy loving you.
What God wants to tell us
Even when we cannot see Jesus with our eyes, He is never far away. Before He went to Heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be our Helper, so we are never, ever alone. God gives us the courage to be kind, to be brave, and to share His love with everyone we meet. And best of all, Jesus keeps every promise He makes, including His promise to come back one day.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that Jesus loves me and is always near, even when I cannot see Him. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who helps me be brave and kind. Help me to share Your love with everyone. Amen.
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