Free Bible lesson for kids · The Church Begins
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
After forty days, Jesus promised the Holy Ghost and was taken up into a cloud. Two men in white apparel said He will come again the same way.
- Bible passage
- Acts 1:1–11 · Luke 24:50–53 · Mark 16:19
- Big idea
- Jesus is in heaven, and He is coming again.
- Memory verse
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:8 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
After Jesus rose, His apostles saw Him for forty days. He gave them many sure proofs that He was alive and taught them about God’s kingdom (Acts 1:3). He told them to wait in Jerusalem, for soon they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4–5). He said, “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50). While they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight (Acts 1:9). Two men in white said Jesus would come again the same way they saw Him go (Acts 1:10–11). Jesus sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). The disciples worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Luke 24:52).
Read it in the Bible: Acts 1:1–11 (KJV)
1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 24:50–53 (KJV)
50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Read it in the Bible: Mark 16:19 (KJV)
19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Questions to ask
How long was Jesus seen after He rose?
Forty days.
What received Him out of their sight?
A cloud.
What did the two men in white say?
This same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
What this story teaches
- Jesus proved again and again that He is alive (Acts 1:3).
- Jesus now rules from the right hand of God (Mark 16:19).
- The Holy Spirit gives believers power to tell about Jesus (Acts 1:8).
- Jesus will come back the same way He left (Acts 1:11).
- Jesus’ followers can worship Him with great joy (Luke 24:52).
Jesus Prays for Us
Jesus went up to heaven, and right now He is at God’s right hand, praying for us.
Romans 8:34
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank Jesus that He is coming again. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus is in heaven, and He is coming again.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Acts 1:8 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Keep It Up
You need: White balloons for clouds, one for every two kids
- Everyone works together to keep all the “clouds” in the air.
- If one touches the floor, the whole group freezes, looks up and says, “He’s coming back!” Then start again.
- Count how long you can keep every balloon up.
Jesus was taken up into a cloud, and the angels said He will come again in the same way.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 20 minutes
Until He Comes
You need: Paper, envelopes, pens
- Read Acts 1:9–11.
- Write a letter to yourself to open in one year: how you want to live and grow while you wait for Jesus.
- Seal it; the leader keeps it and gives it back next year.
“Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” Jesus is coming back, so let’s live for Him now.
Pray
Thank Jesus that He is coming again.