Passages to study: Luke 24:50-53; John 20:19-29; Acts 1:1-11.
Read with the class: Acts 1:1-11.
Memorization Texts : Younger children - 1 Peter 3:22. “Who has gone into
heaven, and is on the right hand of God.”
Older children - 1 Peter 3:22.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To show that there is irrefutable evidence that Christ rose from the dead in bodily
form.
2. To teach a number of the many occasions that the resurrected Christ appeared to His
own.
3. To remind the children that His was a physical resurrection.
4. To emphasize that He also ascended bodily to heaven and lives in the same state in the
Glory.
5. To stress that it is because He lives that we can have eternal life.
SCENE No. 1.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- 1 Cor. 15:5-8 gives a partial list of the Lord’s appearances as given by the
Apostles Paul.
Cmt. Refer to these irrefutable evidences to show that Christ rose bodily from the dead.
Cns. It is necessary to demonstrate that His resurrection was a physical one in
order to show that He ascended physically to Heaven.
A FLANNELGRAPH lesson could show a list and figures of each of the occasions mentioned in
Corinthians, and could add the other appearances of the Lord described in the four
gospels.
Sug. Write out the list in large letters.
For example:
1) To Mary Magdalene
2) To the other two Marys
3) To Peter (Cephas)
4) To the ten apostles, Thomas being absent.
5) To the eleven apostles, with Thomas present.
6) To more than 500 brethren at one time
7) To the seven apostles at the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias)
8) To James
9) As He ascended to Heaven
11) To the Apostle Paul.
- The above mentioned persons were all witnesses who actually saw the risen Christ.
SCENE No. 2. In a room in which some of the disciples lived.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- This second occasion of the Lord appearing to His gathered disciples took place eight
days after the earlier appearance, with Thomas present.
- The Lord Jesus shows great kindness by repeating His visit to the disciples, encouraging
them and also speaking to Thomas’ unbelief.
Apl. Thomas’ faith is based on seeing the Lord, but there is something that pleases
Him more. “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
(John 20:29)
- We honour God by believing His word without asking that He first give us further proofs.
- God speaks to the sinner repeatedly, despite his unbelief and doubt about truth.-
SCENE No. 3. On the Mount of Olives.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- The Lord Jesus ascends to Heaven while the disciples watch and continue to look up to
Heaven.
- Forty days have passed since His resurrection and Christ returns to His Father in
visible form.
- He does so before a group of witnesses.
- There were always trustworthy proofs when Jesus did something, so that those who saw
could later witness that it had really happened.
Ex. Miracles such as the resurrection de Lazarus, were well known. See Acts
26:26.
- The two angels bring a message of comfort. “This same Jesus ...shall so
come in like manner as ye have seen Him go.” (Acts 1:11)
- Now that the Lord is no longer with them, the disciples are to continue their work of
making known the gospel while awaiting His return.
Sug. Mention to the students that the Sunday School is an activity Christians maintain
while they wait for the Lord. Once he comes to take the teachers to Heaven, there
will be no more opportunity to hear the
Gospel.
SCENE No. 4.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
FIGURES: If pictures can be found of children from different parts of the world,
including one’s own country, or of native costumes from other lands, these can
represent those to whom the gospel is going out.
Sug. Try to find a globe showing the continents which can also illustrate places where the
gospel is being preached.
- The gospel has reached the most distant parts of the world, even to those farthest from
Jerusalem where this Great Commission was given.
Note: By measurement New Zealand and Chile are “in the uttermost part of the earth”
from Jerusalem. These notes have been prepared in San Felipe, CHILE.
The Gospel has been carried to remote places by Christians who throughout the years
obeyed the words of the Lord Jesus to go and preach.
Sug. Mark 16:15 could be written out to present the message of Christ to His disciples in
a visual way.
- The children’s song “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the
world” can be quoted or sung.
- The gospel meets the spiritual needs of everybody and of all peoples, whatever their
country or culture.
Apl. When a person is saved through the ascended Lord Jesus Christ, there are changes in
the life.
1. New life in Christ makes it possible to love instead of hate;
2. One can enjoy peace and confidence instead of fear and can be at peace;
3. A young person is willing to obey his/her instead of being in rebellion to them;
4. There is assurance that God hears when one prays.
5. There is humility instead of pride in the heart.
- These are some of the needs that are met when Christ comes into a heart as Saviour.
- Mention that God’s attitude toward each person is that of loving and saving, not
despising any.
- There is sufficient power in the work of Christ on the cross to reach everyone with the
Good News of salvation through Him.
Cmt. It is important to mention that when God invites the sinner to receive Christ as
Saviour, it is to a living Person living in Heaven. He is not on the cross, nor in the
grave, nor in some geographical location on earth. |
