Bible Verse In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

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1 K/1 st Grade Who Art in Heaven Bible Verse In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2) Teacher Enrichment This lesson is the third in the Teach Us to Pray series which emphasizes the practice of prayer using The Lord s Prayer. Each week will examine a stanza of The Lord s Prayer, what it tells us about God and how it directs our prayer life. Today s lesson explores Who Art in Heaven. When we pray the words Who Art in Heaven, we are stating our belief that God resides in heaven. But what does it mean to be in heaven? Is heaven a real, physical place? Where is heaven? What does it look like and who is there? These are big, theological questions that are hard for adults to answer, let alone children, but the Bible does provide some insight. In the book of John, Jesus describes heaven as a house with many rooms where a place is being prepared for each of us. Revelations states that in heaven there is no more sadness, mourning, pain, wanting or tears. It describes heaven as a beautiful city with golden gates, walls decorated with jewels, streets paved with gold and where the glory of God provides the light. This lesson will teach that while we can t know everything about heaven until we get there, it is a wonderful, beautiful, perfect place where we live with God forever. God loves us so much that He is preparing a special place for each and every one of us. We do not have to earn our place in heaven; God provides it as a gift to everyone who loves Him. When we pray, we can thank God for this special gift and praise Him for creating a place Before as amazing the Lesson as heaven. Place sign in sheet and pen where parents see it upon arrival. Before Class Begins Place the Sign In sheet and a pen where parents can see it upon arrival.

2 Place the Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards and pens where students can see them upon arrival. Check that you have supplies for this lesson: Arrival Activity, Heaven s Gate Coloring Sheet 1 per child In Heaven or Not Cards A Home in Heaven worksheets 1 per child Crayons and markers Place an arrival activity at each place on the table. Welcome SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards, Attendance chart, stickers, pens, Heaven s Gate Coloring Sheet, crayons Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name. Help children find or add their name on the attendance chart. Provide each child with a sticker to place in today s column on the attendance chart. Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy or concern they would like to express. Collect completed Joy & Concern cards. Encourage children to complete a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week. Children should keep their own completed Time and Talent cards. If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them. Direct children to color the Heaven s Gate Coloring Sheet. Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your classroom by asking about their week including school, activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships. Children s Worship SUPPLIES: Sign In sheet, Joy & Concern cards, Time & Talent cards Arrive at Ruth Hall at 9:20 or 11:05.

3 Bring the Sign In sheet and completed Joy & Concern cards to Ruth Hall. Hand the Joy & Concern cards to the Children s Worship leader as you arrive. Have children bring their completed Time & Talent cards and any monetary offering. If additional children arrive while in Ruth Hall, have parents complete the Sign In sheet and remind parents that pickup is in Room 107. Encourage children to participate in Children s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children s Worship leader as needed. At the conclusion of Children s Worship, have children line up and return to Room 107. The Lesson SUPPLIES: In Heaven or Not Cards, My Room in Heaven worksheet, crayons, markers Gather all the children in a circle on the carpet. As you are able, sit on the floor with them or use a chair as part of the circle. SAY: Today we are learning about heaven. When we say The Lord s Prayer, it starts Our Father, who art in heaven. Our Father is talking about God. Who art in heaven means God lives in heaven. ASK: We heard some descriptions of heaven today. What kind of place is heaven? Allow children to provide answers e.g. a happy place, a safe place, a perfect place, where God lives, where we go when we die, a beautiful place SAY: We are going to play a game today called In Heaven or Not. I have a bunch of words and I am going to hold each one up and ask you if that word is something that belongs in heaven or not. We re going to start by sitting on the floor. I will say a word, and if that word is something that belongs in heaven, you will jump up and shout, Yes! If I say a word and it is something that doesn t belong in heaven, you will sit down, point your thumbs down and say in a really low voice, No! Hold up each card one at a time and read the word. You may want to say the word and then ask if that word belongs in heaven. For example: Tears. Do tears belong in heaven?

4 Encourage children to get excited about the Yes items! SAY: Great job! Heaven sounds like a pretty wonderful place! Today in Children s Worship we learned that God is preparing each of us our own special room in heaven! Jesus told us this in the Bible. Read John 14:2-3 from the CEV Bible provided in the classroom. The text is provided below for reference. John 14:2-3 1 Jesus said to his disciples, Don t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father s house. I wouldn t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. 3 After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. SAY: Just as we prepare our house when friends and family come, God is preparing your room in heaven! Today we are going to color a picture of what we think our rooms will look like in heaven. Use your imagination and draw what you want your rooms to look like in heaven. Remember, heaven is a perfect place. Have the children move from the carpet to seats at the tables. Give each child an A Home in Heaven worksheet. Provide markers and crayons for the group. While the children are creating their rooms, ask questions about their rooms and encourage them to talk about what they are drawing. Suggested Questions What is in your room? Do you have a bed or would you rather have a big mound of pillows? What colors are the walls of your room? Do you have a pet to share your room with? How is your room in heaven different from your room here on earth?

5 As children complete their A Home in Heaven drawing, encourage them to return to their Heaven s Gate coloring sheet if they did not complete it. Closing Lead the children in a closing prayer. You may say your own prayer, ask one of the children to say a prayer or use the one below. God, We praise you for creating heaven as a wonderful, perfect place! Thank you for preparing a room for us in heaven. Amen If time remains before parents arrive, encourage children to return to their Heaven s Gate coloring sheets if they did not complete it. Also encourage conversation between children and with you. This is another opportunity to build relationships with the children in your classroom!

6 In Heaven or Not Cards Love Tears Sickness Laughter Happiness Jesus God Sadness Fear

7 In Heaven or Not Cards Joy Loneliness Anger Praise Pain

8 A Home in Heaven

Bible Verse In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

4 th /5 th Grade Who Art in Heaven Bible Verse In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2) Teacher Enrichment This