Jan 15, 2025
Truth Group
Week 14 - Jesus Prays for Christians
Overview
This week in Truth Group, we’re teaching that Jesus didn't stop helping us after He died on the cross and rose again. Instead, He flew up into heaven, where he now sits next to his father, praying for Christians, helping them do what is right. Our goal is that if we ask the kids what Jesus is doing now, they’ll say, “Jesus stays in heaven and prays for me.”
– Mark 16:19 “After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
– Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. “
Schedule
1. Registration in the foyer
2. Starting together in the auditorium
3. Truth Group Opening - Songs & Rules
4. Tiny Trackers Dismiss, Special Story & Memory Verse
5. Game Time - Midnight
6. Restroom Break
7. Lesson - Jesus ascends to heaven
8. Training Time & Snack
9. Dismissal
Game Time - Midnight
Von will choose one player to be “Mr. Fox” or “Miss Fox.” All the other players are chickens. The chickens will try to run from one side of the gym to the other without being tagged by the fox.
The fox will stand in the middle of the gym facing away from the chickens, who will be touching the gym wall. Von will call out, “What time is it Mr. Fox?” And the fox will give a time: “Four o’clock” or “Seven o’clock” or “Midnight.” Whatever time the fox calls, the chickens will move forward that number of steps. For example, if he calls “Four o’clock,” the chickens can take four steps. Once the fox calls out out “Midnight,” he may turn around and start tagging as many chickens as he like. All the chickens can then run as fast as they can to the other wall. If he tags them before they touch the wall, they become a fox and will join him in the middle of the gym.
We then play another round with all the foxes in the middle, and we continue to play rounds until there is only one chicken left. That chicken is the winner, and they get to be the fox to start the next round.
Lesson - Jesus Ascends to Heaven (Acts 2:1-10)
Visual 1 - Picture of a kid waving
Have you ever had to say a really hard “goodbye”? Maybe you were saying goodbye to family that you knew you wouldn’t see for a long time, or maybe you were saying goodbye to a friend who was moving away. In tonight’s lesson, Jesus’ eleven friends had to say goodbye to Jesus.
Visual 2 - Picture of the Mount of Olives
Jesus died for the sins of the world, rose again, and then gathered with His disciples to say goodbye. His disciples went to the top of the Mount of Olives. Jesus taught them there. This was Jesus’ last time to teach His disciples. He commanded the disciples to go out and tell everyone about the good news that He died and rose again so they could be forgiven of sin. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come upon them to help them.
The disciples did not want to see Jesus leave. But Jesus made them a promise that He would go to be with His Father in heaven, but He would come back. Jesus made that promise not just to them but to all those who believe in Him. We are still waiting for Jesus to come back like He promised.
Visual 3 - Picture of Jesus ascending
Then, suddenly, Jesus’ body began to fly up; a cloud came around Him, and He went so high that the disciples couldn’t see Him anymore. Jesus was gone. But where did He go?
Visual 4 - Mark 16:19 “After the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
The disciples kept looking up in the sky. Two angels appeared next to the disciples. They said, “Why do you stand looking up into the sky? This Jesus, who went to heaven, will come back just like He went up. The disciples believed the angels, and they went to tell more people about Jesus. Instead of being afraid, they had boldness because they knew Jesus was in heaven.
Visual 5 - Picture of heaven
Christians are still waiting for Jesus to come back from heaven. When He does come back, He promises to destroy this world and create a new world. The Bible calls that new world the New Heavens and the New Earth. Jesus will live on the New Earth with those who believed in Him. He will make a beautiful city for us to live in with Him. This heavenly city will have a river running right down the middle of it. Trees will be next to the river. The trees will have fruits. The city will be the most beautiful city that anyone will have ever seen. The earth will be new, much like our current earth, but even better!
But for now, Jesus is in heaven, doing something very important for everyone who is saved.
Visual 6 - Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. “
Those big words teach us a big truth: right now, Jesus stays in heaven and prays for me! When you sin, He prays to the Father so He’ll forgive you. When you need courage to tell someone how they can be saved, He prays that the Father would give it to you. When you are lonely and sad, He prays that you would be comforted and rested. Because He prays for Christians, they can never stop being saved. He makes sure that they are safe because He prays for them.
Visual 7 - Jesus STAYS in heaven and PRAYS for me!
Application:
– Do you need to trust Jesus with your assurance of salvation?
– Do you need to trust Jesus with something else?
– Do you need to be saved?
Training Time
Group Activity Play “I’m thinking of something in Heaven and the New Earth.” Have the kids ask yes and no questions to figure out something that will be in heaven and the New Earth. Use Revelation 22 as a reference. The kid who guesses correctly will get to be the next guesser.
Group Discussion. Read some verses from John 17:1-24.
– To whom is Jesus praying? (v.1) Jesus is praying for His disciples. Find the verse where Jesus says he is praying for “them.” (v.9)
– In verse 15, for what does Jesus pray?
– In verse 17, for what does Jesus pray?
– In verse 21, for what does Jesus pray?
– In verse 24, for what does Jesus pray?
– Why do you think Jesus prays for all these things?
Group Prayer. Have the kids share things that they’re especially concerned about right now. Thank God for Jesus’ praying for us!