Jesus Is the Way to Heaven POWERSOURCE
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May 2019 The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church 4881 W. Panther Creek Dr. The Woodlands, 77381 phone: 281-363-2040 web site: www.wcpc-tx.org Jesus Is the Way to Heaven Death is a tough topic, especially for in a place with no sadness or pain. As kids grow older, we can let them know POWERSOURCE children. It’s challenging to explain why people die and what happens to them Jesus is the only way to heaven—and PRAY TO JESUS: after they die. Some kids have little any teachings about different paths to eternal life are false. Jesus says, “I am 1. Thank Jesus for dying on the experience with death, while others may have had their world turned the way, the truth, and the life. No one cross and for rising from the upside-down by a loved one’s passing. can come to the Father except through tomb to forgive and save us. me” (John 14:6). 2. Ask Jesus to remind your family Death is sin’s ultimate “sting,” but for Christians, Jesus has erased it. By During life’s trials and challenges, members of his love and his rising from the grave, Jesus “gives us followers of Jesus can find comfort in promise of heaven. victory over sin and death” (1 the sure hope of heaven. Yet we don’t need to wait until we arrive there to 3. Ask Jesus to help you tell others Corinthians 15:55-57). Jesus promises to “prepare a place” for us in heaven, experience Jesus’ presence and about him—and about heaven. saying, “There is more than enough peace! He promises to be with us room in my Father’s home” (John “always” (Matthew 28:20)—a message 14:2). that children and adults of all ages need to hear often. The concepts of heaven, hell, and eternity are too abstract for younger Use the ideas on the next page to children to understand, but we can celebrate Jesus’ promise of heaven. assure them we’ll always be with Jesus We Have the Hope of Heaven Until children are about 5 or 6, it’s best to talk about heaven as a place where they can live someday. Don’t try to explain the spiritual or abstract aspects of heaven yet. As children grow, they’ll begin asking more questions—especially why people go to heaven or hell when they die. If you don’t have all the answers, be honest and research what the Bible says. Explain that Jesus wants everyone to live with him forever, and remind kids that people’s actions don’t send them to heaven or hell. Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, and it’s his free gift to us. TEACHABLE A Special Place Say: When we’re 1:8-11. Ask: How hard was this friends with Jesus, we’ll go to game? What do you think about MOMENTS heaven someday. The Bible says how Jesus disappeared in the heaven is amazing. Have family clouds? Why do you think Jesus Postcard Perfect members use modeling dough to returned to heaven? Say: Jesus is create shapes of what they imagine preparing a place for us in heaven, You’ll need a Bible, postcards or pictures heaven will be like. Say: Matthew 6:20 but he’s still with us today, in our from vacations, pencils, and blank card says we’ll have treasures in heaven. hearts. Jesus is never missing. stock cut in postcard shapes. Look John 14:2 says heaven has rooms through postcards together and discuss for many people. Revelation 19:1 A Work of Heart On Memorial Day favorite vacation memories. says people in heaven shout (or when there’s a death in your praises to God. Revelation 21:3-4 family), make a reminder of people Say: These places are beautiful, but I says God lives with us in heaven who’ve gone to heaven. Decorate know of an even better place. It has and wipes away our tears. There’s paper squares, listing one person or streets of gold, no tears or pain, and no more sadness or death in group (such as soldiers) on each no night. Ask: Do you know what this heaven. It’s our forever home with square. Tape squares to form a place is? Have you ever received a God. remembrance quilt. Say: When postcard from heaven? Say: No, me people die, we miss them. The neither. But someone who went there Transformed When you see Bible tells us a reason to not feel has given us a special gift! butterflies, discuss their lifecycle and so sad. Read John 3:16. Say: If we how that symbolizes our rebirth in believe in Jesus, we’ll go to Read aloud Acts 1:8-11. Say: When Jesus. Say: After a caterpillar spins heaven. What do you think we’ll Jesus went back to heaven, he didn’t a cocoon, it begins a new life as a do there? Pray, thanking God for send a postcard; he sent the Holy beautiful butterfly. Someday we’ll people who’ve already gone to Spirit. The Spirit helps us believe in die, but when we believe in Jesus, heaven. Jesus so we can go to heaven. he gives us a beautiful new life in heaven. We’ll be happy and free Crown Jewels Make crowns out of Hand out pencils and card stock. Say: On forever! Draw or make butterflies as construction paper and craft gems. one side of the postcard, write or draw reminders of new life in Jesus. Read aloud Revelation 21:10-11, 18- a thank-you to Jesus for sending the 23. Ask: Why do you think heaven Holy Spirit. On the other side, draw a Headed to Heaven Place a variety of is filled with gold, precious gems, picture of what you think heaven is small items on a tray. Say: Look at bright light, and no darkness? like. Close in prayer. these items and try to remember Read Revelation 2:10. Say: We’re them all. Have family members close children of Jesus the King; we’re their eyes while you remove one item. his heirs. That means we’ll live in Then have them guess what’s missing. his kingdom of heaven. Play several rounds. Read aloud Acts “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 MEDIA MADNESS CULTURE & TRENDS Dolls With Disabilities The 2019 line of Barbie dolls, out in June, MUSIC includes a doll with a prosthetic MOVIE limb and one with a wheelchair Artist: Halsey (plus a ramp for the Barbie Dream Title: UglyDolls Synopsis: Singer-songwriter Halsey House). Mattel consulted a 13-year Genre: Animated musical comedy rose to fame via Tumblr and has built a -old disability activist and medical Rating: Not yet rated following for the past five years. Now experts for advice. Also debuting Cast: Emma Roberts, Kelly Clarkson, 24, Halsey has gone mainstream, often are dolls with “a new body type Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe appearing on TV and awards shows and braided hair Synopsis: Free-spirited misfit dolls are and ever-present on kids’ playlists. Her texture.” (disabilityscoop.com) each searching for an ideal human single “Without Me” was a chart- match. They leave UglyVille for the topper, and she’s working on her third Walk & Talk Therapy A new mode Institute of Perfection, where beauty album. Halsey’s lyrics and videos are and conformity are prized. Moxy, the of counseling is ideal for stroller- often dark and sexually explicit, pushing parents. Some therapists group’s leader, helps the UglyDolls feel featuring violent imagery and alcohol good about being exactly who they now offer “on the go” sessions, use. walking alongside parents who are—flaws and all. Our Take: Halsey has bipolar disorder Our Take: As a kid-friendly parable, either lack child-care or prefer to and advocates for suicide prevention, stay with their kids. Counselors say this movie champions the value of which is admirable. She’s also vocal individuality. 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