Up, Up and AwayUp, Up and Away

The Ascension of The Ascension of Christ Christ

Today’s QuestionsToday’s QuestionsWhat verses of the bible are we

learning from today?

Why did Jesus go to heaven?

What was Jesus going to heaven like?

If Jesus is in heaven, then how is He with me?

Today’s Bible VerseToday’s Bible Verse

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:50-53

Today’s Bible VerseToday’s Bible VerseBut you will receive power when the

Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Acts 6:8-9

Balloons!!!Balloons!!!

I love balloons. There are so many I love balloons. There are so many things you can do with balloons. Some things you can do with balloons. Some people can make balloons into various people can make balloons into various shapes. That is fun to watch! shapes. That is fun to watch!

Balloon GamesBalloon Games

There are also a lot of different games There are also a lot of different games you can play with balloons. You can tie you can play with balloons. You can tie them around your ankle and play them around your ankle and play "Stomp the Balloon" or you can fill them "Stomp the Balloon" or you can fill them with water and have a water balloon with water and have a water balloon fight.fight.

Floating FunFloating Fun

One of the most enjoyable things one One of the most enjoyable things one can do with a balloon is to fill it with can do with a balloon is to fill it with helium. I am sure you know that when helium. I am sure you know that when filled with helium, a balloon floats in filled with helium, a balloon floats in the air. If you don't want it to get away the air. If you don't want it to get away from you, it is a good idea to hold on from you, it is a good idea to hold on tight or tie it around your wrist. tight or tie it around your wrist.

Willing to Let GoWilling to Let Go

But it is also quite enjoyable when it But it is also quite enjoyable when it does float away from you. It is fun to does float away from you. It is fun to stand and watch as the balloon floats stand and watch as the balloon floats higher and higher into the heavens higher and higher into the heavens until it totally disappears. The only way until it totally disappears. The only way to experience that is to be willing to let to experience that is to be willing to let it go.it go.

Jesus ExplainsJesus Explains

When Jesus was ready to return to heaven, When Jesus was ready to return to heaven, he took his disciples aside to make sure that he took his disciples aside to make sure that they understood everything that had they understood everything that had happened to him. He explained why it was happened to him. He explained why it was important for him to be crucified and to be important for him to be crucified and to be raised from the dead to fulfill what the raised from the dead to fulfill what the Scriptures had said about him. Scriptures had said about him.

Returning to His Returning to His FatherFather

He also told them that he was going to He also told them that he was going to return to his Father in heaven, and that the return to his Father in heaven, and that the Holy Spirit would come to be with them. At Holy Spirit would come to be with them. At first, the disciples were sad that Jesus first, the disciples were sad that Jesus would be leaving them, but then the Bible would be leaving them, but then the Bible tells us that Jesus opened their minds so tells us that Jesus opened their minds so they would understand. they would understand.

Jesus Taken Up to Jesus Taken Up to HeavenHeaven

Then, an amazing thing happened. The Then, an amazing thing happened. The Bible tells us that Jesus lifted his hands Bible tells us that Jesus lifted his hands and blessed his disciples. While he was and blessed his disciples. While he was blessing them, he left them and was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.taken up into heaven.

ReleaseRelease

Believe & Have the Will To Believe & Have the Will To Let GoLet Go

Jesus Is In Heaven & His Holy Jesus Is In Heaven & His Holy Spirit is Spirit is In YouIn You

Release your balloon and watch it float to the ceiling.

..

AscendedAscended

I don't know how all of this looked, but I don't know how all of this looked, but in my imagination I can see the disciples in my imagination I can see the disciples standing and watching as Jesus standing and watching as Jesus ascended higher and higher until he ascended higher and higher until he disappeared from view. disappeared from view.

Disciples Worshiped with Disciples Worshiped with JOY!!!!JOY!!!!

Were the disciples sad? No way! The Bible tells us that when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the disciples worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. There they stayed continually in the temple, praising God.

We Worship HIM!!!We Worship HIM!!!

We are here today for the very same We are here today for the very same purpose. We have come into the temple purpose. We have come into the temple to worship him with great joy!to worship him with great joy!

PrayerPrayerDear Father, we thank you for

sending Jesus, your only Son, to die for our sin. We know that he has risen from the dead and has returned to heaven. Bless us today as we worship him with great joy!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Bible VerseToday’s Bible VerseWhen he had led them out to When he had led them out to

the vicinity of Bethany, he the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:50-53praising God. Luke 24:50-53

Today’s Bible VerseToday’s Bible VerseBut you will receive power But you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit comes when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was After he said this, he was taken up before their very taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Acts 6:8-9from their sight. Acts 6:8-9

ReviewReview1. What books of the bible 1. What books of the bible

did today’s verses come did today’s verses come from?from?

2. Why and What did Jesus 2. Why and What did Jesus explain to the disciples?explain to the disciples?

3. Who was Jesus returning to 3. Who was Jesus returning to in heaven?in heaven?

ReviewReview4. Why did Jesus go to heaven?

5. What was Jesus going to heaven like?

6. If Jesus is in heaven, then how is He with me?