Come Back for Ice Cream

Give your kids a specific job to do (clean their rooms, do their homework – if school has started, do the dishes, etc.) Tell them you have to run a quick errand, but you will return with a special treat IF they have done what you told them. (Adapt this to the age of your children – if you have preschoolers, tell them to pick up their toys while you are in the next room. If they are school age, you can leave them with your spouse or babysitter.)

Come back from your time away and surprise them. Take all who are doing (or did) what you told them to do out for a trip to the ice cream store or bring them a special treat they love.

NOTE TO PARENT: If you don’t have the will to leave a child who didn’t do what they were supposed to behind with your spouse or family friend, don’t make this promise. Just tell the children to do something and then surprise them by taking them out for ice cream.)

Ask:

Were you surprised when I came back?

Were you glad that you were doing what you should be doing?

Jesus promised to return. Read John 14:3. No one knows the time when He is coming back, but those who are ready (have Jesus in their heart) will be taken to heaven to live with Him forever.

What would you want to be doing when Jesus comes back?

If you want to be ________ (praying, helping others, telling others, etc) when Jesus comes back, then you should be sure to do those things every day.

When will Angelina’s Grandparents Return?

Angelina couldn’t wait until it was time for her grandparents to visit. She loved them so much and they always had such a fun time together. Her grandfather taught her how to fish and even how to bait her own hook. Her grandmother taught her to bake a strawberry pie and how to sew. Her grandparents lived in a RV and traveled around the country helping build houses for the poor. Sometimes if they were in the area they would just pop in and stay a few days. 

“When are they going to get here?” Angelina asked her mother EVERY morning.

“You know they promised to drop in when they finished with the building project in Mississippi,” her mom reminded her. “Because of the weather they can’t always work every day, so sometimes it takes longer than they think.”

“I just want them to get here!” Angelina pouted.

“Why don’t you get busy finishing that pillow Grandma helped you cut out,” her mom suggested. “That will help the time go faster.”

Angelina got out the sewing machine and worked on the pillow. It wasn’t as much fun without Grandma there, but Angelina wanted to surprise her and have it finished when she arrived.

Angelina was in her room one afternoon when she heard a tap on her door. “Come in,” she said.  There stood both her grandparents and she rushed to give them a hug. “I’ve been looking for you to come every day,” Angelina told them. “I’ve got my fishing rod ready and I’ve even dug up some worms. And look at the pillow I made for you, Grandma. I’m so glad you’re finally here.”

Ask:

Why is it so hard to wait?

What was Angelina doing while she waited?

Jesus made a promise in John 14:3. He promised that He would come back. No one knows the time of His return, but it is important to watch and wait for Him.

What can you do while you’re waiting?

You can do the things He told you to do so you will be happy to see Him when He returns.

I’m thinking of Something in Heaven

While driving in the car, play “I’m thinking of something in heaven.” Give them clues if they are slow to guess it. (mansion – it’s big, it has lots of rooms, God promised to make one for me) Take turns letting others think of something in heaven and try to guess it.  THEN do the flip side – “I’m thinking of something NOT in heaven (no sickness, no sin, no  tears, no death, no sadness, no devil, no night, etc).

Optional: Let the kids draw a picture of what they think heaven will be like. Read Revelation 21:10-22:5 to find out what will and won’t be there.

When Jesus returns, He has promised to take you to the most wonderful place you can imagine! There will be no sickness, no sadness, no tears, no death, and no sin. Of course, God will be there and He is preparing something too wonderful to describe – a beautiful mansion, a tree of life, a crystal river, a street of gold, and a special dinner. Say a prayer to thank God for His promise of heaven. 

He Will Come Again

Put an object in a brown paper bag (or in something kids can’t see through). It could be a special treat--box of cookies or candy or small toys as an extra bonus.

Let the kids try to guess what is in the bag. Let them shake the bag, but don’t let them look inside. You can give them clues if they don’t guess it right away.

Open the bag and share what is in the bag with them. Tell them there are many things we don’t know about Jesus’ return to earth. We don’t know when or how it will happen, but we do know that it will be a good thing.

Read John 14:1-3:

“Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Ready and Watching

Play blanket volleyball with a balloon. Blow up a balloon and tie it off with a knot. Throw a blanket across a clothesline. (Or stretch a six foot rope out and have two tall people hold it. Throw a blanket over the rope.) The idea is that the kids won’t be able to see where the balloon is coming from so it will be a little harder to hit it.

Ask:

Why was it harder to hit the balloon? (you couldn’t see it coming)
What did you have to do to be able to hit the balloon? (be ready and watching)

No one knows the exact time of Jesus’ return (Matthew 24:36), but the Bible says we should be ready and watching (Matthew 24:42-46).

What can we do to be ready? (obey what He said to do in the Bible)

The Appointed Time

Tell the kids that you are going to take them on a little trip in a couple of days at a certain time (for example at 4 pm on Thursday) and they should be ready to go at that time. Don’t remind them. Show up at the “appointed time” and take them to the park or out for a treat.

Ask:
•    Are you glad you were ready and at the house when I came to get you?
•    Are you ready to meet Jesus if He should come back today?