During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
As a Christian, you know that Jesus’ sacrifice has given you the gift of eternal life in heaven. But the uncertainty of death may cause you to worry and fear. You may worry that heaven will just be a continuation of this life with the same problems, hurts, and disappointments. Or you may think that it is imaginary. But neither of those thoughts are what the Bible teaches about heaven. It is real place. It will be beautiful beyond your imagination. The love and peace will never end in God’s presence.
As you prepare to share about life after death with your students, consider this: The same God who created the universe has prepared a special place for you in His heavenly kingdom. He has created you to love Him and live with Him forever. That is your purpose—now and for all of eternity. What can you do today to praise Him for this amazing gift?
Encourage the students to ask their family members about the most wonderful things they can imagine. The students can then share that heaven will be more wonderful than anything we can imagine because we will experience the fullness of God’s love.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
As the teens arrive, ask them to think about one thing they would really like to experience before they die. It could be something big like getting married or something small like tasting an exotic food.
When you are ready to start class, ask the teens to form groups of 4–5. Then ask them to talk in their groups about the 1 thing they would want to experience before death and why. Give the groups about 3 minutes to talk about this. Then invite several groups to share some of their answers with the whole class.
This life can be full of wonderful things, such as some of the things you shared. But this life is also full of heartache and pain. When we think about dying, it can be frightening because we cannot know what it will be like. We cannot talk with someone who has done it and come back to tell us.
Ask the students to share their answers with their groups.
Everyone dies. Our human bodies will not last forever. This frightens many people because it is an unknown. But the Bible tells us what happens after death, and we can trust what it tells us.
The Bible tells us that we were created for more than just this life that we know on earth. We were created for much greater purposes. Listen to what the Bible says about why we were created.
Have a student read Colossians 1:16 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the verse is printed here.
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
We were created by God and for God. He wants to have an eternal relationship with us, but we sin, and that separates us from God. “Sin” means choosing to go against what God wants for our lives. But God gave us an amazing gift. Listen to what He did to allow us be with Him forever.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
There is only 1 person who has conquered death—Jesus, God’s Son. He died and was raised to life again. For this reason, we can trust what He teaches about life and death. He has experienced death and taught us what happens next. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God gave us a priceless gift—forgiveness for our sins. This allows us to have eternal life with God if we accept His gift.
Optional: If possible, show the image from The Action Bible.
Listen to what Jesus said about life after death. He shared this after a friend of His died.
Have a student read John 11:25–26 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the passage is printed here for you.
\Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25–26
He was raised from the dead and will live forever. He is life and gives eternal life to those who follow Him.
Those who believe in Jesus will live forever with Him.
Every one of us will die. And every one of us will be raised again, and our bodies will be rejoined with our spirits. But not everyone will live eternally with the Father in heaven. Those who love and follow Jesus will spend eternity with God in heaven. Those who do not will be separated from Him forever.
\Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
John 3:36
Allow students to offer their thoughts. Do not correct them at this time. They will learn more about heaven as the lesson continues.
The Bible tells us that life in heaven will very different from life on earth.
Have a student read Revelation 21:4 aloud from the Bible.
He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Guide the students to understand that our earthly lives are still affected by the sin of the world, but in heaven everything will be perfect, as it was before sin entered the world.
Life on earth is darkened by sin and evil. But God promises that heaven will be filled with joy and peace. There will be no more sin. There will be no pain or grief. The difficult things we struggle with on earth will be gone. Listen to this verse:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
Allow 5–6 students to share their thoughts.
Heaven will be even more wonderful than all of those things! Think of the most amazing waterfall or mountain or flower you have ever seen. Now imagine that you are looking at that beautiful thing through very dirty glasses. You would still see what it was. It may still even seem beautiful. But if you took off the dirty glasses and saw that thing clearly, it would take your breath away. That is what heaven will be like—more wonderful than we can imagine.
Listen to what Jesus told us about heaven.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:2–3
Jesus has prepared a place for you in His Father’s house! He loves you so deeply that He wants you to spend all of eternity with Him knowing perfect love and peace! We know that there is life after death. Heaven is a real place!
Death is something we will all face. There is nothing we can ever do or say that will allow us to earn a place in heaven. We all sin, and our sin separates us from God. It is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus that we can live eternally with Him. By dying on the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sins and restored our relationship with our heavenly Father. We are invited to accept His gift and live in heaven for all of eternity.
When Jesus returns, God’s kingdom will be complete. Listen to what the Bible tells us about heaven and earth at that time.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:1–4
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that when Jesus returns, everything will be made new.
In heaven, everything will be made new. There will be no crying or pain, and death will disappear forever. The sin and evil of the world will be finally and completely destroyed. Those who believe in Jesus will live in peace and joy with Him forever.
Close your eyes and imagine what heaven will be like. Remember, it will be more beautiful, more peaceful, and more filled with love than any place you can know here on earth. Let’s create images of that place!
Give the students some sticks, leaves, flowers, and other nature items. Tell them they have 5 minutes to recreate their visions of heaven. As they do, invite them to praise God for His gift of eternal life. After they are done drawing, encourage the students to walk around to see each other’s pictures. They can ask questions about what was drawn and why each student thinks heaven will look like that.
Optional: If you are using the Student Page, give the students time to complete it. If you have paper and markers available, let the teens use those to draw their pictures.
If you want to accept God’s invitation to join His family and live with Him forever in heaven, please come to talk with me after class. I would like to tell you more about what it means to accept God’s gift of salvation.
Close your time with a blessing over your students based on Revelation 21:4:
Blessing: May you know the God of heaven who wants to wipe away every tear from your eyes. May He give you confidence in the fact that He has conquered death and promises you an eternal life of peace, love, and joy. May you love and follow Him so you can enjoy eternal life in His heavenly home.
Lead the students in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
