What Does Heaven Look Like?
Children's sermon
Ping-Pong Words
And 30 More Children's Sermons
Object:
Scripture Reference
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
-- John 14:2
Materials Needed
Card stock printed with scripture reference and verse
Telling The Story
Have you ever wondered what heaven looks like? Maybe you've asked people you know and they've described heaven as big and beautiful, with fluffy clouds and angels and harps. Maybe someone has told you that heaven has streets paved with gold and that there are fancy jewels everywhere.
The Bible actually does describe heaven as big, beautiful, and full of jewels. Revelation 4:1-6, for example, lists jasper, carnelian, emeralds, and a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Now, you might not think of glass as being special. After all, most buildings today have many glass windows. But remember that in Bible days, glass wasn't so common and that clear glass was very rare. To someone who was living in Bible days, a sea of glass would be very, very special.
Heaven is described as having many beautiful jewels, and that tells us what heaven looks like, but what is being in heaven like?
Imagine for a minute that one of your friends is coming over for a sleepover. You'll probably clean your room, put fresh blankets and sheets on the guest bed or fix up the family room so you and your friend can "camp out" in sleeping bags. You'll plan your friend's favorite foods for supper and breakfast and hunt up all the pieces to your friend's favorite board game. When someone special comes over, you go out of your way to make sure everything is just right for the visit.
Now imagine that you're going over to a friend's house. Your friend will probably try to make you feel welcomed, too. But when you visit, do you look forward to examining the wallpaper or sitting on the furniture? While it's true that you might be excited about playing with your friend's new toy, eventually that feeling wears off. What you are most happy about is getting to spend time with your friend. That is what heaven is like.
(Show the card stock printed with the scripture reference and verse and read it.) The Bible tells us in John 14:2, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" Jesus tells us that heaven is like a mansion with many rooms. It's big and it's beautiful, and he's fixing a special place for each one of us. Being in heaven will be like going to visit a friend -- your best friend, in fact. Heaven will be big and beautiful and full of very fancy decorations, but what will be most important is that we'll be with our best friend, Jesus, forever and ever.
The next time you wonder what heaven will be like, imagine going to spend the day with your best friend. Then remind yourself that that friend is Jesus and that heaven will last forever. That is what heaven will be like.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for this beautiful day and for loving us so much. Thank you for getting heaven ready just for us and for being happy that someday we'll get to be there with you. Please help us to remember your love and to focus on you.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
-- John 14:2
Materials Needed
Card stock printed with scripture reference and verse
Telling The Story
Have you ever wondered what heaven looks like? Maybe you've asked people you know and they've described heaven as big and beautiful, with fluffy clouds and angels and harps. Maybe someone has told you that heaven has streets paved with gold and that there are fancy jewels everywhere.
The Bible actually does describe heaven as big, beautiful, and full of jewels. Revelation 4:1-6, for example, lists jasper, carnelian, emeralds, and a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Now, you might not think of glass as being special. After all, most buildings today have many glass windows. But remember that in Bible days, glass wasn't so common and that clear glass was very rare. To someone who was living in Bible days, a sea of glass would be very, very special.
Heaven is described as having many beautiful jewels, and that tells us what heaven looks like, but what is being in heaven like?
Imagine for a minute that one of your friends is coming over for a sleepover. You'll probably clean your room, put fresh blankets and sheets on the guest bed or fix up the family room so you and your friend can "camp out" in sleeping bags. You'll plan your friend's favorite foods for supper and breakfast and hunt up all the pieces to your friend's favorite board game. When someone special comes over, you go out of your way to make sure everything is just right for the visit.
Now imagine that you're going over to a friend's house. Your friend will probably try to make you feel welcomed, too. But when you visit, do you look forward to examining the wallpaper or sitting on the furniture? While it's true that you might be excited about playing with your friend's new toy, eventually that feeling wears off. What you are most happy about is getting to spend time with your friend. That is what heaven is like.
(Show the card stock printed with the scripture reference and verse and read it.) The Bible tells us in John 14:2, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" Jesus tells us that heaven is like a mansion with many rooms. It's big and it's beautiful, and he's fixing a special place for each one of us. Being in heaven will be like going to visit a friend -- your best friend, in fact. Heaven will be big and beautiful and full of very fancy decorations, but what will be most important is that we'll be with our best friend, Jesus, forever and ever.
The next time you wonder what heaven will be like, imagine going to spend the day with your best friend. Then remind yourself that that friend is Jesus and that heaven will last forever. That is what heaven will be like.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for this beautiful day and for loving us so much. Thank you for getting heaven ready just for us and for being happy that someday we'll get to be there with you. Please help us to remember your love and to focus on you.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
