Rotation.org Writing Team

JESUS’ ASCENSION
CINEMA WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Acts 1:2-11

Key/Memory Verse: Acts 1:9b “As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” NRSV

Goals/Objectives for Rotation

Students will be able to:

• locate the story of Jesus' Ascension in the New Testament books of Luke and Acts;
  (Older students will learn that Luke and Acts were written by the same author.)
  
  
• realize that Jesus' Ascension into heaven took place after forty days of appearances by the risen Christ to his disciples and followers;
  
  
• learn that Jesus gave a promise to His followers that the Holy Spirit would come to empower them;
  
  
• understand that Jesus' Ascension is a departure of the physically resurrected Jesus, but it prepares us for Christ's presence in a new way, in and through us;
  
  
• know that God's mission to tell everyone about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection was entrusted to Christ's followers -- the disciples then and to us now;
  
  
• realize that we are still waiting for Jesus' return, known as the Second Coming.
  

Goal for Cinema Workshop

Children will use bubbles and video clips to explore the mystery of Jesus' ascension.

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bibles
  
• Containers of bubbles, small – 1 per person (Optional)
  
• Monitor or Television
  
• Napkins (Optional)
  
• Popcorn (Optional)
  
• VCR or DVD player
  
• Videos: Acts (Visual Bible) or He is Risen (Nest Entertainment)
  

Advance Preparation

Preview videos; be sure you know how equipment works and where to start and stop the video.

Note: These video segments are fairly short. If using "He is Risen", there may be activities in the companion book or on the DVD to fill the time. The running time of "He is Risen" is 25 minutes (skip the opening credits), so you may choose to watch the entire video, then have the discussion.

If using bubbles at the end of the lesson, purchase a small vial for each participant from a party store.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Welcome the children. Blow a few bubbles, then say, "I love to blow bubbles! Do you? One minute they're floating in the air, and then POOF! They're gone. That reminds me of the time Jesus ascended into heaven. This happened 40 days after the Resurrection. We can find this story in three books of the Bible - Acts, Luke, and Mark. Today we will read the story from Acts."*

*(Older children can read and compare all three accounts.)

Distribute popcorn, if desired.

Dig – Main Content

Read from Acts 1:2-11, then show clip from the Acts video.

Start: the boat is on the water at sunset. Luke is heard reading a letter. Stop with the angels' appearance. (The verses are shown in the lower right hand corner, so stop at verse 11).

Reflect – Closure

Ask:

I wonder what the disciples were feeling at that moment?

Did they look up a long time?

Why did the angels come?

If you were there, what would you be feeling?

Jesus said the disciples would be his witnesses. How can you be a witness for Jesus today?

Review memory verse.

Close in prayer.

If desired, give each child a vial of bubbles. If time and weather allow, take children outside to blow bubbles.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

Adaptations -- Younger Children

Begin video when Mary returns to the tomb the second time. Stop when Jesus has appeared to the Disciples and they are all gathered around him.

Adaptations – Older Children

If these videos are not available, you may make your own by having children act it out.

SOURCES

Acts, Visual Bible video (VHS)
He is Risen, (VHS) Nest Entertainment

CONTRIBUTOR: Julie Burton