Children's session

Read Bible notes on John 16.12-15

Spend a few moments reflecting on your relationship with Jesus in the here and now. How easy do you find it to stay in the present? How much do you worry about the future and/or about what you don’t yet know or understand?

Children may have difficulty with concepts such as ‘now’, ‘past’ and ‘future’. They are just beginning to understand the passage of time, but their focus is on ‘now’. This may be helpful during this session as we focus on their relationship with Jesus now.

When is it?                                                                        W E S

You will need: three labels with arrows ‘past’, ‘now’, ‘future’. 

• Line up the labels from past, to now, to future and ask the children to stand by the ‘now’ label. Next, ask them to decide when they were born and stand by that label.
• Continue by asking the children to move to the label for other events, e.g. Roman times, turning 21, being at church/group, flights to Mars. Discuss how some things happened in the past, some are happening now and some will happen in the future.

Read the story and pause at the  to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together. (10 mins)

Click on the image to view a PDF.

 Stop and share

• This happens after Jesus had died and risen again. He was preparing to go back to heaven.
• Jesus talks about ‘The Spirit of truth’. This is the Holy Spirit.
• ‘Glory’ is a word we use in church, but not often in everyday life. It means ‘honour’ and ‘importance’.

Sign the Trinity                                                                     E S

• Teach the children BSL signs for ‘Father’, ‘Jesus’ and ‘Holy Spirit’ (see sign tutorial here).
• As you read the passage, encourage them to listen and sign as they hear ‘Father’, ‘Jesus’ and ‘Holy Spirit’.

Pass the parcel                                                                 W E S

Experience a gradual revealing

You will need: a pass-the-parcel, shareable prize, music; written messages, e.g. God is with you now, it’s time to pray, the Holy Spirit is in our hearts today.

• Before the session, prepare a pass-the-parcel with something to share in the middle. In between the layers include messages emphasising ‘now’ in our relationship with God.
• As each layer is unwrapped, encourage the children to read aloud the message they have revealed. When the middle is reached, share the ‘prize’ while discussing the messages and explain that, as we grow in our relationship with and knowledge of God, it is like unwrapping the parcel – discovering a little more each time.

Decorate a dove                                                                   E S

Understand the Holy Spirit is present now

You will need: outline of a dove (template here), printed onto card for each child, pens.

• Give out the dove templates. Talk together about how this is a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Discuss what the children understand by the Holy Spirit.
• Encourage discussion about the Holy Spirit being with us and how we know this. Talk about how we can’t see the Holy Spirit but we know God is present with us.
• Ask the children to draw or write on their dove what they are doing today.
• Discuss how the Holy Spirit is with us today in all the things that we are doing.

Sing

Preview song(s), then buy online and download.

0-5s 
Thank you, Lord, for this fine day (JP 232) 

5-11s 
As we go now, Fischy Music

12+  
Trust In You, Chris Sayburn on Saved By Grace
Fullness, Elevation Music on Speak Revival 
The Way, Pat Barrett, on Pat Barrett (Chords) 

Find more suggestions on the Hymns, songs & music page. 

Talk together and talk to God

Use these questions to discuss the Bible passage and then bring your thoughts together by praying to God.

Talk together

• What makes you feel worried about the future?
• How might the disciples have felt when they knew Jesus was leaving them?
• What can you do to grow closer to God today?

Activity sheet 

• Ask the children to close their eyes and sit quietly. Ask them to imagine that Jesus is sitting beside them now. What would they like say to Jesus? What might Jesus say to them? Suggest that they might try to do this at home several times in the next week, remembering that God is with them, ‘now’.

Go with God 24/7

Encourage the children to put their faith into action

Whatever you are doing in the week, make time to stop and remember that God is with you NOW.  E S

Before you finish, give out the ROOTS at home resource to encourage faith at home.