The Bible tells us, ‘For everything there is a season.  A time for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born and a time to die…’ and ‘a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…’  (Ecclesiastes 3 verses 1, 2 and 4)

Children will be exposed to the death of someone close to them some time in their lives.  Young children may not understand but they will see the adults around them experiencing grief.  Death is a part of life so it’s not helpful to avoid talking about it especially when we as Christians we have the certainty of meeting our loved ones again.  Death is not final.  But there is a feeling of loss so it’s natural to feel sad and cry about missing the person who has died.

The beautiful part of belonging to a Church is that when a member or someone close to them dies the family of God swings into action to help.  They supply meals and give spiritual and emotional support through prayer, visits and listening.  The Church may even provide the venue for the funeral and morning or afternoon tea afterwards.  As someone who works with children in the Church you may need to take an active role in supporting them through their time of grief.

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.’  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Or perhaps you feel led by the Spirit of God to prepare older children before they are confronted with death.  You want to place a deposit in their lives so they will know without wavering they can trust God no matter what happens and that He hears them.  ‘The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’  (Psalm 34:17-18)

I’ve written a number of lessons about death, the comfort of God and Heaven.  I know they will be useful to you as you minister to the children God has placed in your care.

Eureka!

One of the most touching lessons I have ever written and it’s to help children who have suffered, or are suffering, the loss of a parent.  There’s a skit with Jacko and Sonny, a father and son prospecting for gold.  Jacko shares the story of Job and how sad things do happen to every Christian.  The Bible story helps Sonny with the crushing loss of his Mum.  The Memory Verse from 1 Peter 1:7 explains there is always something to be thankful for.  There’s a game of Nab the Nugget and idea for icing biscuits or cup cakes and decorating them with gold sugar sprinkles.

Visit:  https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Eureka.pdf

Sting Goes!

This lesson focuses on the persecuted Church and includes the Bible Story about the Stoning of Stephen, but clearly teaches why death and the grave don’t ‘sting’ us anymore!  The Ministry to Children section teaches children how they can be certain they will be in Heaven after they die.  The Memory Verse is in the form of honey comb, there are 3 Busy Bee games to choose from and a Honey Bee craft to make.

Visit:  https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Sting-Goes.pdf

The God of All Comfort

Comfort is not about everything being easy peasy lemon squeezy!  Comfort really means ‘alongside + strength’ and this is the kind of comfort God brings.  It was experienced by Paul when he was shipwrecked.  Children will learn what a comfort Jesus and the Holy Spirit can be.  They will have to find the feathers to complete the Memory Verse and can play a game of Shipwreck before making a craft that will bring comfort to someone.

Visit:  https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-God-of-All-Comfort.pdf

Heaven

God has a dwelling place and it’s called Heaven.  Jesus is there and He is preparing a mansion for us.  We don’t know a lot about Heaven, but we know what won’t be there!  Children will learn that what they do here on earth counts in Heaven.  They also learn about the Lamb’s Book of Life and how their name can be written in it.  There’s a fast paced action Memory Verse and a game of 500.  Children can have a go at designing their own mansion!

Visit:  https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Heaven.pdf

Lucinda’s Life Lesson

This story is part of a time travelling series called A Matter of Time but can be adapted to use as a stand alone lesson.  Lucinda is so sad at the death of her Grandpa that she doesn’t want to join Professor Ninnyhammer on a time travelling adventure.  But the Professor persists and lands the Time Slip Machine in a place called Bethany in the winter of 29AD.  Lucinda sees the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead.  She learns that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and that the instant you die you begin a new life in Heaven.  And that it happens faster than time travel!  I wrote this story after the death of my grandfather, Geoffrey Liege Baker, a wonderful man of God who helped me write my first curriculum for Children’s Church when I was nineteen.

Visit:  https://cooeekidsministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Lucindas-Life-Lesson.pdf

5 Stories that will enable you to help, or prepare, the children in your Kid’s Ministry in knowing for certain that death is not the end.

God bless you richly,

Deb Wassenberg