Tag Archives: heaven

Waiting Till the Last Minute?

August 6, 2009 kensapp Leave a comment

A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him.

Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump.

‘Reverend,’ said the young man, ‘I’m so sorry about the delay.

It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.’

The minister chuckled, ‘I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.’

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Food for Thought

Unhappy?

May 24, 2008 kensapp Leave a comment

Are you happy or unhappy?

Why are people unhappy? Why can’t we find lasting happiness in day to day life. Max Lucado, in his book “When God Whispers Your Name” proposes a reason for the unhappiness we face:

“Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be happy here. We are ‘like foreigners and strangers in this world.’ (I Peter 2:11)… And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for earth.

Oh, you will have your moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.”

Source: Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name

Scriptures

Here are some scriptures related to happiness:

Psalm 37:4-6 – Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
1 Timothy 6:17 – Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Luke 11:28 – Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!
Psalm 1:1-6 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

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Evangelism Ideas

Ticket to Heaven

March 4, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Materials
a piece of paper and scissors

Description
(drama/object lesson, visual – Use caution when discussing Hell with young kids)

Preparation
Fold the top right corner to left side of paper, forming a triangle, then the point at the top left over to the right side of the paper. Now it looks like a house with a pitched roof. Now fold the paper in half and hold it at the crease side rotating it around so that it is oriented like the last image below.

Lesson
1. Tell the story of a man who sees another man with a ticket to heaven and how he demands a portion of the ticket. At the open end of the paper, cut piece #1 off, bottom to top, and say how the piece was given to the man who demanded the ticket.
2. Then tell how the man felt – if he had more of the ticket, he would receive more reward and demanded even more of the ticket. At the open end, bottom to top, cut off piece #2 and give to the demanding man.
3. The story goes that the man with the pieces of the ticket went before God and presented it to Him. He took the pieces [Arrange the pieces as below] and said, “This ticket shows me you are not of My son”

4. Then, the man who gave the pieces away, presented his ticket to God and when it was opened, it reveals a cross. God told him this shows you are one of my Son’s own, welcome to heaven.

Application
Jesus suffered and sacrificed Himself for our sins and offers us the only way to heaven. Do you have your ticket?

Variation
You can also do this story as a skit, choose one of the kids as an assistant.
Two friends die and stand before God and God asks them why he should let them into heaven.
One responds “I have my ticket” while the other looks at him puzzled.
“Oh You don’t have a ticket?” “Oops I guess I never told you anything about a ticket.”
“Here, have a peice of my ticket.” (Tear off a third of the piece of paper (piece #1) and give it to yor volunteer.
Look at your peice and then at the volunteer’s piece.)
Oops, my peice is much larger. Are you concerned that you ticket isn’t big enough?
“Here, have another piece?” (Tears off another third (piece #2) and give it to the volunteer.
Then present your tickets to God. (another teacher or helper)
God lays out the pieces to spell “hell”
Look at your friend as to show you are very sorry. Very sad.
Then present your ticket to God. When the remaining piece of the paper is unfolded it forms a cross.
Summarise: Jesus is the only way. Its a choice we have to make now. If we wait until we stand before God it will be too late.