This lesson teaches children that Jesus will come back, that Christians who have died are not forgotten, and that God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us live well while we wait. It suits children aged about 5 to 11 and takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
Jesus is coming back, and God will take care of everyone who belongs to Him. We can wait for Him with hope and kindness.
Memory Verse
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
(WEB)
Put your hands on your heart, then wrap both arms around yourself like a big hug. Say the verse slowly together while you hold the hug, because comfort is what this verse is about.
The Story: 1 Thessalonians 4 for Kids
Paul was a teacher who loved the church in the city of Thessalonica. He had taught the people there how to live in a way that pleased God. He wrote them a letter to remind them of what they already knew.
Paul told them to keep growing in their faith. God wants His followers to be pure and kind, and to treat each other fairly. He also wanted them to live quietly, work with their hands, and take care of their own needs. The Holy Spirit lives in every believer to help them do this.
Some people in the church had friends and family who had died. They were sad, and they worried those friends would miss out on Jesus coming back. Paul wanted them to know a true thing: Jesus died and rose again, and God will bring back with Jesus those who have died believing in Him.
Paul described how it will happen. The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud shout and the sound of a trumpet. The people who died trusting Jesus will rise first. Then the living believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and they will be with Him forever.
Paul ended by saying, “Comfort one another with these words.” He wanted the church to encourage each other with the promise that they would always be with the Lord.
Read It Together
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
13 But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
(WEB)
Point out that Paul did not want the church to be ignorant about friends who had died. Ask the children to notice that Jesus’ death and resurrection is the reason we can hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
(WEB)
Show the children how the story moves: a shout, a trumpet, and then everyone meeting the Lord together. Explain that the words “forever” and “with the Lord” tell us this is a happy promise.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
(WEB)
Remind children that God called us to be holy, not messy in the way we act. Point out that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God who helps us choose what is good.
Talk About It
- What do you think it would feel like to meet Jesus in the air?
- Who is someone you miss, and how can knowing Jesus help you feel better?
- What is one way you can show kindness to someone this week?
- Why do you think God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us?
- How can we comfort a friend who is sad about someone they lost?
Activity Ideas
Trumpet and Cloud Drawing
You will need paper, crayons, and cotton balls. Have each child draw a picture of Jesus coming down from the sky with a trumpet. Glue cotton balls on the paper to make clouds, and let the children draw the people rising up to meet Him.
Statue Freeze Game
Play a version of freeze tag. When you call out “trumpet,” the children move quickly to a new spot. When you call out “Jesus is here,” they freeze in a happy pose. Explain that we will be ready to meet Jesus and stand with Him.
Comfort Card for Home
Give each child a folded card and some markers. Ask them to write or draw a short encouragement for someone at home who is sad or missing someone. Let them take the card home and deliver it, reminding them to comfort one another with these words.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage gives hope to people grieving the loss of believers. Paul does not say grief is wrong, but he says Christians grieve differently because they have a real hope in Christ’s resurrection and return. The call to live quietly and work faithfully is part of waiting well.
Be careful not to overstate the details of the return to children, such as the exact order of events or what the sky will look like. Focus on the clear truths: Jesus is coming, believers will be with Him, and we can comfort each other in the meantime.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank You that You are coming back for us. Help us to live kindly and honestly while we wait. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who helps us. When we are sad about someone we miss, comfort us with Your promise that we will be with You forever. Amen.
