Pondering Heaven

NOTE: Job, Thessolonians and this passage in Luke for this week.  WOW.  Not texts that translate easily into children's stories.  At first, we'd talked about skipping the lectionary and celebrating Martin Luther's birthday with stories on grace and a birthday cake.  But things have seemed sugared and hyped a lot the last couple of weeks, so I decided to try again.  I was surprised to find the gospel lesson in the spark bible (it covers 150 bible stories, so often some are left out.  For instance, Job?  not in there at all).  What stood out to me about the way they framed it for the kids is where I hope to go with this.

Luke 20:27-38
The Sadducees' Question

Pages 406-407 in the spark bible

One day, Jesus was walking with a friend.  WALK WALK WALK.  A group of people came to talk to Jesus and ask him questions.  You see, they didn't believe in living with God after death.  They weren't sure how the rules of life would work after death.

"Teacher, Moses said that if a guy dies, his brother should marry the widow if she has no children."  SOOOO, here's a question--There are SEVEN (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) brothers and the oldest one is married.  The oldest one dies.  The next one marries her and doesn't have kids.  He dies.  It happens over and over and over until she has been married to all 7 and they have no kids.  When she dies, who is her husband? She was married to all 7!" 

Jesus looked at them.  He sighed (can you sigh with me? SIGH) and shook his head.  "Don't worry about the brothers or the wife," he told them.    "After they die, they will all go live with God.  God has a place for us to live forever that's AH-MAZING!  They will be so busy praising God and enjoying Heaven that they won't worry about wives and husbands.  Live right now how God wants you to live!"

What do you think Heaven will be like?  Think about a REALLY good day--what was it like?  What did you do?  Now imagine Heaven is ten times BETTER than that!  Can you imagine?  That's why Jesus tells us not to worry about how things here on earth will be when we get to Heaven--it will be so different and so wonderful!