Grapple Question2:Will I Be Okay When the World Ends?

Grapple Unit: What Next?

Grapple Question2:Will I Be Okay When the World Ends?

Key Faith Foundation:Trusting God

Key Scriptures:Matthew 24:3-14, 26-31; John 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Bible basis for teachers

Matthew 24:3-14, 26-31; John 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Grapple Question:Will I Be Okay When the World Ends?

Key Faith Foundation:Trusting God

The end of the world can be a scary thought, and preteens may wonder, “Am I really going to be okay when the world ends?” Use this lesson to share what Jesus taught about the end of the world. Although it will be scary, Jesus told his disciples to trust God above all else and know that God will always take care of them. Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven if we have a relationship with him.

In Matthew 24:3-14, the disciples asked Jesus for a sign so they could recognize the end of the world and Jesus’ return. In response, Jesus said there would be wars, false prophets, and rampant sin before he returned. Jesus also warned the disciples they would be persecuted and killed for following him. However, Jesus promised that the people who faithfully follow him to the end will be saved. Talk to kids about how having a relationship with Jesus can help calm any fears.

Matthew 24:26-31 describes deep mourning for people who don’t know Jesus here on earth. But the passage also says the chosen ones will be gathered from all over the world to join Jesus at his return. Talk about which group of people kids believe they’ll be in and why. Encourage them to share why they know he’s returning for them.

Jesus told his disciples in John 14:1-4not to let their hearts be troubled. Jesus promised that God’s home has plenty of room for everyone who has a relationship with him. Jesus also reminded the disciples to trust God because Jesus will come to get them so they will be with him always. Encourage kids to talk about how they can trust God with their fears and concerns.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul assured his listeners about eternity with Christ. Paul explained the process, which he described as coming directly from the Lord. “Encourage each other with these words,” wrote Paul, because the end of the world is a great thing for people who love and follow Jesus. After all, it means we get to live in heaven forever with God.

understanding preteens

Safety and security are major concerns for preteens, so contemplating the end of the world brings up major questions. Remind kids that Jesus promises to always be with us, even as he returns to take us to be with him forever in heaven.

the lesson at a glance
Lesson Sequence / What Kids Will Do / Supplies
1 / grapple community
(5 minutes) / Build relationships. /

DVD player
Christian music
music player
snacks

2 / grapple games
(10-15 minutes) / Choose two games to play. /

blindfold
set of keys
a playing area with clearly marked boundaries
classroom items to create an obstacle course
2 rolls of crepe-paper streamers

3 / grapple time
(10 minutes) / Ponder worrisome events, as well as the actual end of the world. /

DVD player
Grapple DVD

4 / grapple team time
(15 minutes) / Consider what will happen when Jesus returns, and find encouragement in Scripture. /

Bibles
pencils
copy of the Grapple Team Guide for each person

5 / grapple team reports
(10 minutes) / Report what they learned from the Bible passage they studied.
6 / grapple prayer
(5 minutes) / Choose a prayer option. /

paper
pencils

7 / grapple dare / Hear the Grapple dare.
1 / grapple community

Play Christian music as kids enjoy snacks and friendship. Give kids this discussion starter as they eat. Say: Discover who in our group has the oldest living relative. Play one of the three-minute countdowns (included on your Grapple DVD) to let kids know how much time remains.

2 / grapple games

Say: We’re going to play a game, but you’ll get to choose. Would you rather play Mission Impossible! (see Games Guide), where you try to catch a thief? Or would you like to play Back Artist (see Games Guide), which involves drawing pictures on one another? Have kids vote on the game they’d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game.

Say: Now we’ll play another game. Would you rather play Everybody’s It (see Games Guide), a game of Tag where everyone is It at the same time? Or would you like to play Chain-Gang Relay(see Games Guide), where you go through an obstacle course while connected to another person? Have kids vote on the game they’d like to play. Then lead kids in playing the game.

3 / grapple time

Get Ready: Cue the Grapple DVD to the “End of the World” clip.

Lead the entire group in the following:

Show the “End of the World” clip on the Grapple DVD.

Just as in this DVD clip, we sometimes worry things are the end of the world as we know it, even though we know we’ll live through it—a flunked test, a BIG zit on the end of your nose, or moving to another state. Let’s rank the following on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no worries and 10 being THE END. As I call out a statement, hold up a number of fingers to represent how serious it seems to you.

• Your best friend moving far away

• Getting into a fight with your mom or dad

• Failing a test at school

• Not getting to go to the movies with your friends

• Getting picked on by the school bully.

In Pairs:What’s something that made you feel as if your world was ending in the past year? How did you get through it?

These things may feel like the end of the world, but there’s also world-ending stuff that affects every person on earth. A nuclear war. Jesus coming back. Global plagues.

Let’s vote in the same way to rank these end-of-the-world things:

• Global warming

• Terrorist attacks

• Asteroid or meteor hitting the earth

• A worldwide disease or virus

• Jesus coming back

In Pairs:What’s it like to know that the world will end someday? What do you worry about the most when you think about the end of the world? What do you think will happen to you when the world ends?

Wow! The end of the world could be really scary when you stop and think about it. Are we really going to be okay? Let’s grapple with that.

4 / grapple team time

Break into Grapple Teams. Encourage Grapple Team leaders to check in with kids about their week. Grapple Team leaders will facilitate discussion, using the Grapple Team Guide on pages at the end of this lesson.

5 / grapple team reports

At the end of Grapple Team Time, have kids work with their team to choose one of the options below to report what they discovered.

Option 1: Book Report
Describe what you discovered as if you’re delivering an oral book report in school—and with the same level of enthusiasm.

Option 2: Sign Language
If you know sign language, sign along as you report what you discovered. Don’t know sign language? Make up your own hand motions.

Match Grapple Teams that chose Option 1 with Grapple Teams that chose Option 2. Have teams present their reports. (Do this one team at a time if you have only two Grapple Teams.)

6 / grapple prayer

Read the Grapple Prayer options. Have the group choose one prayer option that everyone will do. Allow kids time to pray about what they discovered. Then close in prayer.

Option 1: Got-Your-Back Prayers
Jesus has our backs when it comes to the end of the world. Sit on the floor, and scoot back to back with someone as you thank Jesus for his never-ending love.

Option 2: Writing Prayers
Write down a couple of things you learned today about the end of the world. Hold the paper up high in the air as you pray, and thank God for making sure you’re taken care of at the end of
the world.

7 / grapple dare

Say: Jesus told his disciples that the end of the world will be scary. So…will you be okay when the world ends? If you’re a friend of Jesus, yes! Jesus beat death by coming back to life after he died. Jesus promised to provide a place for you in heaven, and he’s there taking care of it. Jesus tells us to trust God above all else and know that God will take care of us even when we’re scared. This week I dare you to trust God not only with the details of your life, but also with the big picture. I dare you to trust God to take care of you—even if the world ends tomorrow.

(Find the Parent Page for this lesson on the enhanced DVD. Have each child give a copy to his or her parents. Alternatively, send the file to parents via email.)

grapple team guide

2. Will I Be Okay When the World Ends?

In your Grapple Team, use this guide to grapple with today’s question.

Will we be okay when our world ends? What comes next? Let’s check it out.

Read Matthew 24:3-14.

Based on this Bible passage, list the five scariest signs of the end of the world.

___ Where are you on the freak-out-o-meter? If you’re not freaked out at all about the end of the world, write a zero on the line to the left. If you’re extremely freaked out about it, write a 10. If you’re in between, pick a number that shows how you feel. Then find a person on your team whose number matches—or is close to—yours. Discuss why you answered as you did.

What is it about the end of the world that makes you uncomfortable? that excites you? If you could ask Jesus one question about what’s coming, what would your question be?

Read Matthew 24:26-31.

In Pairs:Describe who the happiest and the saddest people are going to be when what’s described in this Scripture happens. Where do you think you’ll end up, and why?

Read John 14:1-4.

We aren’t the first people to wonder what happens when our world ends. Here’s what Jesus told a group of followers. What’s it like to hear those words? Jot your answer below.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

What do these verses show about how Jesus will take care of his friends? Why do you think verse 18 says to encourage each other with these words? What encouragement do you get from those words? Explain.

How do you know you’ll be okay when the world ends?

grapple team reports

With your team, choose one of the options below to report what you discovered.

Option 1: Book Report
Describe what you discovered as if you’re delivering an oral book report in school—and with the same level of enthusiasm.

Option 2: Sign Language
If you know sign language, sign along as you report what you discovered. Don’t know sign language? Make up your own hand motions.