Someone speaking up for you

01 · GATHER ROUND

Start with a question.

“Has anyone ever stood up for you or spoken up for you? What happened?”

Maybe a sibling defended them, or a teacher cleared up a mix-up. Enjoy the stories.

03 · OPEN THE BIBLE

The lunch line.

When Sofia moved to a new school from another country, she didn’t know much English yet. On her first day, she stood frozen in the lunch line. Everyone was waiting. Then Mateo, who speaks Spanish too, stepped up beside her. He asked what she wanted, then told the lunch helper, “She’s new. She’d like the pizza, please—and can she have an apple, too?” Mateo spoke up for Sofia.

That’s what an advocate does: stands with someone and speaks up for them. (Remember? Jesus called the Holy Spirit an Advocate, too.) Paul asks a big question in Romans: Who is there to condemn us? Then he shows why the answer is “no one”: Christ Jesus, who died and was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and he is interceding for us. To intercede means to speak up on someone’s behalf.

Forty days after he rose from the dead, Jesus went up into heaven while his friends watched. This is called the ascension. You might think it would be better if Jesus had stayed on earth. But Jesus told his friends it was actually good for them that he would go. Why?

First, in heaven Jesus is our advocate before the Father. When we sin, he doesn’t leave us on our own. It isn’t that the Father doesn’t love us and has to be talked into it—the Father loves us, too. Jesus is there as the one who already paid for our sins. No one can condemn us, because Jesus stands for us.

Second, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit. While he lived on earth, Jesus was in one place at a time. But the Spirit lives in every Christian, everywhere in the world, all at once. Jesus said the Spirit would be our helper forever.

So you have Jesus speaking up for you in heaven and the Spirit helping you on earth. Jesus also promised that he is preparing a place for his people. You are never forgotten, and you are never alone.

04 · WONDER TOGETHER

Let’s talk about it.

1. What does it mean that Jesus is interceding, or speaking up, for us?
2. Why did Jesus say it was good for his friends that he would go back to heaven?
3. How does it feel to know that no one can condemn someone who belongs to Jesus?

Try answering one yourself first. “I don’t know yet” is a fine place to start a conversation.

06 · TALK TO GOD

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank you that you are alive in heaven and speaking up for us before the Father. Thank you that no one can condemn those who belong to you. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to be with us everywhere, always. Help us speak up for others the way you speak up for us. Amen.

Then invite everyone to add one thing they want to tell God.

07 · MAKE IT STICK

A little truth to learn by heart.

Raise one hand high, like someone speaking up in class, for the part about Jesus speaking for us before his Father. Then bring your hand down gently over your heart for the part about sending his Spirit. Say it three times with the motions, then try it silently—motions only—while everyone mouths the words.