Pastor Rick: Joy and I work out together. But we work out a little differently.

Joy: …and don't forget to take out the trash tonight!

Pastor Rick: How was it?

Joy: Hee hee! It was fun!

Joy: Hee hee! I have two different weights!

Pastor Rick: One arm will be pumped up and the other one shriveled!

Joy: It's not important to me!

A Tour of Heaven, Stop 8: the last stop!

Pastor Rick: She's there to have a good time, and it's working great for her. This tour is a little like that. Maybe you came just for fun. Maybe you worked hard and learned a lot. Either way, you made it to the last stop!

Baxter: The last stop is all about YOU. Who you'll be in heaven, and what you'll get to do there. I'm so proud of you!

Stop 1: You'll Still Be You!

Maya: Will I still be ME in heaven? Or will I be, like, a glowing blob?

Pastor Rick: You'll still be you! God made you on purpose, and he's not going to turn you into someone else. People will recognize you, and you'll recognize them.

Pastor Rick: After Jesus rose from the dead, his friends recognized him. He ate breakfast with them. He was still Jesus!

Pastor Rick: Your personality will still be yours, minus the grumpy parts. The things you love will be even better. You'll be the very best version of you.

Eli: So I'll still be funny?

Pastor Rick: Funnier!

Stop 2: A Seed and a Plant.

Pastor Rick: Paul said our new bodies will be like what happens when you plant a seed.

SPROING!

Pastor Rick: A seed is small and plain. But plant it, and it grows into something amazing. The plant looks totally different, but it came from that seed.

Baxter: Whoa fact! A giant sequoia seed is about the size of an oatmeal flake. It can grow into a tree more than 250 feet tall. If God can do that with a seed, imagine what he'll do with you!

Pastor Rick: That's what our new bodies will be like. Our bodies now get weak and wear out. Remember my bad knees? But our new bodies will be strong and glorious. They'll never get sick, never get hurt, and never die.

Sam: So my grandpa will get a new body too?

Pastor Rick: Jesus was the first one to get a new body when he rose from the dead. And because he did, everyone who belongs to him will too. Your grandpa included.

Stop 3: Getting More Like Jesus.

Pastor Rick: The Bible says someday we'll be like Jesus. It happens in three steps, with three big words.

1. SAVED (big word: justification). The moment you choose to follow Jesus, God forgives you and makes you his child.

2. GROWING (big word: sanctification). Your whole life, God's Spirit helps you become a little more like Jesus every day.

3. GLORIFIED (big word: glorification). In heaven, you'll finally be completely like Jesus. Forever!

Eli: Some days I don't feel like I'm growing at all.

Baxter: Babies start out crawling. Then one day they take a wobbly step, and before long they're running everywhere! That's growing. A little more every day.

Pastor Rick: And God never gives up on you.

Stop 4: What Will We Do Forever?

Eli: Please tell me it's not sitting on a cloud playing a harp forever.

Pastor Rick: Nope! The Bible tells us three amazing things we'll do.

1. We'll worship God, enjoying him with everything we've got!

2. We'll serve him. God will give us wonderful things to do.

3. We'll see his face. The best part of all.

The end of the tour. But not the end of the story!

Pastor Rick: Remember our big question from the very first stop? "What will matter most to me five minutes after I die?"

All Kids: JESUS!

Pastor Rick: Then let him matter most to you today.

Pastor Rick: If you haven't chosen to follow Jesus yet, you can do it right now. Remember the A-B-C: Admit you've sinned. Believe Jesus died and rose again for you. Choose to follow him. Then tell a grown-up who loves Jesus. They'll want to celebrate with you!

Sam: Thanks, Baxter.

Baxter: Thanks for taking the tour with me! I had the best time.

Baxter: And remember what Pastor Rick always says…

SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!

THE END