EASTER SUNDAY MESSAGE
RESOURCES FOR LESSON:
Bible Verses: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
Connect Question: Who’s your favorite person from the Bible and why?
Remember Verse: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” Psalm 145:8
Foundational Truth: Jesus is Alive
Blessing: 1 John 4:9–12:This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
May you know how much God loves you, so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross as the final sacrifice for your sins. May you feel encouraged to know that you're a part of The Big God Story!
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How does it feel to know you're a part of The Big God Story?
2. How does the promised Redeemer fit into The Big God Story? Genesis 3:15; 12:3; 2 Samuel 7:13–16; Matthew 27—28
3. What is a redeemer? What does it mean to redeem?
4. Who is the promised Redeemer? Luke 1:67–69; Galatians 3:13
5. What did Jesus do to redeem the world? Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 3:18
6. Have you asked Jesus to be your Redeemer? If not, would you like to?
ACTIVITY:
Coloring sheet & story:
EASTER EGG & BIBLE STORY REVEAL
ACTIVITY CONTENT:
{Egg #1} Put a picture of the world, a cross, and a heart in this egg and the following….on a piece of paper, write or type: World and heart ~ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… {John 3:16} God loved us so much that He sent His one and only son to die for our sins.
{Egg #2} Put a small leaf or branch in this egg and the following….on a piece of paper, write or type: Palm Leaf ~ On Palm Sunday, they put palm branches and coats on the ground and waved palm branches at Jesus, shouting “Hosanna!”
{Egg #3} Put half of a Ritz cracker or other small broken cracker piece in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Bread ~ Jesus was having Passover, and it was called the Last Supper. He said, This is my body that was broken for you.
{Egg #4} Put one hershey’s kiss in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Kiss ~ Judas told the soldiers who Jesus was by giving Jesus a kiss.
{Egg #5} Put one nickel in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Judas got paid 30 pieces of silver for being bad and betraying Jesus.
{Egg #6} Put one toothpick in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Thorns ~ They put a crown made out of thorns on Jesus’s head.
{Egg #7} Put one nail in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Nail ~ They nailed Jesus to the cross.
{Egg #8} Cut a small piece off of a sponge and put it in this egg with the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Sponge ~ They gave Jesus “pickle juice” {vinegar} to drink from a sponge.
{Egg #9} Cut a small piece of tissue, toilet paper or paper towel and put it in this egg with the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Wrapping ~ They wrapped Jesus up in cloth and buried him. When he came back alive, the wrapping was left behind.
{Egg #10} Put a small rock in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Rock ~ The stone was rolled away on Easter morning because Jesus rose from the dead.
{Egg #11} All that goes in this egg is the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Empty ~ He is not here. He has risen!
{Egg #12} Put a penny or a gold dollar {if you have one} in this egg and the following… on a piece of paper, write or type: Gold Coin ~ Because of what Jesus did on the cross, if we believe in him, ask him to forgive us of our sins, and ask him into our hearts, we get to be with Him in heaven some day! Heaven will be so fun, and will even have streets made of gold!!
WHO IS JESUS? JESUS THE STORYTELLER
RESOURCES FOR LESSON:
Bible Verses: Matthew 12:1-9, Luke 8:4-15, Mark 4:1-20
Memory verse: “Whoever has ears, let them hear” Matthew 13:9
Foundational Truth: God speaks to me and through His word
Blessing: Children, may you always have ears to hear God’s word and eyes to see his work. Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
LESSON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What is a parable?
A story that Jesus made up so that he could help people understand.
2. What does it mean to sow seeds?
To plant seeds.
3. What were the “seeds” Jesus was talking about in the Parable?
Sharing of Gods word (the Bible)
4. What was the “soil” in the story?
Our hearts.
5. What did it mean to have good soil?
To hear and accept God’s word.
ACTIVITY:
Coloring sheet & story:
Write a story:
Have your child write a story and tell it to the whole family. BONUS: Have the child write a “parable” or a story with an underlying message.
Sowing seeds:
Let the children plant seeds and watch them grow in good soil for the next few weeks. Discuss how the seeds will grow in good soil and care as in our lesson today.
BONUS:
Create all 4 environments that were in the story (hard ground, rocky soil, thorns, and good soil) and experiment how the seeds grow in each environment.
Food activity: Oreo Dirt Cups
Ingredients needed: Oreos or chocolate cookies, chocolate pudding, and gummy worms
WHO IS JESUS? JESUS THE SHEPHERD
RESOURCES FOR LESSON:
Bible Verses: Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15:3-7
Memory verse: “the Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” Psalm 23:1
Foundational Truth: I am a child of God
Blessing: Children, always remember that you are a child of God. Galatians 3:26 says “For you are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ”
LESSON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What is a shepherd?
A person who tends to (takes care of) sheep.
2. How do you feel when you find something that has been lost?
Happy, excited, relieved
3. Who is the story talking about as the “shepherd” and the “sheep”
Jesus is the shepherd, you and other people are the sheep
ACTIVITY:
Action activity:
Scavenger hunt BINGO - indoor and outdoor version
Craft:
Print the activity page, cut out the sheep, fill in the white space with cotton balls!
Coloring sheet & story
Directed Drawing: How to draw a sheep
Food activity:
Ingredients needed: graham crackers, vanilla frosting, mini-marshmallows, chocolate
WHO IS JESUS? JESUS THE TEACHER
RESOURCES FOR LESSON:
Bible Verses: John 17
Memory verse: “You are the teacher who has come from God” John 3:2
Foundational Truth: Jesus is our Teacher
Blessing: “Children, always remember to follow Jesus’ teaching.“
Open a bible and read John 14:6 “Jesus answered-“I am the way and the truth and the life”
LESSON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Who are your teachers?
Teachers at school, parents, friends, coaches, etc
2. What do you love about your teachers?
Personal answer
3. What things can we learn in the Bible?
the Bible teaches us through stories how we can react to certain situations, how we should treat other people, how to love other people, etc
4. What is something that you can teach someone?
Personal answer
ACTIVITY:
Customize your five finger prayer! Get a piece of paper, trace your hand, and write out your prayers for each finger. Follow the template below!
ACTIVITIES:
Coloring page: (click to download and print at home)
WHO IS JESUS? JESUS IS OUR PROVIDER
RESOURCES FOR LESSON:
Bible Verses: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:1-14
Memory verse: “The Lord Will Provide” Genesis 22:14
Foundational Truth: Jesus is our Provider
Blessing: “Children, always know that Jesus cares about you.”
Open the Bible and read Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
LESSON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does it mean to provide?
To give someone what they need
2. What are the things you need every day?
Water, food, shelter, love, etc
3. What are things that you can pray for that God will provide for you?
Personal answer
ACTIVITY:
Unusual meal!
Have a meal together where you don’t usually eat, such as on the backyard or living room floor! Take this time to discuss things such as the following:
How do you think the people felt when Jesus performed this miracle?
What are you thankful for that Jesus has provided for us?
What are you praying and asking Jesus for?
What are some ways that we can bless and provide for others?
WHO IS JESUS? JESUS IS THE HEALER
RESOURCES FOR LESSON:
Bible Verses: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26
Memory verse: Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted. He bandages their wounds.”
Foundational Truth: Jesus is Our Healer & Protector
Blessing: “Children, may you know that Jesus is more powerful than anyone or anything.”
Open a Bible and read Psalm 147:5a: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power”
LESSON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who do you think Jesus is?
Example: Jesus is my best friend. Jesus is God’s son. Jesus is a healer. Jesus is a helper. Jesus is a miracle worker. Jesus is my protector. Etc.
2. What is a miracle?
Answer: “An Act of God” John 2:1-11
Talking points- a miracle is something that happens even when you think it couldn’t or if it seemed impossible. A miracle is something only God can do.
3. How do you think the man felt when Jesus healed him?
Example: surprised, thankful, excited, amazed, etc
4. Is there a time that Jesus has healed you? - personal answer
5. Is there anything you need healing for? - Personal Answer.
Examples: sickness, broken bones, broken heart from sad times, etc
ACTIVITIES:
Coloring page: (click to download and print at home)
Mat Race:
Materials- stuffed animals, bath or beach towels,
Directions:
Split the family into two or three teams, with at least 2 people per team.
With at least 2 people per team, place the stuffed animal on the towel “the mat” and have the teams race from one area to another, without dropping the stuffed animal. If the stuffed animal falls, they must start again!
While playing the game, remind your children of the story that we learned today. Story example: “In the Bible, there is a story about a time when many people gathered around Jesus inside a small home. Because there were so many people, some had to stand outside. About this time, some men wanted to take their paralyzed friend in to see Jesus, so Jesus could heal him. But it was so crowded they could not reach Jesus. So instead, they took the man up to the rooftop, and cut a hole in it. Then they lowered the man down on a mat right to where Jesus was standing. Do you know what happened next? Jesus healed the man and he got up and walked away!”
Optional- you can make this a relay race. Set up a course with multiple stuffed animals on one side, and have them carry, on the mat, each stuffed animal (one at a time) to the end point.
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