LESSON SNAPSHOT
BOTTOM LINE: Jesus died to free us from sin!
OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn that because Jesus lives, we can be forgiven and live with him forever.
KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 27:57-61, Jesus’ Burial (Egg 10: Cloth) Matthew 27:62-66, The Tomb (Egg 11: Rock) Matthew 28:1-10, He is Risen! (Egg 12: Empty)
MEMORY VERSE: “Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
SUMMARY: In Week 4, kids will learn that Jesus’ death is not the end of the story. Despite being dead, buried and secured in a tomb, Jesus was raised in power to life again on Easter Sunday! Because of what Jesus did at Easter, we can experience forgiveness of our sins and new life too.
SIMPLE PRAYER: Dear God,
Thank you for the resurrection of Jesus.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! MEMORY VERSE
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
“Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
LARGE GROUP: Pick out some kids at random from the crowd and see who can recite the memory verse. Then repeat it all together.
SMALL GROUP: Without putting the verse on display or looking it up, see how many kids can recite the memory verse.
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! SKIT
THE CHICKENS ARE TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, PART 4
ITEMS NEEDED: Chairs The fourth set of Resurrection Eggs
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN: 1F, 1M
CHARACTERS: Arlene - A TV host Ernie - A chicken farmer
Arlene is seated in her chair on stage.
ARLENE: Hello, my name is Arlene Bell. Welcome to Weirder Things, the show that explores the strange, the unknown, and the just plain odd. My guest tonight back for the fourth time, and his chickens have been helping all of us rediscover the story of Easter. Please welcome back Ernie Portnoy.
Ernie enters with the last 3 eggs.
ARLENE: Ernie, it’s great to see you again.
ERNIE: I don’t know, Arlene, I keep hoping my chickens will go back to laying regular eggs. I mean this is getting ridiculous. I’ve got a dozen eggs I can’t eat. A dozen!
ARLENE: But they have such a great message, for you and for everyone.
ERNIE: I sure hope you’re right about that. Take a look at what Betsy laid.
He opens an egg and pulls out a piece of cloth.
ARLENE: Well look at that. That’s a piece of cloth.
ERNIE: I know. Strange, isn’t it? And here’s the one that Cindy laid.
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! SKIT
Ernie opens the second egg and pulls out a rock.
ARLENE: A rock?
ERNIE: Yeah, a rock. Made me feel like poor Charlie Brown at Halloween. But then Snowflake topped them all. Check this out.
Ernie opens the third egg.
ARLENE: I don’t see anything, Ernie.
ERNIE: Exactly!
ARLENE: Is that Exactly or Egg-zactly?
ERNIE: You know, we went almost four weeks without making that joke.
ARLENE: I know, and holding it back was egg-scruciating.
ERNIE: Shoulda seen that one coming. Ernie you egghead! Oh there I go, now I’m doing it.
ARLENE: Ernie, if it makes you feel better, I think we can assume your chickens will go back to laying normal eggs tomorrow.
ERNIE: How do you know?
ARLENE: Because they finally brought us to the end of the story.
ERNIE: You mean I get to hear what happened to Jesus?
ARLENE: Yes, Ernie, you do. You see after Jesus died, he was wrapped in cloth like this, and he was buried in a tomb. A rock like this one, only larger of course, was rolled in front of the tomb to seal him in.
ERNIE: I thought you said this was a happy ending.
ARLENE: It is a happy ending, Ernie. Just look at that last egg.
ERNIE: Look at what? There’s nothing in there!
ARLENE: And there’s nothing in the tomb where Jesus was buried either.
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! SKIT
ERNIE: What do you mean?
ARLENE: I mean he is risen! Jesus rose from the grave and conquered death so that he could give us new life. If we believe in Jesus, we will receive the gift of eternal life.
ERNIE: That’s incredible! Jesus didn’t stay dead! He beat death!
ARLENE: And because he lives, we can live forever with Him.
ERNIE: That is some great news.
ARLENE: Ernie, I hope your chickens will go back to normal eggs tomorrow, but I am thankful for the message they shared with you, and with all our viewers.
ARLENE: We’ll see you next time on Weirder Things.
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! OBJECT LESSON OR KIDS SERMON
ITEMS NEEDED: An empty plastic Easter egg
Ordinarily, if you opened a plastic Easter egg and found nothing inside, you would be disappointed. Easter eggs are designed to hold candy. They are a candy-deploying device designed to be filled with jelly beans, M&Ms, Skittles, Sweetarts, Reese’s Pieces, and all sorts of other goodies. If an egg somehow made its way into your basket on Easter Sunday with nothing inside, you would be a little disappointed.
We’ve opened twelve eggs during this series, and eleven of them had something inside. The twelfth egg was empty, and that makes it the best egg of all. It’s a reminder that the tomb where they laid Jesus is still empty. He is not dead. He is risen!
Jesus endured all sorts of terrible things in the days before Easter. The betrayal of one friend; the denial of another; a crown of thorns; a whip; the cross. He did it all because He loves us and wanted to give us new life!
Jesus stands ready and waiting to welcome you into His family. He wants to forgive your sins and give you new life. This is why we celebrate the empty tomb. This is why we celebrate Easter!
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! LARGE GROUP GAME
PEEP STICKERS
ITEMS NEEDED: A white board Two packages of Peeps
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose two players for this game. The players will each receive a package of Peeps. They will then take turns licking their Peeps and flinging them at the white board from six feet away in an attempt to get the Peeps to stick. The player who makes the most Peeps stick to the board is the winner.
VARIATION: For younger kids, instead of having them throw the Peeps, they can press them to the board to try and make them stick.
WHAT’S THE POINT? The whiteboard is dirty and messy, but the tomb of Jesus is vacant and empty. Jesus is alive!
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! LARGE GROUP LESSON
BOTTOM LINE: Jesus died to free us from sin!
OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn that because Jesus lives, we can be forgiven and live with him forever.
KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 27:57-61, Jesus’ Burial (Egg 10: Cloth) Matthew 27:62-66, The Tomb (Egg 11: Rock) Matthew 28:1-10, He is Risen! (Egg 12: Empty)
INTRO: I hate to drop a major story spoiler here at the start of today’s lesson, but we might as well get this out of the way. Remember when Jesus died on the cross in last week’s lesson? Jesus didn’t stay dead. Three days later, he rose from the grave. Jesus is alive, and death and sin have been defeated.
For the last four weeks we’ve been working our way through the Easter story with the help of some eggs. Each egg had a different piece of the story. We found a donkey, who represented Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We found a coin for Judas’ betrayal. A cup reminded us of the last supper. Praying hands took us to the Garden of Gethsemane. A rooster reminded us of when Peter denied Jesus. A whip, a crown of thorns, a cross, and a spear told the story of how Jesus was abused and then put to death.
Today we come to the end of the story. Our first two eggs follow Jesus from the cross to the tomb. One has a piece of cloth in it. The other, a small stone.
READ MATTHEW 27:57-66
Jesus’ followers, the few that were left, took his body off the cross. They wrapped his body, which was the way they prepared people for burial in that time, and they laid him in a borrowed tomb.
Once Jesus was in the tomb, they rolled a large stone in front of the entrance. No one could get in. No one was getting out. The stone was sealed, and two guards were posted outside the tomb, just to make sure there was no funny business.
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! LARGE GROUP LESSON
Then on Sunday morning, a friend of Jesus named Mary Magdalene went to the tomb with some other ladies to finish anointing Jesus’ body for burial. The cloth was still there. The stone had been rolled away. But the tomb…
Open the last egg.
The tomb was empty!
READ MATTHEW 28:1-10
MAIN POINT: Jesus came in peace. He came to save us from our sins. He obeyed His Heavenly Father, and He did what had to be done in order to set us free. Jesus gave His life for us so that we could have eternal life with Him!
The empty egg may seem like a disappointment at first. After all, what good is a plastic Easter egg without something inside? But the absence of anything in this egg is the best part of the Easter story. As the angel said, “He is not here. He is risen!” Jesus is alive, and he wants to give you a new life!
DRIVE IT HOME: The Bible tells us that we are all sinners. We have all done things in rebellion against God. We have been sinners since the day we were born, and no matter how hard we try, we will never shake our sinful nature on Earth.
The Bible also tells us that the punishment for sin is death. Jesus knew the only way to save us was if He took our place and died for us. As we learned last week, His death paid the price for sin once and for all. He died for the disciple who betrayed Him. He died for the disciples who deserted Him. He died for Peter, who denied knowing Him. Jesus died for the religious leaders who convicted Him and Pilate, who sentenced Him to die. He died for the soldiers who mocked Him and spat upon Him and nailed Him to a cross. He died for the thieves who were crucified with Him.
Jesus died for every man and woman and child who ever lived. He died for you and me. If we confess that Jesus is the Christ, and if we accept Him as our Savior, Jesus will forgive our sins. He will give us new life on Earth and eternal life in Heaven.
The last egg is empty. So is the tomb. Jesus is alive, and He wants to be your Savior. Will you accept Jesus today? Will you begin your new life? Jesus loves you, and there’s nothing He wants more than for you to accept His love today!
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! LARGE GROUP LESSON
CLOSE WITH A SIMPLE PRAYER: Dear God,
Thank you for the resurrection of Jesus.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (K-2ND)
ICEBREAKER: What did you receive for Easter this morning?
MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIrV) Without putting the verse on display or looking it up, see how many kids can recite the memory verse.
SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITY: Have the kids create a skit to act out what happened when the empty tomb was discovered on Easter Sunday.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read Matthew 27:57-61
Where was Jesus buried?
Read Matthew 27:62-66
How was the tomb protected against anyone trying to steal the body?
Read Matthew 28:1-10
Why was the tomb empty?
Why did Jesus die on the cross?
How can we accept Jesus as our Savior?
SIMPLE PRAYER: Dear God,
Thank you for the empty tomb and our risen Savior!
In Jesus’ name, Amen
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION (3-5TH)
ICEBREAKER: What did you receive for Easter this morning?
MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY: 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIrV) Without putting the verse on display or looking it up, see how many kids can recite the memory verse.
SMALL GROUP GAME/ACTIVITY: Have the kids create a skit to act out what happened when the empty tomb was discovered on Easter Sunday.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Read Matthew 27:57-61
Who buried Jesus, and why did he ask for Jesus’ body?
Read Matthew 27:62-66
Why was the tomb guarded and covered by a large stone?
Read Matthew 28:1-10
What did Jesus do for us when he died and rose from the grave?
How can we accept Jesus as our Savior?
Is anyone ready to accept Jesus as their Savior this morning?
SIMPLE PRAYER: Dear God,
Thank you for the empty tomb and our risen Savior!
In Jesus’ name, Amen
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! POWERPOINT REVIEW GAME
EGG QUIZ
Which egg reminds us of…
How Jesus was betrayed by Judas? THE COIN
Peter’s denial? THE ROOSTER
How Jesus died? THE CROSS
How Jesus entered Jerusalem? THE DONKEY
Jesus praying in the Garden? PRAYING HANDS
Jesus is alive? THE EMPTY EGG
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! 5 Simple Ways You Can Make This Lesson Stick With your Kids Resurrection Eggs Lesson 4
THIS WEEK’S LESSON: EGGS-CITING NEWS!
IN THE CAR: Ask your child what they learned about this week on the drive home: Jesus’ death is not the end of the story. Despite being dead, buried and secured in a tomb, Jesus was raised in power to life again on Easter Sunday! Because of what Jesus did at Easter, we can experience forgiveness of our sins and new life too. Matthew 27:57-61, Jesus’ Burial (Egg 10: Cloth) Matthew 27:62-66, The Tomb (Egg 11: Rock) Matthew 28:1-10, He is Risen! (Egg 12: Empty)
HANGING OUT: Make this week’s lesson real: Ask your child to show you the eggs they made in church this week and explain what they represent from the Easter story.
AT DINNER: Here are some great discussion starters: - Where was Jesus buried? - Why was the tomb empty on Sunday? - Why did Jesus die and rise from the grave?
AT BEDTIME: Quiz your child on this week’s memory verse: “Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!” -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
PARENT TIME: What you need to know: This week we concluded our study of the Easter story and invited the kids to receive Jesus as their Savior. If your child made this decision, or is considering that decision, discuss it with them. Pray with them, and encourage them to take this commitment seriously so they can grow strong in their new found faith! RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! "Anyone who believes in Christ is a new "Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!" creation. The old is gone! The new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV) - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
"Anyone who believes in Christ is a new "Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!" creation. The old is gone! The new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV) - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIRV)
CUT ON DASHED LINE CRAFT ACTIVITY
Each week the kids will make Resurrection Eggs to take home.
If funds allow, you can have the kids use actual plastic eggs and make the items to go inside, out of craft materials.
For a simpler alternative you can have kids color the included 3 resurrection eggs coloring pages to go along with this week's lesson. Have the kids draw a picture of Jesus or write "He is Alive" in the last egg as a reminder of Jesus' resurrection.
This weeks items are:
Egg 10: Cloth (Jesus’ Burial) Egg 11: Rock (The Tomb) Egg 12: Empty (He is Risen!)
RESURRECTION EGGS: EGGS-CITING NEWS! 10
Matthew 27:57-61 11
Matthew 27:62-66 12
Matthew 28:1-10