We all know that God is love, and that Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for humanity, but God’s love for us did not begin or end with Jesus earthly ministry. Join us today as we consider this divine/human love affair.
Holy Saturday-A Day of Rest? Not for Jesus
This week i’ve been thinking about Holy Saturday. It is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Most of us rush right past this day without giving it much thought. It is the day mentioned in Ephesians 4:9&10 and the Apostles Creed which acknowledges that on that day, Jesus descended into Hell itself and led those held captive awaiting the fulfillment of Jesus atoning sacrifice.
Ephesians 4
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]?10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
The Apostles Creed-In Part
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
This day tells me two things. First, there is no distance Jesus won’t go to redeem his beloved; and second, that Jesus is Lord everywhere. Satan can be prince of the power of darkness, but he can never be Lord anywhere.
Sofa Sunday-Three Easter Experiments
This is a complicated project that will take some planning by parents. This lesson uses a skit to tell the story of Easter and Jesus Resurrection, and science experiments to provide visualization. You will find the ingredients for the science projects in scenes 3. 5 & 7. My hope is that it will be fun and a memorable experience for children and their parents.
A Good Friday Reading
Almighty God, we pray you graciously behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Dear People of God: Our heavenly Father sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved; that all who believe in him might be delivered from the power of sin and death, and become heirs with him of everlasting life.
We pray, therefore, for people everywhere according to their needs. Amen.
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[e] When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:44-46
But the dawn awaits.
A Little Help For Our Friends
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colosians 3:12
Since the beginning of the year we have been impressed to touch the lives of those we come in contact through normal everyday life without any expectation of a return. As a matter of practice any member of our congregation can bring forward a recommendation each month for consideration. The recipient will never be contacted by the church except by the person making the recommendation. We do this without expectations of any kind.
Matthew 21-Palm Sunday
Jesus rides into the shouts of hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
This is Communion Sunday
Sofa Sunday School-The Colors of Easter
Gospel of John chapter 20-Mary at the tomb
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Because Jesus lives, we can have a new life!
OBJECTIVE:
– For kids to understand the meaning of Easter.
KEY PASSAGE:
John 20:1-18: Jesus rises from the grave.
MEMORY VERSE:
– John15: 13 (NIV)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
SUMMARY:
On Easter Sunday we celebrate the happy ending – Jesus is risen! Because Jesus rose from the grave, we can be reunited with God. We can receive eternal life, and a new life here on Earth. Until then, Jesus wants us to share the good news with others.
Object Lesson
ITEM NEEDED: An egg
How many of these do you think you have around your house today, real or plastic?
I imagine we’ll all see hundreds of eggs before the day is out. Eggs are a symbol for new life. When we see eggs, we think of baby chicks. We think of new beginnings. It’s the perfect reminder of the new life we can have in Jesus.
On Easter Sunday, we remember the resurrection of Jesus. Because Jesus died and rose again, he alone can forgive our sins. What’s more, Jesus can give us eternal life and a new life here on Earth.
Today can be a new beginning for you as well. If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior, now is the perfect time. Jesus can wipe away your sins, and he can give you a new beginning. That’s a far better gift than any Easter candy or bunny you can receive.
Today we celebrate new life and new beginnings. Today, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!
Trivia Game
Coloring Page
Sing Along
Matthew 18-Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom?
On their way down the mountain after the transfiguration the disciples have a question for Jesus.
Sofa Sunday School-The Story of Easter
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Because Jesus died and rose again, we can have eternal life!
OBJECTIVE:
– For kids to understand that Jesus’ death is the reason we can have eternal life.
KEY PASSAGE:
Mark 15:6-15, John 19:17-30, Luke 23:39-43: Jesus dies and is buried
MEMORY VERSE:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
– John 15:13 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
The tomb is no one’s favorite part of the Easter story, but without the tomb, there is no story. Jesus was put to death, and his death was the final sacrifice for our sins. Without the tomb, there is no resurrection. The good news is, because Jesus died and rose again, we can be with him in paradise.
Object Lesson
ITEM NEEDED:
An apple
I’m guessing most of you in here, given the chance, would take a shiny red apple over a black jelly bean, right? Apples are the perfect snack; all natural, nutritious, and deli- cious. But apples have another purpose besides food. Apples are an apple tree’s only hope of producing more trees. Apples contain the seeds to grow even more apple trees, and unless an apple “dies”, there won’t be any apple trees in the future.
Just like an apple, which must go into the darkness of the Earth to create new life, Jesus had to die and be buried in a tomb in order to fulfill God’s promise of salvation. Without the death of Jesus, there’s no resurrection, and without the resurrection, there’s no eternal life for you or me.
Let’s thank God for sending his Son to die for us, and let’s thank Jesus for his obedi- ence to that calling. It’s because he died that we are here today celebrating his death and his resurrection!
Game
Skit
JUST BEFORE DAWN
ITEMS NEEDED:
Blankets Pillows
CHARACTERS:
Simon the Zealot Thad (Thaddeus)
Simon is laying on the stage asleep. Thad lies beside him but is not sleeping; he can’t. He rolls over and looks at Simon.
THAD: Simon? You awake? Simon?
Simon doesn’t move. Thad decides to fake rolling over in his sleep. He lies down, then flops backwards, slinging his arm around and hitting Simon.
SIMON: Hey!!
THAD: (pretends to be waking up) What? Huh? What’s the matter, can’t you sleep?
SIMON: I was asleep.
THAD: I can’t sleep either.
SIMON: Why don’t you get a glass of water?
THAD: I tried that, but I still can’t sleep. I don’t see how you can either.
SIMON: We’ll need it. Tomorrow they may be looking for us, and then we’ll have to run.
THAD: You think they’ll come after us?
SIMON: They might.
THAD: Why?
SIMON: They want to make sure they stamp out what Jesus was doing; they’ll round up as many of his followers as they can. Trust me, it won’t be good.
THAD: I don’t wanna die on a cross.
SIMON: I don’t either. So let’s get some sleep so we can get out of here tomorrow. Simon lies back down.
THAD: I still can’t believe it. Just two days ago, we were all together. We had Passover, we went out to the garden, and now…
SIMON: I know. Now he’s dead.
THAD: I hear the ladies are going down to the tomb to prepare the body in the morning. Maybe we should go.
SIMON: You know they have guards down there, right? Roman soldiers, big swords, spears. I don’t think that’s a good idea.
THAD: Yeah, maybe not. I just thought going down there might give me some sense of closure, you know?
SIMON: I guess so.
THAD: I can’t help feeling like it’s not really over. Like there’s still something more to come. This can’t be the end, can it?
SIMON: Thaddeus, he’s dead.
THAD: I know he’s dead. But so was Lazarus. And so was that little girl, remember?
SIMON: I remember.
THAD: He knew he was going to die, and he let them take him away. What if…
SIMON: Now you’re talking crazy.
THAD: Yeah, I guess so.
They both lay down.
THAD: Hardly seems worth going to sleep. It’s almost morning.
SIMON: Is it?
THAD: Take a look for yourself.
SIMON: Wow. Sunday morning.
THAD: What do you think will happen today?
SIMON: I’d say anything is possible.
Matthew 17-The Real Jesus
Having realized that Jesus was the messiah and that he was now going to Jerusalem to suffer and die, Jesus takes Peter, James and John for a mountain top experience.