“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!
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!
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?
21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Jesus came to die for our sins.
OBJECTIVE:
– For kids to make an emotional connection to the sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and understand that His death was part of God’s plan.
KEY PASSAGE:
– Matthew 16:21-23, John 18:1-14: Jesus is arrested, and the disciples scatter
MEMORY VERSE:
-John 15:13 (NIV)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
SUMMARY:
The last thing the disciples expected was for Jesus to die. How could Jesus save his people if he was dead? But dying was the only way to save us from our sins, and Jesus was the only person who could make the ultimate sacrifice.
Kids will learn, there’s nothing sweeter than living the life God wants you to live – and sharing his love with others!
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
Jesus wants us to love others as he loved us.
OBJECTIVE:
– Kids will recognize that Jesus wants us to love others the way he loved us.
KEY PASSAGE:
John 13:1-5. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.
MEMORY VERSE:
– John15:13 (NIV) “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
SUMMARY:
Many people believed the Messiah would be a conquering king, coming to claim what was his. Instead, Jesus humbled himself, made himself nothing, and poured himself out for our sake. Jesus wants us to follow his example; to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and love the least of these.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
White jelly beans
Today we’re starting an Easter series, and jelly beans are a big part of that series. I want everyone here to taste and see what a white jelly bean tastes like.
Hand out white jelly beans to the kids.
What do the white jelly beans taste like?
White jelly beans don’t look as pretty or tasty as the colorful beans, and they usually get left behind with the black ones, but they still have a sweet flavor to them. They’re a good reminder of the example Jesus set and the life he wants us to lead. Jesus didn’t live a life of luxury. He was a poor carpenter who humbled himself to go to those in need. Very few people would choose that life for themselves, but that’s just the kind of life God wants us to have.
When we make ourselves servants, we are not only being obedient to Christ, we are sharing his love through our actions. We show that Jesus was not a man of mere words. He was God’s son, and we believe he wants us to live as he did.
White jelly beans aren’t flashy on the outside, but they still taste sweet. There’s nothing sweeter than living the life God wants you to live – and sharing his love with others!
Hey Kids, its test your parents day. See if you can get them to play along!
Lesson Snapshot
BOTTOM LINE:
The Bible is God’s Word.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will be able to say what the Bible is and why we can trust it.
KEY PASSAGE:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
MEMORY VERSE:
“We know that “We all have knowledge.” But knowledge makes people proud, while love builds them up. Those who think they know something still don’t know as they should. But whoever loves God is known by God.” 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3 (NIRV)
SUMMARY:
In this lesson kids will learn trivia about the Bible itself, how many books are included, who wrote it, and why it can be trusted.
Begin this lesson by going through the books. Ask the kids to read the titles and then guess what the books teach you.
People read books to learn everything: how to deal with the loss of a loved one, how to repair a motorcycle, how to perform magic tricks. Books can teach us a lot about life, skills, the world around us, sports, anything you can imagine.
God gave us a very special book we call the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word, given to men throughout ancient history. He gave these men the words to write so that we could know who God is and that God loves us. The Bible is filled with history, poetry and stories, all of which help us get to know our Creator.
The more we know our Bible, the more we know God. And the more we know God, the more we will know how God wants us to live. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to live a life that honors God.
Make sure the Bible isn’t just a book sitting on your shelf. Make the Bible the book you read the most!
Kids will identify and ask God to help them through a challenge they are currently facing.
KEY PASSAGE:
Romans 8:31-39 More Than Winners
MEMORY VERSE:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Ro- mans 8:37 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Championship teams rarely win their titles with ease. They endure hardships, setbacks, injuries, and more. As Christians, we will face challenges and oppositions to our faith, but we can rest assured that the victory is already won.
Ask for a kid who does not know how to play the piano to come up. Have him sit at the keyboard. Ask him to do his best to read the music and play it. After the first attempt, see if there’s a kid or parent who has played for years, and is willing to take the challenge.
It takes hard work to master the piano. It takes hours of drills and practice to learn the keys, learn how to read the sheet music, and put it all together.
The same amount of training and hard work goes into winning a football championship. True champions practice hard every day. They endure all sorts of trials and hardships and pain. They lift weights, run drills, study film, and prepare every second they can for the big game.
Sometimes we go through struggles in life, and not by choice. Those hard times and struggles can still lead us to victory. Whatever happens to us, as Christians, we are never alone. God is with us, and God will use those hard times the same as football players use their hard work. All the pain, all the suffering, all the hardship makes us stronger, and when we overcome the odds, it makes the victory that much sweeter.
Whatever hard times you are facing, now or in the future, God is bigger. Let God help you. Let him be your strength. He will give you victory.
Kids will think of a specific way they can serve someone to show God’s love.
KEY PASSAGE:
John 13:1-17, Jesus Washes the Disciple’s Feet
MEMORY VERSE:
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34b (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Valentine’s Day is a day that uses the word “love” a lot. Jesus also used that word a lot, but he also showed us what it looks like to truly love others by his actions. This Valentine’s Day when kids are excited about heart shaped chocolate, challenge them to think about what Jesus said it should really look like when we love one another.
We should pray for those who hurt us to know the love of Jesus.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will be encouraged to pray for someone by name who has hurt their feelings or been unkind to them.
KEY PASSAGE:
Acts 7:54-60, The Stoning of Stephen
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Jesus told his disciples that those who follow Him would have to suffer for it. When Stephen preached to the people about Jesus, they dragged him away and killed him by stoning him. Even as he was dying, Stephen did not hold anger against the men who were hurting him, but he kept his eyes firmly on Jesus.
When you go to school on the first day, your teacher probably gave you a name tag. That was to help them learn your name. When you get to be adults, you’ll find that many times you are asked to put on name tags at parties or other special events so that people can learn your name as well. Not everyone needs a name tag, but
sometimes these can be helpful tools to making new friends and acquaintances when you’re around new people.
Today, as we end our Non-Avengers series, we’re asking you to put name tags on people who are hard to love, people you need to forgive, people who need our prayers. Just as Stephen prayed for the men who put him to death, we want to begin praying for the kids and even adults who make life hard on us. Let’s pray for forgiving hearts, so we can show them God’s love, and let’s pray that God uses us to show them the love of Jesus.
We’re not asking you to put actual name tags on people. We’re just asking you to put a name in your prayer. Let’s begin praying specifically for those difficult people, and let’s expect God to do wonders in their lives.
Kids will know that forgiveness of sins comes from God through Jesus.
KEY PASSAGE:
Luke 23:32-43, The Crucifixion
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
We received the perfect example of what forgiveness looks like when God sent his son Jesus to earth. The ultimate forgiveness – the forgiveness of sins – comes from the Father through Jesus. He took the punishment our sins deserved and died for you and for me. But, he rose again so that we could have eternal life and live with him forever. Because God has forgiven us so much, he wants us to forgive others who wrong us.
Give each child a black piece of construction paper. Have them dip their hands in white paint and make a handprint on the page. Paint a red circle in the middle of the palm. Below the hand, write, “Only Jesus Saves.”
We can set an example for our friends in being kind to others.
OBJECTIVE:
Kids will be challenged to set an example for their friends this week by not talking bad about others or joining in making fun of others.
KEY PASSAGE:
1 Samuel 25:4-33, David, Nabal and Abigail
MEMORY VERSE:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
SUMMARY:
Nabal had treated David and his men badly. David went out to get his revenge and kill Nabal. But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, pleaded with David to have compassion; reminding him that vengeance belongs to God, not men.
Object Lesson
ITEMS NEEDED:
None
For today’s object lesson, I did not bring anything from home. That’s because today, the object I want to talk about is your hand. I want all of you to put your hand up. Open your hands, and spread your fingers wide. Fold your pointer finger in. Good. Now stretch it out with the others. Now, who can fold in just their pinky finger, anyone? Can you fold your pinky in without also folding in your ring finger?
You can’t fold in your pinky without folding in your ring finger. Where one goes, the other follows. That’s a lot like how we are with our friends, isn’t it? When our friends watch a new show, we want to watch. When our friends are playing a new video game, we want to try.
Most of the time, there’s no problem going along with our friends, but when our friends make fun of other people, that’s when we need to stand strong. We need to set the example so instead of us folding to peer pressure, they will stand against it with us.
We all have the choice to fold up, or to set an example, and if we set the example, it will encourage our friends to do the right thing too. Let’s make the right choice. Let’s stand strong so our friends will stand with us against gossip, name calling, and bullying!
