Leader Guide
| Site: | Superbook Academy |
| Course: | Holy Week |
| Book: | Leader Guide |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, November 24, 2024, 9:39 PM |
Description
Easter Sunday
SuperTruth: He is risen!
SuperVerse: "He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee.” Luke 24:6 (NLT)
*Be sure to preview all videos for this lesson, as some imagery may be too intense for young children.
Video Leader Guide
Select a video to have playing as children enter the Large Group room. Videos are under Resources on the top menu bar.
Have Small Group leaders greet the children as they enter the Large Group room and engage them in a game or conversation until it is time for Large Group to begin.
Welcome (3-5 mins)
Happy Easter, everyone! We’re going to do something, and I need your help. When I say, “He is risen!” I need you to say, “He sure is risen!” And we’ll do that back and forth a few times. Ready? Here we go! He is risen! “He sure is risen!” He is risen! “He sure is risen!” He is risen! Keep going if you’re having fun. NOTE: the more rhythmic you can make it, the more fun it will be. Take a moment to let them settle after the call/response.
That is a very old Easter tradition, saying that. Except it was more like, “He is risen, He is risen indeed.” But I hardly ever hear you guys saying “indeed,” so I figured it could use an update.
Is everybody having a happy Easter? Raise your hand if you’ve already eaten some chocolate this morning! Look for hands. Now that’s a good morning, isn’t it? Mom and Dad let you have chocolate, and it’s not even lunchtime! Ask other things like, “Who hunted for eggs this morning?” or, “Did anybody get an Easter basket?” or, “Raise your hand if you’re wearing something new.”
Easter is a great day—not just because of the candy or baskets or other fun things—it’s a great day because of the best news ever: Jesus rose from the grave!
Today we’re going to join Chris and Joy in learning the real story of Easter. But I have to tell you, even though it has a happy ending, it’s kind of a tough story to see. So if at any point our video gets too intense for you, just tell a leader near you, and we’ll help you.
If you have young students, it may be best to use the Easter Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma—Alternate. If you can separate the students by age, the alternate video options may be more suitable for sensitive viewers as themes and depictions are intense. No matter how you do it, please watch all of the videos in their entirety beforehand and consider prayerfully how you will proceed.
PLAY VIDEO: Easter Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma(5 mins)
Easter Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma
(For younger students)
Easter Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma—Alternate(2 mins)
Easter Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma—Alternate
Discussion and Explanation
Discussion & Explanation (5 mins)
Can you believe that Chris’s mom got to come along with them? I didn’t expect that! And Chris was acting pretty poorly, wasn’t he? His mom said, “Don’t walk away while I’m talking to you!” and he just . . . walked away, didn’t he? Raise your hand if you would get in trouble for doing that.
If you missed last week, we saw Jesus getting a king’s welcome as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. We celebrated Palm Sunday by laying down our coats and waving palm branches as they did for Jesus. It was only a few days after this king’s welcome that Jesus was arrested, beaten, and hung on the cross to die. How could that happen?
We’re picking up the story now about four days after Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and then was arrested. You have to remember: Jesus didn’t do anything wrong. And He knew they would come for Him to arrest Him and kill Him. But He let it happen anyway. Why do you think He did that? Children answer. Explain, if needed, that He did it because He was obeying His Father in Heaven. He loved His Father, and He loves us.
As you probably know, the story gets worse before it gets better. Spoiler alert—Jesus gets arrested and sentenced to die on a cross. What a horrible thing to happen to anyone, especially God’s son!
But Jesus told His followers, His disciples, it would happen. He told them that He would come back from the dead on the third day, and that’s what He did. And that’s what we celebrate at Easter.
Superverse
Let’s read our SuperVerse together.
SuperVerse (video loop):
Easter Sunday: SuperVerse
The graphic loops 2.5 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.
Bible Story
Bible Story
Now let’s see the rest of the story. Hang in there for the happy ending!
PLAY VIDEO: Easter Sunday: Bible Story(17 mins)
Easter Sunday: Bible Story
For younger students:
Easter Sunday: Bible Story—Alternate(9 mins)
Easter Sunday: Bible Story—Alternate
WRAP UP(3 mins)
He is risen! Lead the students in saying, “He sure is risen!” Stand up and say that with me a couple of times! Lead the students in doing this a couple of times, then have them sit again.
Yes, He is. And isn’t that great news? You see, it means that we can trust Jesus. He said He would be put to death and He would come back to life on the third day, and He did. By doing what He said, it shows us that He tells the truth. It shows us we can trust Him.
He also said He was the Son of God sent to save us from our sin. We can trust Him on that, too. Do you remember when they came to arrest Him in the garden?
(Optional) VIDEO CLIP: Jesus Knocks Down the Mob (15sec)
Jesus Knocks Down the Mob
The man said, “So you’re the one,” and Jesus told him, “I am He.” Did you see what happened? When Jesus said those words, the people were knocked back onto the ground. Jesus had the power to stop them from arresting Him, beating Him, and crucifying Him—just by speaking.
But He didn’t stop them. Why? Because (SuperTruth) Jesus came to create a path to forgiveness—for everyone who believes in Him. He beat death itself, and we can too if we believe in Him.
Easter is not about Jesus dying on the cross; it’s about the life Jesus gives us when we believe in Him.
Invitation and Prayer
Invitation (3-5 mins)
Do you believe in Him? The Bible says,
If you believe in Jesus and want to be saved, you need to do three things. Have them hold up one finger. Admit that you need God. Have them hold up two fingers. Believe that Jesus really is God’s Son—fully God, who was fully a person on earth, who gave Himself fully to take your punishment. And . . . Have them hold up three fingers. . . . say what you believe—that Jesus is Lord. Not just once, but whenever and wherever. Keeping it a secret won’t help.
At this point, the Leader can invite kids to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts: “Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross to pay for my sins. Please be my Savior, my Master, and my Friend. Please come into my heart to give me new life and to help me to follow You with the help of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.” Be sure to follow up with the students as necessary.
If you believe in Jesus and just made the decision to follow Him, we are so happy for you! Don’t keep it a secret. Tell your leaders about it, and tell your parents. We are so excited for you, and we want to help you when you need it.
PRAYER & DISMISSAL (2 mins)
Well, everyone, happy Easter! Next Sunday, we’ll learn more about what happened after Jesus came back to life. He tells His followers they won’t be alone, and He gives them a big present . . . . Want to know what He gave them? Be here next week! Don’t keep it a secret if a student really wants to know.
Let’s pray again before we go. Father in Heaven, please help us all to understand more what it means that Jesus died on the cross and rose again so we could be forgiven. For those of us who decided to trust You and follow Jesus, please help them to grow and declare their belief. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.