Egg-stra special day!
Children's sermon
Object:
an empty Easter egg
Good morning! Today we say "Christ is risen!" What does
that mean? (Let them answer.) It means that Jesus went to the
grave dead and came out alive! Imagine that! Jesus rose from
death to life!
For many years we have had something at Easter that is supposed to tell us about Jesus' resurrection. Would any of you like to guess what I mean? (Let them answer.) I am speaking about the Easter egg!
How on earth can the Easter egg represent Jesus' resurrection? (Let them answer.) Let's look at it like this: the egg is like a tomb -- a grave -- and the baby chick that hatches from the egg is new life. The baby chick leaves the empty eggshell behind, just like Jesus left the empty tomb behind. He no longer needed the tomb, just as the chick no longer needed the eggshell.
When you see an Easter egg, think of how it is like Jesus' empty tomb.
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for breaking out of the tomb with new life. Amen.
Alternative
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" (John 20:16)
Object: a baptismal certificate
Mary didn't recognize Jesus when she first saw him. She knew what people have known from the very beginning of time: when a person dies you never see him or her again until you also get to heaven. Yet here was Jesus -- speaking to her!
When did Mary recognize Jesus? When he spoke her name! Jesus knows your name and mine and has promised you and me the gift of heaven. Jesus died and rose again so that when we die, we shall also rise again. When I say your name, stand up. (Do it.) Your name is important and makes you special. Did you notice that when I said, "Sarah," Ben didn't get up? That's because I didn't say, "Ben," I said, "Sarah!"
Our names are important to us. Jesus knows our name and we know his name. I'm so glad to know about Jesus and the resurrection.
Dearest Lord Jesus: We're so glad you know and love us. Amen.
For many years we have had something at Easter that is supposed to tell us about Jesus' resurrection. Would any of you like to guess what I mean? (Let them answer.) I am speaking about the Easter egg!
How on earth can the Easter egg represent Jesus' resurrection? (Let them answer.) Let's look at it like this: the egg is like a tomb -- a grave -- and the baby chick that hatches from the egg is new life. The baby chick leaves the empty eggshell behind, just like Jesus left the empty tomb behind. He no longer needed the tomb, just as the chick no longer needed the eggshell.
When you see an Easter egg, think of how it is like Jesus' empty tomb.
Dearest Jesus: Thank you for breaking out of the tomb with new life. Amen.
Alternative
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" (John 20:16)
Object: a baptismal certificate
Mary didn't recognize Jesus when she first saw him. She knew what people have known from the very beginning of time: when a person dies you never see him or her again until you also get to heaven. Yet here was Jesus -- speaking to her!
When did Mary recognize Jesus? When he spoke her name! Jesus knows your name and mine and has promised you and me the gift of heaven. Jesus died and rose again so that when we die, we shall also rise again. When I say your name, stand up. (Do it.) Your name is important and makes you special. Did you notice that when I said, "Sarah," Ben didn't get up? That's because I didn't say, "Ben," I said, "Sarah!"
Our names are important to us. Jesus knows our name and we know his name. I'm so glad to know about Jesus and the resurrection.
Dearest Lord Jesus: We're so glad you know and love us. Amen.
