The First Easter - fbcsa.org

FOR THE LEADER

The First EasterLuke 23; 24:1-12

With Jesus now in Jerusalem with His disciples, the chief priests and scribes saw a great opportunity to finally put Jesus to death and stop His perceived—to them—blasphemy. One member of Jesus’ inner circle, Judas Iscariot, turned to the chief priests and scribes and offered to hand Jesus over. The Bible does not give us any motivation other than Satan entered Judas. The religious leaders gladly agreed to pay Judas for his services and he agreed to betray Jesus when the crowd had dissipated.

Meanwhile, Jesus celebrated the Passover festival with His disciples in an upper guest room owned by an unidentified man living in Jerusalem. The preparations were made and Jesus broke bread with His disciples. The bread and the cup symbolically represented Jesus’ sacrifice that would soon be made on their behalf. After dinner, Jesus revealed that a plot had been initiated for His betrayal and that the betrayer shared the table with the disciples.

Leaving the upper room, Jesus and several of His disciples went to a garden on the Mount of Olives to pray. As Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done, the Bible records the fervency with which Jesus prayed. His sweat became like drops of blood. Finishing His prayer, Jesus returned to the place His disciples were waiting and He found them asleep. Jesus encouraged the men to wake up and pray because great temptation was coming. At that moment, Judas arrived with soldiers and Jesus was arrested.

Jesus was taken from the garden to the high priest’s house. Caiaphas sent Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, for sentencing. Ultimately, Pilate released a criminal and allowed the people to crucify Jesus. Jesus died on the cross. The veil in the temple that separated the most holy place from the rest of the temple was ripped from top to bottom. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paved the way for people to approach God themselves. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead. Women who had gone to the tomb to anoint His body with spices were told by an angel that Jesus was alive!

Session 8Session 8: The First Easter

Explore the Bible: Babies & Toddlers Leader Guide62 © 2018 LifeWay

OVERVIEW

SESSION FOCUSTEXT TRUTHJesus is alive.

BIBLE STORYLuke 23; 24:1-12

BIBLE VERSELuke 24:6a

CHRIST IN CONTEXTThe Book of Luke gives a detailed description of the life of Jesus. Luke showed that Jesus cares for people and understands when we face hard times.

BIBLE SKILLS • Associate God and Jesus with the Bible.• Point to the Bible and pictures of Jesus.

OFF TO A GREAT START! ▸▸ First impressions are important. Help each child and family feel special and welcomed at church.

▸▸ Greet each child individually and personally.

▸▸ Briefly mention to families and their preschooler an activity you have ready for children to enjoy at church.

TEXT CONNECTION

• God sent Jesus to the earth to be the ultimate sacrifice, giving people a renewed relationship with God. Jesus lived a perfect life, died the death we deserve, and rose again on the third day, forever atoning for sin and giving people a way to have a relationship with God.

• The religious leaders, still angry over Jesus’ reception, wanted to find a way to get rid of Him. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, agreed to betray Jesus.

• Jesus shared supper with His disciples and then retreated to a garden where He prayed to fulfill God’s will. Jesus was crucified on the cross and died.

• On either side of Jesus were criminals sentenced to the same fate. One criminal recognized Jesus’ true nature and joined Jesus in paradise.

• On the third day, women approaching the tomb found it to be empty. The women were confused until an angel approached and told them of Jesus’ glorious resurrection.

FAMILY AT HOMEPrint this week’s devotional page (Enhanced CD) to give to families.

EXPLORATIONS FOR BABIES• Search for the Bible• Ride in a Basket• Put Flowers in a Basket

EXPLORATIONS FOR TODDLERS• Sort Happy & Sad Pictures• Smell Herb Plants• Discover Jesus Pictures• Move & Stick Pom-poms

Session 8: The First Easter 63© 2018 LifeWay

BABIES EXPLORE THE BIBLE

BIBLE STORY NUGGETS• Friends were sad. Jesus was gone.• A man said to the friends, “Jesus is alive.”• This was good news!

BABIES EXPLORE THE BIBLEBabies are sensory learners, and they are relational. They learn best when teachers engage them through conversation and play. Prepare two or three activities for babies to enjoy as they explore the Bible.

SEARCH FOR THE BIBLETools: Bible, Diaper Bag Card, rolling toy, large towel or pillowcase

• Lay the Bible, Diaper Bag Card, and rolling toy on the floor. Cover the items with the towel.

• When a baby crawls toward the towel, ask: “What is under the towel? Can you find the Bible? Let’s look!”

• Guide the baby to pull the towel away from one item. If the item is the Bible, exclaim: “You searched and found the Bible. The Bible tells us about Jesus. Jesus is alive.”

• Help the baby discover other items. As he does, relate them to the Bible story. For example, show the picture on the Diaper Bag Card to review the story. Roll the toy and comment that the stone in front of the tomb was rolled away from the door.

RIDE IN A BASKETTools: Bible, shallow plastic clothes basket, Book: All About Jesus (Pack), horizontal wall-mounted mirror

• Place the Bible and book in the clothes basket. Seat a baby in the basket. Give her the book to hold.

TEXT TRUTHJesus is alive.

BIBLE STORYThe First EasterLuke 23; 24:1-12

BIBLE VERSE PARAPHRASE Jesus is alive.Luke 24:6a

PACK ITEMS 8 Story Picture: The First

Easter17 Book: All About Jesus

LEADER TIP!You may have visiting babies in your class today. Enlist an additional teacher to help babies have a happy time at church on Easter.


BABIES EXPLORE THE BIBLE

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR BABIES)

• Continue and repeat activities from the first hour. Babies

learn through repetition and practice.

• As you cuddle, rock, soothe, and tend to babies’ needs, talk

about the Bible. Say Bible words and phrases.

• Use the Bible with babies. Let them see, touch, and turn

Bible pages.

• Slowly push the basket around the room, keeping the baby steady. Smile and greet friends and teachers in the room.

• Stop the basket in front of the mirror. Say: “Look. I see my friend at church. I am happy you are here to learn about Jesus.”

• Picture-read the book to the baby. Say: “Jesus. We love Jesus. We are happy. Jesus is alive!”

PUT FLOWERS IN A BASKETTools: Bible, clean plastic or silk flowers, shallow basket, Story Picture: The First Easter (Pack), magazine picture of a flower garden

• Spread the flowers on the floor or play mat. Lay the Story Picture near the basket.

• Help a young baby pick up flowers and put them in the basket. While the baby uses his hands, show him the picture of the flower garden. Comment that women went to a garden to look for Jesus.

• Encourage a different baby to pour the flowers onto the floor, then move them back to the basket.

• Show the Story Picture to the baby and point to the women. Say: “The women were sad when they could not find Jesus. But the men said, ‘Jesus is alive! He is not here.’ ”

DON’T FORGET! Give every child this week’s Diaper Bag Card and Preschool Family Card.


TODDLERS EXPLORE THE BIBLE

TEXT TRUTH Jesus is alive.

BIBLE VERSE PARAPHRASEJesus is alive.Luke 24:6a

PACK ITEM 8 Story Picture: The First

Easter

CD ITEMSAllergy SignHappy/Sad PicturesJesus Pictures

LEADER TIP!Post the Allergy Sign (CD) to inform parents about the herb plants children will examine and smell today.

EXPLORATION STATIONS (45-60 MINUTES)

SORT HAPPY & SAD PICTURES

Tools: Bible, picture cutouts of happy and sad people (or use Happy/Sad Pictures,

CD), glue, paper plates, Story Picture: The First Easter (Pack)

• Draw a large happy face on a paper plate. Draw a sad face on a second

plate. Spread the picture cutouts on a table.

• Invite a toddler to look at pictures and decide which ones show happy

people and which show sad people. Direct the child to place the

pictures on the corresponding paper plates.

• Comment: “Jesus’ friends were sad that Jesus was no longer with

them. But then some angels said that Jesus was alive again. What

happy news! The women were happy!” Show the Story Picture.

THE FIRST EASTERLuke 23; 24:1-12

Two of Jesus’ friends were very sad. Jesus was not with them anymore.

The women decided to visit the garden where Jesus’ body had been placed. The women carried special spices with them.

When the women reached the garden, they saw something strange. The big rock in front of the tomb had been rolled away from the door.

Then the women saw two men (angels) standing near them. The women were afraid.

The men said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus, but He is not here. He is alive!”

EXPLORATION STATIONSToddlers are on the go and ready to learn. They learn best through playful exploration and discovery. Offer three or more multisensory activities to lead young preschoolers to discover and learn Bible truths.


TODDLERS EXPLORE THE BIBLE

DISCOVER JESUS PICTURES

Tools: Bible, baking pan with

1-inch sides, clean play sand or

cornmeal, Jesus Pictures (CD),

tape, Allergy Sign (CD)

• Tape the Jesus Pictures

in the bottom of the pan.

Pour a thin layer of sand or

cornmeal over the pictures.

• Direct a toddler to lightly

brush aside cornmeal to

find a picture.

• Describe what Jesus is

doing in the picture. Relate

the picture to people loving

Jesus and feeling sad when

He was no longer with

them.

• As other pictures are

revealed, talk more about

Jesus. Say: “Today is Easter.

We are happy and celebrate

that Jesus is alive.”

• Open the Bible to Luke

24:6a and read the Bible

verse to the toddler.

SMELL HERB PLANTS

Tools: Bible; starter plants of mint, basil, rosemary, lemon grass (or whatever herbs are available); Allergy Sign (Enhanced CD); baby oil; cotton balls

• Set the plants with the Bible on a table or tray. Identify the plants (spices) for the children.

• Fan or brush against a plant leaf with your hand. The aroma will fill the air. Ask a child: “Can you smell the mint? Can you smell the rosemary? These are the spice smells.”

• Remark: “Some women took spices to the garden tomb. They planned to rub the spices on Jesus’ body.”

• Open the bottle of baby oil and let the child sniff it. Ask the preschooler if he would like to rub a drop of oil on his arm or hand. If not, tell him he may rub it on your arm.

• Comment: “The women were happy to hear that Jesus was alive!”

MOVE & STICK POM-POMS

Tools: Bible, plastic ice cube tray, shallow bowl, colorful pom-poms, plastic tongs, clear contact plastic, paper with Bible verse written on it, tape

• Put the pom-poms in the bowl. Tape a long piece of plastic to the wall, sticky side out. Stick the Bible verse strip on the plastic.

• Show a toddler the pom-poms and name the colors. Interest the toddler in sorting colors into the ice cube tray.

• After a while, direct the child to use the tongs to lift pom-poms from the tray and stick them on the plastic. As he arranges the pom-poms on the plastic, read the Bible verse.

• Say: “Those words are in the Bible in the Book of Luke. Luke wrote about the first Easter when Jesus’ friends learned that He was alive.”


TODDLERSCIRCLE TIME

CIRCLE TIME TOOLS• Bibles• Enhanced CD• silk flowers, nonbreakable

vase

PACK ITEM 8 Story Picture: The First

Easter

LEADER TIP!Use the Bible. Open the Bible to the Scripture passage while you tell the story. That way toddlers will know the story comes from the Bible.

GATHER• Play the CD and walk around the

room. Give a single flower to each child to take to the Circle Time area.

• Ask children to stand in place at their chairs while the music plays. Sing along to the words of the song “I Was Glad . . .” (Track 6).

• Say: “I am glad you are at church today. We are learning about the first Easter.”

HEAR THE BIBLE STORY• Hold the vase and ask toddlers,

one by one, to place their flowers in the vase.

• Comment that flowers often grow in gardens. Jesus’ friends went to a garden.

• Open the Bible to Luke 24 and tell the Bible story in your own words.

• Show toddlers the Story Picture (Pack), pointing to the women who went to the garden.

• Pass the picture around the circle.

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS• Comment: “Easter is a special

time to remember Jesus and how much He loved His friends. Jesus loves all people.”

• Remind toddlers what the angels told Jesus’ friends: Jesus is alive!

• Say: “Let’s find those words in our Bible.”

• Distribute classroom and personal Bibles to pairs of children. Ask teachers to help toddlers find Luke 24:6a and point to the words of the Bible verse.

• Tell toddlers to stand and hold hands as they say: “Jesus is alive!”

PRAY• Ask toddlers for whom or what

they want you to pray. Pray aloud for the children in your room, asking God to help them remember Jesus.

• Invite willing toddlers to pray if they wish.

• Close by singing the song “I Was Glad . . . ”

CIRCLE TIME (2-5 MINUTES)

Your toddlers may be ready for a simple circle time. You decide when and how long to have a group experience.


TODDLERS NEXT HOUR

DON’T FORGET! • Make a final diaper check.• Put a Diaper Bag Card and

Preschool Family Card in each child’s bag.

• Release children to authorized adults.

CRINKLE & STUFF PAPER

Tools: Bible, colorful tissue paper, plastic clothes basket with open

spaces, Book: All About Jesus (Pack Item 17)

• Turn the basket upside down. Lay the Bible on top and scatter

the paper around the basket.

• Guide a toddler to stuff paper in the holes of the basket. After

filling in several spaces, suggest that he pause for a moment to

look at the book with you.

• Picture-read the book to the child. Comment that Jesus loves

people and wants them to know He is alive.

• Open the Bible to Luke 23 or 24 and find Jesus’ name on a page.

• Sing the song “Jesus Loves Me” as the child resumes stuffing

paper in the basket spaces.

NEXT HOUR (MORE EXPLORATIONS FOR TODDLERS)

OPTION 1 Continue activities from first hour. (Kids learn through repetition!)

OPTION 2 Try something different. Choose two or three new activities.

MAKE A JESUS PICTURE

Tools: Bible, white paper, colored office dot

stickers, marker, crayons, Diaper Bag Card

• Use the marker to write the letters J, E, S,

U, S on individual dot stickers. Make a set

of letters for each child.

• Give a child a paper and set of letter dots.

Encourage the child to place his stickers

anywhere on the paper. Say: “Those

letters spell Jesus’ name. We love Jesus.

We learn about Him from the Bible.”

Show the child Jesus’ name in the Bible.

• Offer crayons to the toddler to draw on

his Jesus paper.

• Show the child the Diaper Bag Card and

recall today’s Bible story.

PEEK AT A PICTURETools: Bible, Story Picture: The First Easter (Pack Item 8), small sticky notes

• Place sticky notes on parts of the Story Picture.

• A curious toddler will want to peek under the notes. As he pulls off the notes, talk about what is shown in that part of the picture.

• Ask the child to point to the women. Direct him to point to the angels. Ask: “What did the angels tell the women?”

• Help the preschooler recall the news “Jesus is alive.”

• Say: “We celebrate Jesus at Easter time. Jesus is alive!”

Look for printable Next Hour helps on the Preschool Enhanced CD.


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