This family activity that highlights the TRUE meaning of Easter.
Things you’ll need: A few long boards (ex. 2″ x 4″), nails, and a hammer, pieces of craft or notebook paper, pencils or crayons, and a Bible
Faith Talk:
- As a family construct a wooden cross by attaching the boards to each other using hammer and nails.
- Discuss some things God asks us to do in obedience. (e.g. love our enemy; obey our parents; be kind to one another)
- Discuss the word sin using the definition, “anything we do that disobeys God.” (ex. not including the new kid at school, having a bad attitude, responding in anger)
- Who has sinned? Read Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
- Take a piece of paper and write some sins that you have committed, such as lying, not finishing a chore, stealing, saying bad words, etc. Use one piece of paper for each sin. Younger children can draw a picture of a mean face, hitting another person, etc.
- Invite an older child or parent to read Romans 6:23 and John 3:16 aloud.
- Next, each person should nail or staple their sins (as recorded on the papers) to the cross to symbolize what happened when Jesus died.
- Discuss God’s gift of forgiveness. Why did He die for us? (Love) Read 1 John 1:9. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”
- Discuss some of the sins nailed to your cross. How many sins did Jesus die for? Did Jesus only die for your family’s sins? Lay hands on the cross and say a prayer of thanksgiving for what Jesus did on Good Friday.
- Recite this jingle–”Jesus took my sins away, on the cross that Good Friday.” We couldn’t celebrate Easter on Sunday if Jesus hadn’t died on the cross on Friday. Spend time thanking God for His gift of salvation. Why is Good Friday good for you? Share this story with someone today.