Preparing for Easter Sunday with Your Family

Next week is such an important week for Christians around the world.  It is the week that followers of Christ will be focused on the last week of Jesus’ life and all that took place leading up to His crucifixion on Friday.  And then comes Resurrection Sunday!  The grief of the cross will give way to the sound of praise and worship as Christians celebrate our risen Savior!

Whatever is going on in your life, carve out the time to focus on this week. Go ahead and get the time blocked off on your calendar. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to think about exactly how to lead your family through this important time, so here are a few ideas to consider as you set aside time to prepare for Resurrection Sunday:

Whatever is going on in your life, carve out time to focus on preparing for Easter Sunday with your family: Click To Tweet

4 Ways to Prepare for Resurrection Sunday 

1. Share your story of coming to faith in Christ with your spouse, children, coworkers, and/or a dear friend.
   It is good to remember and to share our personal story of faith with others.  Who shared Christ with you?  When did you embrace Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?  How have you grown in your faith?  Share your story this week. It will be good for you to remember and it will mean so much to those you share it with.

2. Focused scripture reading from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The She Reads Truth and He Reads Truth ministries have excellent devotional series focusing on the season of Lent as we prepare for the Messiah’s sacrifice. You could also start with Matthew 21 and end with Matthew 28. Journal your insights as you remember the journey of Jesus to the cross. And get up early Easter Sunday and read Matthew 28 that tells of the empty tomb and declares “He is not here!  For He has been resurrected, just as He said.”

3. Attend a Good Friday Service.
   Your church or another church in your area will have a special service with other believers to remember Jesus’ death. Many churches will take communion together during this focused time of remembering. It is a beautiful time to come together as the body of Christ, the church, in worship and focus on the price paid for our sins and for our redemption.

4. Do an outreach event for the children in your neighborhood.
   This week is a great time to do an outreach event for families and children. We did this often with the families in our neighborhood with light refreshments and an Easter egg hunt. It also provides you an opportunity to invite people to join you for Easter services at your church. Unchurched people seem open to attending church during this season.

Additionally, below you’ll find some great resources to help you share with your children about Christ’s death and resurrection:

1. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones: Kids of all ages will love this storybook Bible and you could use this sample Easter week schedule of readings to prepare your hearts.
2. Resurrection Eggs: Share the Easter story with your kids through these colorful Easter eggs. Each contains a 3D symbol that represents a piece of Christ’s life.
3. The Story of King Jesus by Ben Irwin: This richly illustrated book continues to tell the story – from the creation of the world to Jesus’ victory over death. The Story of King Jesus is the gospel told in a single story – a story meant to be read from start to finish in one sitting.
4. The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale by Angela Elwell Hunt  Three trees growing on a hilltop dream of grand futures, but when they’re claimed by woodcutters, other things happen. One becomes a manger that holds the Christ child, another a humble fishing boat that carries Jesus and his followers, and the third is cut into stout timbers that become Jesus’ cross.
5. The Big Picture Interactive Bible: This storybook Bible  is a must-see interactive storybook featuring 145 Bible stories, four-color illustrations, and a remarkable app that brings the artwork and stories to life in 3D as well as audibly.

Here are ideas and resources to help prepare your hearts to experience the Savior in a fresh new way: Click To Tweet

I pray that these ideas and resources will help prepare your hearts and your families to experience the Savior in a fresh, new way this Easter season.

Blessings,