FAITH QUEST

Resurrection

CREATION STATION

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-18

Key Scripture Verses: Matthew 28:5-6a The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus who was nailed to the cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would.” (Contemporary English Version)

Memory Verse:

“Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.” Matthew 28:19-20 (CEV)

Concepts:

· God raised Jesus from the dead.

· Disciples believe that Jesus was crucified and then raised from the dead.

Objectives:

1. Learn that Jesus rose from the dead (this is the Easter story). God sent an angel to open the tomb, not to let Jesus out but to show that the tomb was empty.

2. Understand that Jesus’ resurrection means that although he died on the cross, he now has new life, bringing hope, love and joy to people who believe.

3. Know that the disciples had mixed feelings about Jesus resurrection. They were frightened, doubtful, excited and worshipful. They followed his instructions and as he foretold found him in Galilee.

4. Children will use oil pastels to create a picture of the events at the empty tomb, the women discovering the news, or the disciples meeting Jesus in Galilee.

Procedure:

Welcome and Introductions:

1. Welcome the children and introduce yourself. Wear your nametag.

2. Start the “lesson time” with prayer. Ask for volunteers, but plan on praying yourself. A short prayer thanking Jesus for being a part of our lives always would be appropriate.

Bible Story:

1. This is the Easter Story. Jesus resurrection proved that he was the Son of God. Holy week had just ended. Jesus had been betrayed, put on trial before the Roman rulers, crucified on the cross, died and was placed in a tomb carved out of rock. The entrance to the tomb was sealed tight with an enormous rock and soldiers were posted to guard the tomb to be sure that no one entered and took Jesus’ body away.

2. It was the third day after the crucifixion. Early that Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and another woman went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and God sent an angel down from heaven. The angel rolled away the heavy stone and sat on it. He looked as bright as lightening and his clothes were white as snow. The soldiers guarding the tomb shook with fear and fell down on the ground. The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to the cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying.” Indeed, the tomb was empty!

3. Then the angel said “Hurry, tell the disciples that Jesus has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.” The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went up to him, touched his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.” When Jesus was at the Last Supper (Passover) he had told his disciples, “After I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you” (Matt. 26:32). Now the women went to tell the disciples the same thing.

4. Jesus’ eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee as Jesus had instructed. They saw Jesus and worshiped him. At first, some disciples found it hard to believe that he was really there. Jesus came to them and said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

5. Take a minute to talk to the children about the creation they are going to be doing in this workshop. Tell them that they will be using oil pastels to illustrate one of the stories in paragraphs 2, 3 or 4 (above).

Application:

1. Create! Have the children listen to the Bible story (1-4 above) and with their eyes closed, visualize the three different scenes. They probably know that Jesus, his disciples and the women wore long robes. Jesus is usually shown wearing white and the story says that the angel wore white. Show them a picture of a Roman soldier/guard in uniform but do not leave it out for them to copy.

2. Tell them to choose one scene and depict it in a glowing picture done in oil pastels. These were special events and the joyous brightness of Christ’s resurrection should shine in their art.

3. Steps: Pass out sheets of 8 x 10 pastel paper. Each child should print his or her name in pencil on the back. Sharing sets of oil pastels, they should work on their creation. The pastel results are best when large areas are done in shapes of one color. When almost complete, areas can be highlighted (brightened) with regular pastels.

4. Clean up! Involve everyone in cleaning up so that you will have time to share together in the closing.

Reflection Time:

1. Ask the shepherds to pass out Journals and pencils/markers. The children should spend a few minutes reflecting upon the morning's lesson – Who was at the tomb? What happened? Who did Jesus appear to? What did he tell them?

2. Ask the kids to close their journals and prepare for the closing prayer.

Closing:

1. Encourage the children to think about what resurrection means.

2. Tell them that their Pennies will be given to the Pentecost Offering to help the youth and young adult ministries.

3. Say the Key Memory Verse together (see above). You may want to have this verse printed on a banner and hung in the room, write it on the white board in the room, or have it on slips of paper that each child can take home.

4. Pray! Ask the children if they have any prayer requests. Thank God for giving us his Son Jesus to be with us always.

Teacher preparation in advance:

1. Read the scripture passage and attend the Faith Quest Leaders Workshop.

2. Prepare an opening prayer in case nobody volunteers to pray.

3. Check the art room to see what supplies exist. Make a sample of pastel blending – not an interpretation of the scene.

4. Prepare all the materials you will need for the creation process. Have the materials ready to go. There will be limited time for the creation process, so do everything you can to conserve time.

5. Decide how you want to close the lesson. Prepare a prayer or use one of the group suggestions.

Materials:

Oil Pastels

Pastels

8” X 10” pastel paper

Illustration of a Roman guard