It seems easy to think of cute little projects with bunnies, chicks, and eggs (nothing wrong with these - they are fun!). Coming up with appropriate things to do to celebrate and symbolize the true meanings of Good Friday and Easter feel a little more difficult. Here is a simple little project I did with our 3 year old Sunday school class (we're learning about the time of Moses) and then again today with our kids. In writing what to discuss and possible verses to study, I will barely scratch the surface. Keep digging and answer all those 1,273 questions your kids ask! Don't let the big truths of Scripture intimidate you from sharing with even the youngest ones! You are planting seeds - and I have a sneaking suspicion they understand and remember more than we know. :)
1. Read (and summarize for shorter attention spans!) Exodus 25 - 30.
2. Discuss how the veil separated the two rooms of the tabernacle and the people were separated from the Ark of the Covenant (the presence of holy God). This is a picture of the way man's sin separates man from God (to expand: Genesis 1-3; Romans 3:23, 5:18-19, 6:23).
3. Make a very simplified :) little Ark of the Covenant and veil (we just used construction paper, popsicle sticks, paper napkins, glitter and glue).
4. Remind your children (and yourself!) that from the beginning God had a plan to restore right relationship with his children.
5. On Good Friday read one of the Gospel accounts (Matthew 26 - 27:61; Mark 14 - 15; Luke 22 - 23; John 18 - 19) of the betrayal of Jesus and his death on a cross. When you read about his death and the veil being torn in the temple (this detail is in Matt., Mark, and Luke), let your kids rip their napkin veil in half. {Our kids - especially Eli! - are in to destruction...I suspect this is going to be a hit :) } Jesus is the way to relationship with the Father!
6. On Easter celebrate the resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 27:62 - 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20 - 21) and what this means for those who believe in him (check back to those Romans verses :) ) - eternal life in the presence of God!
***Update :) The kids all asked this morning, "Can we rip the veils?!? Is it Good Friday?!?" Love how a simple illustration gets them so excited. Also, yes, the Exodus story is about the tabernacle and at the time of Christ it was the veil in the temple which was torn. I had just already done the "homework" on reading about the tabernacle recently, and decided the picture was the same, so we went with it. :)
1 comment:
love love love this <3 and to think of how the Lord uses our time with our children to "remind" us of how important the basics are! Praising God the veil was torn!
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