Large Group Instructions
Engage 2 Prep: This engage uses the Bible coloring book illusion. If you don’t have or can’t access this illusion, then you utilize another simple illustration. Paint a real or plastic Easter Egg black. That represents no hope. Paint another red to represent Jesus’ love for us and what He came to do at Easter. For the last Easter Egg, paint it yellow to represent how Jesus came back to life and we will one day live forever with Him. If you are doing this with a small group or classroom, you can even dye the eggs as part of the activity.
Engage 3 Prep: You can purchase the One Ear, Two Ears game from crowdcontrolgames.com. If you can’t access the game, then you can play a version where the Co-Host or Host chooses to hold up one arm, two arms, or no arms after all of the kids have made their choice. He or she can be blindfolded or turn around while the kids make their choice.
Host and Co-Host enter dressed in overalls.
Host
Happy Easter! I’m so glad that you are here on this very special day.
Co-Host
Boys and girls, let’s play a guessing game. I’ll pretend to be something. Can you guess what I am?
Co-Host puts on the bunny ears, hops around, and places the giant Easter eggs on the ground. Try to use the same color for each egg.
Host
What do you think? Could our friend be a dog? What about a turtle? What is he/she? (Pause) Of course, our friend is pretending to be the Easter Bunny. How many of you like to hunt Easter eggs on Easter?
Co-Host
I do! Did you know that we get to hunt Easter eggs today? That’s why we’re all here to celebrate! Shout, “Hooray!”
Host
Boys and girls, hold up your hand and say, “Stop!” That’s not why we are here to celebrate. Hunting eggs will be lots of fun, but we’re here to celebrate Jesus and what He did for us on Easter.
Co-Host
That does sound exciting. I’m glad we can talk about Jesus. Is it okay if we play a fun Easter egg game? I’m going to put something fun (candy, toy, etc.) inside one of these eggs. Then I’ll mix up all the eggs and see if you can remember which one has the fun item.
Play the game. The Host and Co-Host should jumble the eggs together to move them as fast as possible. Play more than one round if time permits.
Host
That was a fun game. Just like that egg had a fun surprise, Easter has something good for all of us, too. Let’s stand and sing a worship song to Jesus.
Before the Engage, dress your child volunteers in the superhero cape and mask.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s find out the surprise of Easter as we practice our Big Point. If anyone asks you what you learned in church, you can sing the Big Point for them.
Co-Host
Everyone, stand up so we can practice it together,
Co-Host
Easter Is Good News!
Host
Let’s talk about why Easter is such good news for all of us. We’ve chosen some friends to help us on stage. Can you guess what each one is dressed like?
Co-Host
That’s right; they’re dressed like superheroes. Who’s your favorite superhero? (Pause) Let’s pretend that this superhero (Point to the first child volunteer) can fly. Everyone, stand up, and let’s pretend to fly!
Hold out your arms and pretend to fly.
Host
That’s a fun superpower. You can sit down. Do you ever make a wrong choice, like disobeying your mommy or daddy, snatching away a toy from someone else, or pinching someone because you were mad? We all make wrong choices sometimes. Can a superhero help you make wise choices? (Pause) No, a superhero can’t do that.
Co-Host
But Jesus can! He died on the cross and came back to life at Easter so that He could change our hearts and help us make right choices.
Host
This superhero (Indicate the second child volunteer) can run fast. Let’s stand up and run in place really fast. (Run in place) You can sit down. Can a superhero help someone come back to life after they die? (Pause) No, he/she can’t.
Co-Host
But Jesus can! He died on the cross and came back to life at Easter. That gives Jesus the power to help us live with God forever and ever. As Jesus’ friends and followers, we will come back to life like Jesus did.
Host
That’s why Easter is good news for all of us. Jesus came to help us, and He did something only Jesus could do. He died for us and came back to life. Now Jesus can help everyone. Let’s stand and say our Big Point again,
Host
Easter Is Good News!
This Engage uses the Bible coloring book illusion. If you don’t have or can’t access this illusion, then you utilize another simple illustration. Paint a real or plastic Easter Egg black. That represents no hope. Paint another red to represent Jesus’ love for us and what He came to do at Easter. For the last Easter Egg, paint it yellow to represent how Jesus came back to life and we will one day live forever with Him. If you are doing this with a small group or classroom, you can even dye the eggs as part of the activity.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Let’s say the Big Point again,
Host
Easter Is Good News!
Co-Host
The Bible tells us why Easter is good news. Our Big Verse from the Bible is
Co-Host
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIrV). It says, “He gives us the victory.”
Host
Victory means we won. Before Jesus came to live on Earth, it seemed like our enemy was winning. He was really strong, and he caused all kinds of problems. He wanted people to be mean to each other, he caused bad things to happen, and he wanted no one to worship God. He liked being a bully. Do you think our enemy is good? Let’s give him a thumbs down.
Co-Host
Before Jesus, many people had no hope that things could be better.
Host
It was like this coloring book. See all of the blank pages? (Thumb through the Bible coloring book’s blank pages) It doesn’t look like a fun coloring book. It’s just empty.
Co-Host
But God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to help us. Jesus lived on earth (Thumb through the Bible coloring pages with the uncolored drawings) and did lots of things to teach us about God’s big plan. He healed people who were sick and was very kind.
Host
One day Jesus died on the cross, and then, three days later, on Easter morning, He came back to life. The new body Jesus had was a real body that could walk and talk and eat.
Co-Host
Jesus came back to life to defeat our enemy. Jesus is way stronger and much more powerful than our enemy. When we become Jesus’ followers, He makes our lives better than ever. (Thumb through the colored drawings)
Host
I’m so glad that Jesus is the winner. He won the victory at Easter. Let’s turn on our listening ears and listen to the true Easter story.
Let’s take a moment to thank Jesus for helping us at Easter. Bow your head and close your eyes. “Dear Jesus, thank You for being the winner. We’re so glad that You came back to life so that we can live like You and with You forever. Amen.”
You can purchase the One Ear, Two Ears game from crowdcontrolgames.com. If you can’t access the game, then you can play a version where the Co-Host or Host chooses to hold up one arm, two arms, or no arms after all of the kids have made their choice. He or she can be blindfolded or turn around while the kids make their choice.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Did you find lots of Easter eggs? I’m so glad that you had a fun hunt.
Host
The best part part of Easter Sunday is knowing what Jesus did to help us. Let’s all practice our Big Point again,
Host
Easter Is Good News!
Co-Host
Jesus died and came back to life so we can become part of God’s family and live forever with Jesus.
Host
You can tell your family about Jesus when you do the Big Do this week.
Host
Sit down and count as many of your Easter eggs as you can. Then see if you can think of the many ways that Jesus has helped us.
Co-Host
Let’s do a fun game together. We’re going to show you some pictures. Wait for the pictures to stop, and then copy what you see. If you see one ear, hold one arm up by your head. If you see two ears, hold both arms up. If you see no ears, keep both arms by your side.
Play several rounds of the game.
Host
Let’s say our Big Point once more,
Host
Easter Is Good News!
Did our Big Point say Easter Is Bad News or Easter Is Good News?
Make pinching fingers. Is it kind to pinch someone when you’re mad? No. Make an angry face and say, “No!” Is it a good choice to disobey your mommy or daddy? No. Who came to help us make right choices and have a wonderful life? Jesus Can Jesus help us make wise choices? Yes
Let’s pretend to run a race. Move your arms really fast like we’re running. Are you going fast? Hold your arms up like you won the race and say, “hooray!” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIrV), “He gives us the (Loss / Victory).”
In our Big Story, what happened to Jesus after He died and was buried? Jesus came back to life Was Jesus really alive? Could He walk and talk? Yes Can we live like Jesus and live forever with Him? Yes
What is the Big Do? Sit down and count as many of your Easter eggs as you can. Then see if you can think of the many ways that Jesus has helped us.