This coming Easter, we have a great opportunity to share the Gospel with our families. Along with getting to your local church and hearing the message of Jesus, we as parents have a special opportunity to speak to our children about Jesus and what His life means for us. I have three easy ways to help you think about how you might share the story with them.
1. Get on their level
Knowing where our children are at in terms of their development and what appeals to them is key to sharing the Gospel with them. When sharing the Gospel, we can pitch the story to their level and help them to understand the concepts, while also appealing to their interests. Here are some tips on how to help them engage with the story:
- Use child-friendly resources. There are many versions of the Easter story designed to help children understand.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about the harder points of the story. The beating, crucifixion and death of Jesus are topics we sometimes avoid when it comes to the Easter story. If appropriate, try talking with your older children about these parts of the story. The weight of Jesus’ mighty resurrection is contrasted against the death he took for us. With these details, His resurrection while no less miraculous makes a greater impact for why it is relevant to us today.
- Get active. The internet has a bunch of great activities that help give you a platform to talk about the Easter story. A fond memory of my own is making Easter Tomb Biscuits with my mum. You can find the recipe and instructions here.
2. Make it personal
As parents, we are setting the tone in our family. For our kids to care about Jesus and Easter, their attitude will reflect the attitudes we set towards the story itself. I know for myself the Easter story is a particularly emotional one because of how I witnessed my parents engage with the truths of the story. I encourage you to share with your kids what Easter means to you, and help your kids understand why the story is relevant to you and them.
3. Give an opportunity for response
The best way to help make the Easter story relevant to your kids is to allow them to engage with the story and ask questions. Be sure to brush up on your answers to the harder questions surrounding the story. Here are some key points to the story to help you work through the theology and message of the story:
- God created and rules the world from the beginning. Genesis 1:1
- We sinned and deserved death, but God’s plan from the beginning was to save us. Romans 3:23
- God sent Jesus as our Saviour and we don’t earn salvation. John 3:16
- Jesus gave His life in the place of our own. The death on the cross was ours; he was innocent and took it for us to show us His love. Romans 5:8
- In response, we have the opportunity to accept Jesus as our Saviour and king. We repent and turn to Him for salvation. John 14:6
Give your child the opportunity to give their lives to Jesus. If your child hears the story and desires to give their heart to Jesus, help lead them in a prayer repenting of their sin and accepting Jesus as their Saviour:
“Dear Lord, I thank you for Jesus and His sacrifice for me on the cross. I’m sorry for all the bad things I’ve done and I turn to you for help. I believe in you Jesus and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Amen.”
Whatever your plans are for Easter, I encourage you to take the opportunity to share the wonderful good news with your kids. I pray that these tools might help you reach your kids in a new way this Easter.
God bless,
Mark Fulwood
Primary Chaplain
