Bible Study: 5 Stories Until Easter

We have 5 Sundays until Easter Sunday, and so, I need 5 stories for Sunday School/AWANA.  I figure I may as well plan this out in the open — maybe someone else will need some story ideas, too.

Easter is an important time for me.  It is a great time to worship God in reflecting on what He has done for us.  At the same time, it is a great way to communicate the salvation plan to the kids.  It was in preparing for Easter story lessons two years ago that my oldest son opened his heart to God and put his faith in Jesus.

February 26th: Demoniac of Gadara

The element of the pigs just makes this a fun story.  At the same time, the story is a stern warning that the demonic world is nothing to play with.  Satan is real, and is a lion waiting to devour.

Bible Location: Mt 8.28-34, Mk 5:1-20, Lk 8:26-39

Key Verse: I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

March 4th: Raising of Lazarus

A couple weeks ago, we talked about how Jesus could control His creation and stop the wind and the waves.  This story brings it to an even more personal or human level — Jesus controls our life and death.  This story is filled with emotion and potentially funny moments as we have to figure out how to get the burial wrapping off.

Bible Location: Jn 11

March 11th: Triumphal Entry

I think this is a good one to act out.  The kids would enjoy acting out welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem and learning how the Jews “rolled out the red carpet”.  I am realizing, too, that the story of Jesus driving out the money changers comes directly after.  That might be worth including in this story as well.

Bible Location: Mk 11:1-11, Mt 21:1-11, Lk 19:28-44

March 18th: Malchus Ear

This is a fun story.  Of course, Malchus probably didn’t think so at first, but I don’t have to get too gory.  I love hearing the kids laugh, and the idea of an ear sitting on someone’s shoulder leaves plenty of room for that.  Plus, this is a good opportunity to teach the kids the concept of loving your enemy.

Bible Location: Lk 22:45-53

March 25th: Crucifixion Story

Good Friday is the next Friday.  This is the perfect Sunday to talk about Jesus dying on the cross.  Of course, the emphasis for the story is that our sin must be punished, and Jesus took that punishment for us.  Now, if we put our trust in Jesus, our sin no longer needs punishing, thus allowing us to spend eternity in heaven.

Bible Location: Mt 27, Lk 23, Mk 15, Jn 19

April 8th: Easter!  Resurrection Sunday

I have two different illustrations that I enjoy.  Everyone seems to do the Easter eggs with the different parts of the crucifixion and Resurrection story.  Even so, I can have the kids tell the story since they usually can’t wait to say “I’ve heard this before”.  The best one I enjoy is the drawing of an Easter bunny that you can rotate sideways and turn into an open tomb scene.