FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 7

Early Childhood DEVOTIONS

Jesus Is … ALIVE!

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVOTIONS • Vol. 22 • No. 8 • April 2018 1

(The Road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13–33a)

Before You TeachEaster is the high delight of Christian teaching: Jesus died and rose to life. This makes all the difference for our lives on earth and our eternal life with God in heaven. The disciples on the road to Emmaus knew Jesus, but had yet to know the joy and the power of His resurrection. Easter put a smile on their faces, joy in their hearts and a whole new content to their story of faith. Let us lead our students to know and express their own Easter joy. We are resurrection people and “alleluia” is our song!

IT’S STILL ALL ABOUT JESUS FOCUS: WHO IS JESUS?

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Note: You will need the songbook: Little Ones Sing Praise (LOSP) ), copyright © 1989 Concordia Publishing House (CPH), St. Louis, Mo.

GreetingSet aside time to greet each child upon entry to the classroom. Good morning (afternoon), child of God! Today is an “ALLELUIA” day!

GatheringGather children in the worship area, following your usual routine. Teach this chant, with children repeating each line after you: We can sing and clap our hands! (rhythmic claps 1, 2 … 1, 2, 3) Jesus is alive! Jesus died and rose for YOU! (rhythmic claps 1, 2 … 1, 2, 3) Jesus is alive! Let us all together shout! (rhythmic claps 1, 2 … 1, 2, 3) Jesus is alive! Sing: “I Have the Joy” (LOSP, P. 62).

Tell the StoryYou will need: construction paper circles (one per child) with a happy face drawn on one side and a sad face on the opposite side. Distribute circles to children, guiding each to show a happy or sad face as indicated.On that first Easter, when the disciples learned that the place where Jesus had been buried was empty, they did not believe it (sad face). Even the disciple Peter, who had seen

PHOTOS: ISTOCK/CHRISTOPHER FUTCHER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; LIGHTSTOCK

Vol. 22 • No. 8 • April 2018

Early Childhood Devotions Early Childhood Devotions is an LCMS School Ministry newsletter Published by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295314-965-9000 • lcms.org Writer: Dr. Judith Christian Designer: Erica Schwan

ILLUSTRATION: LIGHTSTOCK

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.© 2018 LCMS

TO REPRINT: Permission is granted to reprint articles from this newsletter with the credit line “Reprinted with permission of LCMS School Ministry.”

Jesus’ empty tomb, wondered to himself what had really happened (sad face). On that same day two disciples were talking about everything that had happened while walking to a village called Emmaus (sad face). Jesus (happy face) joined them, but they did not know who He was. Jesus asked, “What are you talking about?” Shaking their heads sadly (sad face), one of the men asked, “Are you a visitor, that you don’t know the things that have happened?” The stranger (happy face) asked, “What things?” The men explained, “Jesus of Nazareth was crucified (sad face)! It is now the third day since this happened. Some friends went to the tomb this morning and didn’t find His body (sad face). Instead they were met by an angel who told them, ‘Jesus is alive!’ Then some of Jesus’ disciples went to the see for themselves. They found the tomb empty and did not see Jesus (sad face).” Nearing the village where the men were going, Jesus acted as if He was going farther. The men said, “Stay with us, for it is almost night.” So Jesus stayed with them. When they sat down to eat, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it. As He began to break the bread, the men suddenly recognized Him (happy face)! Jesus then disappeared from their sight. The men immediately stood up and walked all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples, “It is true! The Lord has risen (happy face)!” Jesus is alive! Alleluia!

PRAY TOGETHER: Children repeat each line spoken by the leader.Dear Jesus, You have arisen;Sins are forgiven.It’s a new day;Allelu! Hurray!

Remember the StoryBIBLE WORDS TO REMEMBER

PRE-K & K: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25a).

GRADES 1 & 2: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

ActivitiesCREATE: Dot-to-Dot Mural. Cut and title a length of butcher paper: “The Road to Emmaus.” Label one end “Jerusalem” and the other “Emmaus.” Hang at children’s eye level. Give sticker dots to each child. Have them take turns placing dots all over the paper. Two or three children at a time then draw lines connecting some dots. Review the biblical narrative as children work. Continue until all children have had a turn and all dots are connected. Add more dots as needed.

SING: “Jesus Came from Heaven” (LOSP, P. 92); “Christ the Lord is Risen Today; Alleluia” (LOSP, P. 95).

DO: Two disciples walking to Emmaus invited Jesus to eat dinner with them. Invite children to imagine eating dinner with Jesus. What would they do … eat … talk about? Write their responses (older children may write their own) for inclusion in a class book titled, “If I Had Dinner with Jesus ….”

SendingGather children in the “Sending Circle.” Children join hands and pass a “Jesus loves you” hand hug (one child starts by gently squeezing the hand of the next child, who then gently squeezes the hand of the next child, until the circle is completed). Conclude by saying,

“Jesus died; He is alive! Alleluia!”