Ideas for Family Discipleship Times
during Easter Week
Palm Sunday
Read Mark 11:1-11 together.
Make Palm-Leaf Cookies.
Cut frozen cookie dough into 2 x ½ inch strips.
Place aluminum foil on a cookie sheet and spray it with nonstick cooking spray.
Roll the cookie strips and shape them into an outline of a palm leaf on the foil.
Close all edges in the outline.
Crush green candies in a bag with a hammer and sprinkle the candies to fill in the cookie center.
Bake at 375 degrees for about eight minutes.
With preschoolers: Review the Bible story and why people were waving palm branches.
With older children: Discuss the contrast between the sweetness of the cookies with the harshness of breaking the
candies with a hammer. Tell your children that this was a sweet day for Jesus, but he knew
that soon he would die for our sins.
Read Luke 19:28-40 together.
Have family members each share their favorite way to celebrate a special occasion or event. It might be a party,
family time, or going to a favorite restaurant. talk about how your family will celebrate Easter this week. Tell your
kids that because of Easter, we have a reason to celebrate every day.
Find a large branch that can be used to make an Easter Tree of Promises. Search the Bible for Scripture about God’s
promises. Then cut out egg shapes and write God’s promises on the eggs to hang on your Easter Tree of Promises.
Construct a Centerpiece to use in your family times this week by putting 3 white candles and a purple candle into
floral foam in a 6 inch clay pot. It can be decorated however you like.
Light the three white candles in your centerpiece. Read Luke 19:28-48 together.
Review the story as you explain why today is called Palm Sunday. Discuss the fact that some people were very happy
about Jesus coming, but others weren’t. Discuss times when any of you have been excited about something that
others weren’t excited about. Talk about how that feels. Ask family members how they would show excitement if
they knew Jesus was coming.
Make a bed of praises for the Centerpiece. Decorate smooth rocks with symbols and words of praise. Place the
rocks around the centerpiece. Explain that all the white candles in the centerpiece are lit because Jesus had helped
people all over Israel for three years. As you extinguish one candle explain that the same day Jesus entered
Jerusalem with celebration a group of Jewish leaders began planning to have Jesus killed. Close in prayer by praising
God for all He’s done for us.
Read Mark 11:15-18 together.
Monday
Tell your children that the area of the temple that Jesus was in was the place non-Jews could come to pray, but it had
become a dirty, noisy, unworshipful place. together, decorate a worshipful space in your home for Easter Week.
Include a Bible, candles, and an area to display the items you’ll use this week. You can review these items at the
beginning of each devotion.
Read Mark 11:19 together.
Have family members each share their favorite things about going to worship at church. If applicable, parents can
share a favorite memory of going to church as a child. Talk about other places you go where you feel welcomed and
special. Brainstorm how your family can help others feel welcome in your home, in the community, and at church.
Talk about ways your family can make others feel welcome at church. Make plans for how you can do this on Easter
Sunday.
Read Mark 14:3-9 together.
Tuesday
Discuss how the woman gave Jesus a gift that was very precious. Explain that we can give gifts that come from our
heart, too. Encourage each child to share something he or she can do to honor Jesus. (For extra reinforcement of
the Bible passage, you can spray perfume in the air or decorate a piece of paper to wrap around a perfume bottle to
display as a reminder throughout the week.)
Read Mark 12:41-44 together.
Have family members each share about a time they’ve given up something. Discuss how it made them feel and if it
was easy or difficult. Discuss the sacrifice Jesus made for everyone and what kind of difference it’s made in your
lives.
Discuss the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified. Take frozen bread dough and twist it into a braid
and then into a circle. After it’s raised, have your children poke toothpicks into the bread to represent thorns. Bake
the bread. Place the bread on your dining table for the remainder of the week. (As extra reinforcement, when
someone in your family observes another family member showing mercy or kindness to another, that person call pull
a thorn out of the bread crown and place it in a jar or a basket. Then during your Easter Sunday meal, share all of
the ways that each person observed others lightening another’s burden, and review Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
Wednesday
Read Matthew 26:14-16 together.
Tell kids that Judas betrayed Jesus for about 120 days wages. Let the kids count out 30 dimes and place them at your
family worship space as a reminder for the remainder of the week. Ask them if Jesus’ life on earth was woth more
than 30 pieces and to explain why they think that. Discuss that the value of Jesus’ life is to your family.
Read Mark 14:3-9 together.
Have family members each tell about a time they did something kind for someone else. Discuss how that kindness
encouraged the person. Think of ways your family can show kindness to someone this week.
Thursday
Read John 13:1-5 together.
Discuss how Jesus washing the disciples feet to showed His love. Take turns washing each other’s hands and drying
them as you express love for one another. (You can display the soap that you used in your family’s worship space as
a reminder for the week.)
Read Mark 14:12-25 together.
Talk about your best friend as a child and then have family members share about their best friends. Talk about the
qualities of a good friend. Ask if there are sacrifices they would make for a friend. Discuss ways each family member
can show friends that they are important to them this week.
Construct a Centerpiece to use in your family times this week by putting 3 white candles and a purple candle into
floral foam in a 6 inch clay pot. It can be decorated however you like.
Light two white candles in your centerpiece.
Explain that the Bible tells us that in one day Jesus gave to His disciples and all of us to remember Him during the
Lord’s Supper, how He washed His disciples’ feet, celebrated Passover, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, was
betrayed by Judas, was denied by Peter, and was taken before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, for trial. (That was
a lot for one day!) Ask family members to think about each thing Jesus did that might have been difficult as you read
Luke 22:7-62 together.
After reading, ask family members to share what they think the most difficult thing Jesus did was and what they
think would be the most difficult thing for them to do. Discuss why Jesus endured those things when he didn’t have
to. Remind family members that just like Jesus asked God for help they can ask God for help during difficult times
too.
Remind everyone that the unlit white candle is a reminder of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and how that same day
a group of Jewish leaders planned to have him killed. As you extinguish another white candle explain that it
represents Jesus being betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and arrested by the people who wanted to kill Him. Close
in prayer by thanking Jesus for loving us so much that He endured difficult things for us.
Read Mark 15:21-39 together.
Good Friday
Give each family member two carpenter’s nails. Help children lay their nails across each other like a cross. Then
start wrapping light gauge wire around the point where the nails intersect to bind the nails into a cross. Crisscross
the wire in the center. Help kids to recall an event of the Crucifixion with each wrap. Wrap more wire around the
top and make a loop to hold a shoelace.
Read Mark 15:33-41 together.
Talk about a time you admitted a sin to a friend. Explain what happened because of your confession. Ask family
members to share a similar story. Encourage each other to admit your sins to Jesus daily and ask for forgiveness.
As a reminder of Jesus’ suffering on the cross, give each family member a small pebble to place in their shoe for the
day. It’ll be uncomfortable but not unbearable. Then at dinner, talk about how it felt to carry that burden all day
and what Jesus’ suffering means to you.
Construct a Centerpiece to use in your family times this week by putting 3 white candles and a purple candle into
floral foam in a 6 inch clay pot. It can be decorated however you like.
Light one white candle in your centerpiece. Read Luke 22:66-23:56 together.
Explain that the Friday before Easter is called “Good Friday.” Discuss how the name does not seem to fit the account
in Scripture. It is good because when Jesus died for us, He saved us from our sins and allowed us to have a close
relationship with God. Still, this good outcome had a terrible price--Jesus’ life. Review the Bible passage and explain
that Jesus was the final sacrifice for our sins.
Have your family write sins they’ve committed on the slips of paper. Then place the slips inside the plastic eggs. Lay
the eggs around the base of the Centerpiece. Remind everyone about the two unlit candles and how
they represent Jesus entry into Jerusalem on the same day some Jewish leaders began planning to
have Him killed, and how Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Him, and He was arrested. As you
extinguish the third white candle explain that this candle reminds us that Jesus had been placed in a
tomb after He died for our sins. Blow out the candle and close in prayer by acknowledging Good
Friday as a sad day, but also one filled with anticipation of Jesus’ resurrection. Thank God for the
hope His son Jesus brought into the world.
Read Mark 15:42-47 together.
Saturday
Take turns wrapping each other in toilet paper just as Jesus may’ve looked when prepared for burial. Talk about how
the disciples might’ve felt when all their hopes seemed destroyed when Jesus died. Ask, “How would you have felt if
you had been there when Jesus died? What would you have done?” Talk about how the burial isn’t the end of the
story, but that it was a very sad day for Jesus’ friends.
Read Mark 15:42-16:1 together.
Have family members tell about someone who has died and what they remember most about that person (it could
even be a pet). Talk about how you each keep Jesus alive in your lives every day.
Unless otherwise noted devotionals adapted from www.childrensministry.com.
Read Luke 24:1-9 together.
Easter Sunday
Put a trick candle in a cupcake. Light the candle and talk about how Jesus came to be the light of the world. On
Saturday, when He was in the tomb, it looked like the light had been blown out. Blow out the candle and wait in
silence while the flame is gone. When the flame comes back, celebrate! Point out that nothing can ever snuff out
Jesus, the light of the world. (Adapted from www.childrensministry.com)
Read Mark 16:2-8 together.
Share about a time you received or delivered great news about something or someone. How did that make you and
that person feel? Discuss the good news of Jesus’ Resurrection and why it’s important to share this great news with
others.
Jesus’ resurrection is a sweet reminder of how much God loves us. After worship, bake these sweet jelly bean
cookies to share with extended family or neighbors on Easter Sunday to remember God’s sweet love for us.
Jelly Bean Cookie Recipe
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 T lemon juice
1 tsp baking powder
1 T lemon zest
1 tsp salt
2 T orange juice
1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
1 T orange zest
2 cups sugar
½ - 3/4 cup jelly beans (depending on how many you want)
2 eggs
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
3. In the bowl of a mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Add the eggs to the
mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the lemon juice, orange juice and zests. Beat to combine. Gently stir
in dry ingredients. Mix only until flour is incorporated. Do not over mix.
4. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
Press 3 jelly beans into the center of each cookie and bake for about 15 minutes or until the edges of the cookies just start to
brown.
5. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then remove gently with a thin metal spatula.
Ready in 30 minutes. 25 servings. (Adapted from www.childrensministry.com)
Construct a Centerpiece to use in your family times this week by putting 3 white candles and a purple candle into
floral foam in a 6 inch clay pot. It can be decorated however you like.
Light the purple candle in your centerpiece. Read Luke 24:1-12 together.
Use questions like the following to create discussion among family members. (I wonder how the women felt on their way to
Jesus’ tomb where he had been dead for a few days. I wonder what the angels thought when they spoke to the women. I wonder how
Peter felt when he found only strips of linen in the tomb. I wonder how his disciples felt when Jesus visited them in the days after he’d
risen.)
Review what happened in the Scriptures on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday and how amazing it is. Remind
everyone that Jesus died for out sins and rose on Easter to forgive our sins and to give us new life. Explain that you
are going to celebrate our new life in Jesus by destroying our sins. Remove the slips of paper that you put in the
eggs on Friday and place them in a fireproof container. Light a match and burn the strips inside the fireproof
container. When the strips are completely burnt, take the ashes outside and scatter them. Discuss how it felt to see
the sins on the papers burning. How does it feel to see the sins gone? How does Jesus want us to use the life He’s
given us? How can we honor Jesus for His sacrifice?
Explain that the purple candle is lit today as a symbol of Jesus’ triumph over death. Jesus has risen so that we can
have eternal life. Close in prayer by thanking Jesus for His sacrifice and for forgiving our sins. Praise God for His Son
and His amazing grace. (Adapted from www.childrensministry.com)
Additional Ideas for Palm Sunday
Prayer Leaves
Have kids cut out palm leaf shapes from green craft foam. Have them write the name of a person or family they’d
like to invite to Easter services on one side of the palm leaf. On the other side, secure a magnetic stip so the leaves
can be displayed on the refrigerator as a daily reminder to pray that people accept the invitation.
(Adapted from Children’s Ministry March/April 2010)
Palm Crosses
Use a palm branch to make woven crosses.
1. Tear a thin strip off a palm branch. Form a loop at the top of the strip. Form a loop at the long end.
2. With the long end, bend and crease the palm (at an angle), diagonally.
3. Bend the creased strip around to form a cross.
4. Wrap the palm around the vertical portion of the cross, bringing down the strand.
5. Weave the strand around the middle--under and up, over and down, under and up.
6. When the palm strand is near the end, tuck the end in the middles of the weave to finish.
(Adapted from Children’s Ministry March/April 2010)
A Palm Sunday Song
Review Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday with your children. Help your child make a fan from green
construction paper. Let them wave their “palms” as you sing this song to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the
Mulberry Bush.”
This is the way we watch for Him, watch for Him, watch for Him.
This is the way we watch for Him on Palm Sunday morning.
This is the way we welcome Him, welcome Him, welcome Him.
This is the way we welcome Him on Palm Sunday morning.
This is the way we sing our praise, sing our praise, sing our praise.
This is the way we sing our praise on Palm Sunday morning.
This is the way we pray to Him, pray to Him, pray to Him.
This is the way we pray to Him on Palm Sunday morning.
(Adapted from 3-Minute Bible Stories)
Additional Ideas for Thursday
In the Garden
Use this action rhyme to review the Easter story with preschoolers.
In the garden Jesus prayed (fold hands)
And he cried. (cover face)
On the cross Jesus suffered (spread arms)
And he died. (drop head)
Near the tomb where Jesus stayed (cover fist with hand)
His friends prayed. (fold hands)
On the third day, he rose up (thrust hands up and open)
God be praised! (wave hands over head)
God be praised! (wave hands over head)
(Adapted from www.childrensministry.com)
A Seder Meal
Help children understand the Seder Meal that Jesus was partaking in during the Passover and its connection to the
Lamb of God at Easter. It can connect Bible events for children and help them see God’s plans for Jesus to be our
Savior.
Passover is celebrated by Jewish families to remember how God freed their ancestors, the Israelites, from slavery.
The seder plate contains the foods used during the service to represent the life of the Israelites in Egypt.
A Simple Seder
What you need:
Bowl of salt water
Celery sticks (one per person)
Three matzo crackers
Paper cups of water or grape juice
Small bowl of horseradish
Small bowl of haroseth
Hard-boiled egg
A lamb bone
Light candles and dim the lights if possible. Say: Each spring, Jewish people eat a Passover meal called the Seder.
It’s a reminder that God called Moses to lead their people out of Egypt. The word Seder means order because
everything you eat and drink at a Passover meal is in a special order.
Ask everyone to take a celery stick. Say: First dip your celery stick in the bowl of water, then take a bite. Ask how it
tastes. Explain that the salty taste reminds the Jewish people of tears they cried in Egypt while they were slaves.
Ask why they think the Jews in Egypt were sad and cried.
Pass around the matzo crackers. Explain that when God gave instructions for the first Passover meal, there wasn’t
time for the Jews to let their bread rise to get nice and fluffy. So at the Passover, we serve matzo which is bread
without yeast. Have everyone break off a piece and eat it. Give them time to eat and have a drink if they’d like.
Pass around the bowl of horseradish. Explain that at a Passover meal the Jews also taste a bitter herb. Allow those
who wish to taste the horseradish. Explain that bitter herbs remind the Jews of how bitterly they suffered while they
were slaves in Egypt and how difficult their lives were. Then pass around the haroseth explain that it is another food
that is served at Passover. Allow everyone to try it on a matzo cracker. (Adapted from www.childrensministry.com)
Even More Ideas for Thursday
A Seder Meal
A More Traditional Seder Meal
What you need:
Lamb (roasted or in a stew)
Roasted bone
Unleavened bread/matzo crackers
Grape Juice
Maror/bitter herbs (horseradish, onions, radish, etc.)
Hard-boiled eggs
Charoseth (ground apples, nuts, honey)
Parsley
Lettuce
Celery
Salt Water
The Seder Ceremony:
(Contains several parts based on a Messianic Jewish order of service called a Haggada. Include what will be
meaningful to you and your family.)
1. Light a candle. Say, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us by the blood of the
Messiah and commanded us to be a light for the nations and gave us Jesus, our Messiah, the light of the world.”
2. Bless the first cup of juice. “We take the kiddush cup and proclaim the holiness of this Day of Deliverance!”
Everyone drinks the juice.
3. The green vegetables represent the hyssop that was used to place the blood of the Passover lamb on the
doorposts. As you say the following, everyone takes a green vegetable and dips it into the salt water. Say, “Blessed
are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruits of the earth.”
4. Next, everyone takes a matzo, holds it up, and says together, “This is the bread of affliction, the poor bread, which
our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let all who are in want share the hope
of Passover.” Everyone place the matzo back on the plate.
5. Pour a second glass of juice as you tell the story of the Hebrew’s deliverance in Exodus 12. Everyone drinks.
6. Show the roasted bone and say, “Our ancestors in Egypt were spared by the blood of a lamb. This reminds us that
God delivered his people from Pharoah’s judgment against them.”
7. Hold up the maror and say, “The Eqyptians made the lives of our forefathers bitter. The bitter herb speaks of
sorrow.” Hold up the charoseth and say, “This represents the mortar the Hebrews were forced to use building the
Egyptian cities.” Mix the maror and charoseth. Place them between two pieces of matzo, and everyone eats.
8. Pour a third cup of juice. Say, “Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the
vine.” Everyone drinks.
9. Point out the egg on the plate. Say, The egg is not touched because it symbolizes sacrifice. Jesus was sacrificed
for our sins.
10. Pour a fourth cup of juice and say, “The redemption is not yet complete. The fourth cup recalls us to our
covenant with the Eternal One, to the tasks that still await us as people of Israel live: the preservation and
affirmation of hope.”
11. Sing praise songs. Then close by saying, “The Lord has remembered us. He will bless us. He will bless the house
of Israel. He will bless those who revere the Lord, the small as well as the great.”
(Adapted from www.childrensministry.com)
Additional Ideas for Good Friday
The Cross
Help kids understand and appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross by asking them to sit down with you. Tell about
Jesus dying on the cross and as you tell the story, hand the children objects such a block of wood (or heavy beam),
large nails, and thorns to help them better understand and visualize what Jesus went through that day. As would be
age-appropriate, explain what would have happened with each object and the hurt and pain it caused. Then explain
that Jesus chose to suffer that pain and be crucified because He loves us.
Wiped Away
Help kids understand that Jesus’ death wipes away our sins. Give each child a piece of newspaper and explain that
the newspaper represents sin in our lives. Have them rub their hands with the newspaper until the ink transfers to
their hands. Read 1 John 1:9 to them. Remind them that just like the newspaper left a stain on our hands, sin leaves
a stain on our hearts. Give each child a baby wipe to wipe their hands clean. As they do explain that Jesus died to
forgive us and if we chose to believe in him and ask him to be our Savior, he will wipe our sins away. As they throw
their wipes in the trash remind them that when Jesus wipes our sins away they are gone for good. Pray together
thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins.
(Adapted from Children’s Ministry March/April 2010)
Additional Ideas for Saturday
Easter Story Cookies (To be made the evening before Easter)
You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
wooden spoon
3 egg whites
1 tsp. vinegar
ziplock bag
tape
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe)!
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small
pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was
thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John
10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that
this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is
that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John
3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color
white represents (in God’s eyes) the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.Read Isaiah 1:18
and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound
represents to rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape
and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in
despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20, 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.
The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read
Matthew 28:1-9
Share The Easter Cookie Story with Friends and Family