Five Things Friday

Hi friends!

{image from Pinterest}

It's good Friday. Easter is on Sunday.

And I love Easter.

Sure, it's fun to dress the little ones up in their Sunday best and hunt eggs. But, that is not the part of Easter that I love the most.

The part I love the most is the opportunity to share the Gospel with people I love.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the Gospel. Through this, Christ was triumphant over sin and death.

Now, that is something to celebrate!

This Five Things Friday post includes five ways to celebrate the gospel this Easter.

1. Read the gospel strait from God's word. The Bible is the inspired word of God. It is true and holy and powerful. Here is a link to an awesome family devotional from Ministry-to-children.com. But, don't stop with your family. Share God's word with young and old, seekers, and unbelievers, too!

{image from Pinterest}

2. Bake bread as a family, and discuss why Jesus called himself the Bread of Life. Point out that just as bread gives us nutrition and sustains us physically, Jesus offers us eternal life and sustains us spiritually. Put the bread in a basket. Then add some Easter goodies and at least one item that shares the gospel, such as a bookmark, tract or card. Deliver the basket to someone who may need an extra dose of kindness this week. {source: Foucs on the Family}

(image from Pinterest}

3. Easter Egg Prayers. This idea comes from the blog Our Family for His Glory. Write names on pieces of paper...grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins, neighbors, friends, missionaries, babysitters, etc...and place the paper inside your eggs. {You can even use families you've been praying for from your Christmas card booklets!} After finding all of the eggs, talk about prayer. The importance of it, the power of it. Talk about how Jesus prayed. Then, open up the eggs and pray for the individuals and families that were listed.

4. Make resurrection cookies {recipe from Girltalkhome.com} and share them with friends. We are going to make these with our cousins at Mimi's house tomorrow.

{image from Pinterest}

Resurrection Cookies

1 cup pecans (halves or whole)
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vinegar
pinch of salt
wooden spoon
Ziploc bag
Bible
Tape (Packing tape works best)

--Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place pecans in Ziploc bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon until broken into small pieces. Read John 19:1-3 and remind them that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

--Let each child smell (or taste) the vinegar. Pour 1 tsp into the mixing bowl. Read John 19:28-30 and explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

--Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Read John 10:10-11 Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. 

--Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it, then brush it into the bowl. Read Luke 23:27. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed Jesus' followers as well as the bitterness of our own sin.

--Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because of His great love for us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

--Beat with mixer on high for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3. Explain that the color white represents the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

--Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a cookie sheet covered with waxed paper (or parchment). Read Matt. 27:57-60. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

--Place the cookie sheet into the preheated oven. Close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door. Read Matt 27:65-66. Explained that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
 
--Go to bed. Read John 16:20 and 22. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were very sad when the tomb was sealed.

--On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are empty!! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt 28:1-9. HE HAS RISEN!!!

5. Don't stop celebrating and sharing the gospel after Easter Sunday! Read this post from We Are That Family.

Celebrate Easter everyday!!!