Sharing Jesus’ Stories

Here is a lesson I have put together for the Sunday after Easter about the travelers on the road to Emmaus.

“He is not here; for he has been raised’ as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Matthew 28:6

Call to Worship
(Sing to Frere Jacques)
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!
Sing a song of praise! Sing a song of praise!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen!

Joys and Concerns
Have the children share a few joys and concerns they have and follow with a prayer thanking God for our joys and asking God to be with us in our concerns.

Sharing
Ask: What can you remember from the Easter story about Jesus?
(New life, Jesus was raised up, etc.)

Listening
Say: I have another story about after Jesus was given new life by God. On Easter Sunday, two friends walked home from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were sad. Their friend Jesus had died on Friday. As they walked along, a stranger caught up with them and asked what they were talking about.
“Are you the only person in Jerusalem who has not heard about Jesus?” asked on of the travelers.
“What about Jesus?” the stranger asked.
So the travelers told the stranger all about Jesus. They told how Jesus had been born. They told how kind and good he had been. They told him some of the wonderful stories Jesus had told them and some of the important things Jesus had taught them. They told about the way Jesus healed sick people and made friends with lonely people. They told about the last supper with Jesus, when he took a loaf of bread, broke it and gave it to his friends, asking they to share bread to remember him. They told how Jesus had died on a cross and buried in a cave. The stranger listened. Somehow the travelers knew the stranger understood.
Soon it was dinner time. The travelers invited the stranger to have dinner with them, and he did. As they sat down to supper, the stranger picked up the bread and said the blessing. Then he broke the bread and gave it to them. Suddenly the travelers recognized the stranger. He wasn’t a stranger at all! He was Jesus! Jesus was not dead! He was alive! He was with the- or he had bee, As soon as they recognized him, Jesus disappeared. The surprised travelers were amazed and happy and excited. They hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the others, “Jesus is alive! We have seen him. He gave us bread to eat. We are not alone anymore.”


Exploring
Have the children sit in a circle. Give them each a piece of Hawaiian bread. While they are sharing the bread ask them what stories they know about God and Jesus.

Benediction
Say: God, what wonderful news we have heard this morning! Christ has risen and lives forever! Alleluia! Amen!