Theme: Easter Sunday - He is Risen
Sunday 5th April 2026
Aim: To discover that Jesus died and came alive again!
Bible Passage: Luke 23:26-43; 24:1-12
Weekly Question: How can I be God's friend?
Jesus makes me God's friend, because I believe he lives again.
Today we are looking at finishing the Easter story. We will touch on the cross but then focus on Easter Sunday where Jesus rose from the dead. We are going to remember that Jesus died for us so we could be his friend and then celebrate that he rose from the dead and is alive again.
We are introducing a weekly question to help us to fully understand certain concepts. Our weekly question for this week is “How can I be God's friend?”
And today we want to grasp the truth that “Jesus makes me God's friend, because I believe he lives again”
Kids Work Video
Storytelling
Memory Verse
Things You May Need
Refreshments, Questions
Heart printouts
pens/pencils
wipes
paper or card strips
cross printout / drawing
heart stickers
Questions & Thoughts
Chat, create & encounter
Activity – “Stained Hearts”
How it works
Everyone needs a paper heart.
Draw “mistakes” on the heart: things you have done wrong before, things you struggle with, things that represent wrong choices.
Then take a wipe and try to clean it off.
What happens?
Talk through as you draw the mistakes, etc on their heart. You may want to highlight some things (lying, stealing, unkind words, disobeying parents etc)
You will find that you can clean some, but not everything comes off — the heart still has marks.
Teaching Point
Say:
“No matter how hard we scrub or try, we can’t make our hearts perfect.
We all need Jesus.
Jesus is the only one who can make our hearts clean and new.”
Read Psalm 51:10— “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” – David asked God to clean his heart from all the things he had done wrong because he knew God was the one who could change his heart and he needed help.
Move to the memory verse
Share out some refreshments and enjoy eating and drinking together. Start to talk about the Bible story using these questions:
What is your favourite part of the story? Why?
What was God doing in this story?
What does Easter tell us about new beginnings?
What do you think you need to do to be Jesus’ friend?
How can I be God's friend?
Jesus makes me God's friend, because I believe he lives again.
Worship
These are the worship songs being played in our kids groups this morning, if you wish to listen to the same:
5s and Under
Count on Jesus
Deep, Deep, Deep
Every move I make
Detonate (school years 1-3):
My God is so Big
It’s your Love
Inferno (school years 4-6):
That’s who I praise
It’s your love
Memory Verse
John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.
Watch the memory verse video from the link at the beginning of this booklet. Return to the video after the encounter time.
Before you move on –take the paper strips and glue the strips over their messy hearts in a cross shape. Remind them that Jesus coming and about his dying on the cross
Encounter TIme
Put on some soft music, find a space to sit quietly.
Say:
“We’ve heard the Easter story…
Jesus died for us because He loves us, and He came back to life so we can be close to Him forever.
Now we’re going to have a special quiet moment to meet with Him.”
Speak slowly:
“God made you.
God loves you.
And God wants to be close to you.
But sometimes we make wrong choices — things that hurt others or hurt God. This messes up our heart and we can’t clean it on our own.
Jesus came to take those wrong things away.
Jesus died on the cross, and then He came back to life.
He is alive right now.
And He says, ‘Come to Me. I love you.’
You don’t have to be afraid.
You don’t have to be perfect.
Jesus just wants your heart.”
Encounter Moment - close your eyes and put your hands on your heart.
Say:
“Let’s take a quiet moment.
If Jesus was standing in front of you right now, what do you think He’d say?”
(Pause 10 seconds)
“He might say: ‘I love you.’
He might say: ‘I’m with you.’
Put on some soft music, find a space to sit quietly.
He might say: ‘You are my child.’
Listen with your heart.”
Keep silence for a short time.
Gospel Invitation
For younger kids, avoid pressure. Make it safe and optional.
Say:
“If you want to know Jesus as your friend…
If you want Him to be with you always…
You can talk to Him right now.
You can say this prayer quietly in your heart…”
Simple Prayer Kids Can Repeat
Slow, one line at a time:
“Jesus,
Thank You for loving me.
Thank You for dying for me.
Thank You for coming alive again.
Sorry for making wrong choices and messing up my heart
I want to know You, I want You to clean my heart.
Be with me every day.
Amen.”
Next Steps for Kids
After the prayer, reassure them:
“If you prayed that today, Jesus heard you.
He is close to you.
If you want to talk to a leader after, we’re here for you.”
No pressure — just warmth.
Response Action - Instead of raising hands, use something calmer:
Heart Sticker Response. Invite each other to quietly come place a small heart sticker on the cross printout or drawing anytime during the memory verse video if they prayed or want to talk more. If you don’t have stickers, you are welcome to draw a heart instead.
Play the memory verse song again
