Fabulous Ways to Make Easter about JESUS

Easter candy.

Outfits for Easter.

Easter toys.

Easter cards.

We’ve commercialized and monetized this holiday celebration just like it was any other holiday celebration.

However, this is not an ordinary celebration.

This is the “granddaddy of them all.” This is the “super bowl” for Christ-followers everywhere. It’s the day that changed all of history.

Easter is the day that our Hero defeated death and came out of the grave! Click To Tweet

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.

Come, see where his body was lying.” Matthew 28:6

**So, I want to invite you (and me) and everyone else who claims the name of Christ to try to be more intentional this year about including Jesus in your Easter celebrations.**

Yes, get dressed up and go to church. Enjoy a huge lunch. Have at least one Easter egg hunt. (My kids repeated the egg hunts for days!)

And, yes, purposely focus more on Jesus.

I want to offer some simple ways you can intentionally infuse more of Jesus into your Easter celebrations.

None of these take a lot of preparation, but each suggestion will give you a tool for making this holiday more meaningful and more special.

(I invite you to try to add JUST ONE of these ideas to your celebrations!)

Don’t wait for Sunday morning. Start playing praise music now!

And, play it up to Easter. Crank up some tunes that will cause you and your family to worship, to praise and to turn the focus toward heaven.

Ideas to help you to do this:

IHeartRadio – enter an Easter song like, “Christ is Risen.” A whole playlist will play after the song.
YouTube – find some great songs and turn them up.
Play CD’s – dig out some old favorites and turn them on.
Turn on K-LOVE.
Find the Seasonal Celebration or Inspirational Channel on your cable directory and play music through your TV.

My kids loved these Resurrection Eggs, and they do all the work for you. The whole story of Jesus is told through these simple eggs. You can buy these eggs at most Christian bookstores.

Or, you can make your own set. Here’s a link to show you how: http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/resurrection-eggs.html

Talk about how “new” and “fresh” everything looks. Explain to your family that God made all things new for us by sending Christ to die in our place.

Here’s a Verse you can use – ‘He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”‘ (Revelation 21:5a)

You can say something like: “Just as God makes all the plants, flowers and trees new, so also He can make our lives new as we trust in His Son Jesus to save us.”

Share your testimony with your family and friends.

Talk about how Christ has made a difference in your life.

The last verse (verse 10) says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Explain that Jesus comes looking for us just like we go looking for lost eggs. Say something like: “He seeks after us to save us, just as we seek after those eggs!”

Or, “He hunts for us with His grace just like we hunt for those little eggs!”

Some Movie Ideas –

The Passion of the Christ – for older crowds
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Amazing Grace
The Jesus Film
Veggie Tales: An Easter Carol
The Greatest Adventures of the Bible – The Easter Story

I also found these links for additional movie ideas:

http://www.hearitfirst.com/news/best-easter-movies-top-20-christian-films-for-easter

http://www.macxdvd.com/mac-dvd-video-converter-how-to/cannot-be-missed-10-easter-movies-for-kids-in-the-last-10-years.htm

http://www.christianbook.com/page/easter/easter-dvds/easter-dvds-for-kids

Since you asked the question, you could start. Share a short answer, and then invite others to do the same.

You could say something like: “Because Jesus rose again, I have hope for our future.” Or, “Because Jesus is alive, I have victory and peace.”

While driving, try the alphabet praise game. Start with the letter “A” and say something for which you can praise God.

For example:

“I praise God for being AMAZING, AWESOME, ABLE.”

“Thank you, Father, for being BIG, BEST, and BLESSED.”

“I praise God because He is CARING, COMPASSIONATE, CHRIST.”

Go through the whole alphabet in this same way. Some letters are harder. You can work together on this one! Make it fun, and teach your family to praise, all at the same time.

You can use an easy to read the translation or a paraphrase for young children.

Here are the main passages in the four Gospels:

Matthew 27:1-28:10
Mark 14:1-16:13
Luke 22:39-24:12
John 18:1-20:31

You can read all of a passage or just a part of one. The story is familiar, but it is so good to hear it read each year.

You can also download a book to your Nook or Kindle to read.

Here are some book ideas:

Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson
Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs
God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergen
The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story by Mike Berenstain

For more Easter book ideas, I found this wonderful post:

Best Children’s Easter Books: HTTP://www.notwiddletwaddle.com/2012/03/best-childrens-easter-books-my.html

Since this is not my thing, I did a little research.

Here are some wonderful-looking ideas that I found:

Empty Tomb Crafts: http://happyhomefairy.com/2013/03/14/the-empty-tomb/
You’ve Been Egged Idea: http://www.fabnfree.com/2013/02/17/youve-been-egged-a-free-printable/
30 Easter Crafts: http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2014/03/christian-easter-crafts.html
Easter Activities All About the Cross: http://www.notconsumed.com/2014/03/25/its-all-about-the-cross-a-collection-of-the-best-cross-activities/ (pictured below)

Link to bake Resurrection Cookies: http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/resurrection-cookies-easter-scripture-eggsactivity-day-idea/ (pictured below)

Link to Resurrection Rolls: http://www.coffeewithus3.com/resurrection-rolls/ (pictured below)

This doesn’t have to be anything profound. It can be very simple. Let everyone express their thanks to God for the gift of His Son.

Short prayers are great.

There is nothing sweeter than a little child talking to Jesus!

There is nothing sweeter than a little child talking to Jesus! Click To Tweet

Go to church more than once during Easter weekend. Most churches have services at all times and on all days over the Easter weekend. Check online and find an “extra” church service you can attend. Plan it now! Go and join in.

Make a new memory and start a new tradition this year.

Make a new memory and start a new tradition this year. Click To Tweet

Share John 3:16 with them as you are saying goodnight. You can even add their names into the verse like this:

***“For God so LOVED (child’s name) that He gave* *His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, NKJV***

Tell Him how much His sacrifice means to you. Stop and reflect on what He did for you when He sent Jesus to this earth.

Think about the words of this passage from 1 Corinthians 15:3-5:

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me.

Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.

He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

My challenge to you (and to me) this week is to enjoy Easter and remember to celebrate Jesus in the midst of it all.

My prayer is that we will all lift our eyes to heaven a little more often over the next few days.

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Easter candy.

Outfits for Easter.

Easter toys.

Easter cards.

We’ve commercialized and monetized this holiday celebration just like it was any other holiday celebration.

However, this is not an ordinary celebration.

This is the “granddaddy of them all.” This is the “super bowl” for Christ-followers everywhere. It’s the day that changed all of history.

“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.

Come, see where his body was lying.” Matthew 28:6

So, I want to invite you (and me) and everyone else who claims the name of Christ to try to be more intentional this year about including Jesus in your Easter celebrations.

Yes, get dressed up and go to church. Enjoy a huge lunch. Have at least one Easter egg hunt. (My kids repeated the egg hunts for days!)

And, yes, purposely focus more on Jesus.

I want to offer some simple ways you can intentionally infuse more of Jesus into your Easter celebrations.

None of these take a lot of preparation, but each suggestion will give you a tool for making this holiday more meaningful and more special.

(I invite you to try to add JUST ONE of these ideas to your celebrations!)

Don’t wait for Sunday morning. Start playing praise music now!

And, play it up to Easter. Crank up some tunes that will cause you and your family to worship, to praise and to turn the focus toward heaven.

Ideas to help you to do this:

IHeartRadio – enter an Easter song like, “Christ is Risen.” A whole playlist will play after the song.

YouTube – find some great songs and turn them up.

Play CD’s – dig out some old favorites and turn them on.

Turn on K-LOVE.

Find the Seasonal Celebration or Inspirational Channel on your cable directory and play music through your TV.

My kids loved these Resurrection Eggs, and they do all the work for you. The whole story of Jesus is told through these simple eggs. You can buy these eggs at most Christian bookstores.

Or, you can make your own set. Here’s a link to show you how: http://www.creativebiblestudy.com/resurrection-eggs.html

Talk about how “new” and “fresh” everything looks. Explain to your family that God made all things new for us by sending Christ to die in our place.

Here’s a Verse you can use – ‘He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”‘ (Revelation 21:5a)

You can say something like: “Just as God makes all the plants, flowers and trees new, so also He can make our lives new as we trust in His Son Jesus to save us.”

Share your testimony with your family and friends.

Talk about how Christ has made a difference in your life.

The last verse (verse 10) says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Explain that Jesus comes looking for us just like we go looking for lost eggs. Say something like: “He seeks after us to save us, just as we seek after those eggs!”

Or, “He hunts for us with His grace just like we hunt for those little eggs!”

Some Movie Ideas –

The Passion of the Christ – for older crowds

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Amazing Grace

The Jesus Film

Veggie Tales: An Easter Carol

The Greatest Adventures of the Bible – The Easter Story

I also found these links for additional movie ideas:

Since you asked the question, you could start. Share a short answer, and then invite others to do the same.

You could say something like: “Because Jesus rose again, I have hope for our future.” Or, “Because Jesus is alive, I have victory and peace.”

While driving, try the alphabet praise game. Start with the letter “A” and say something for which you can praise God.

For example:

“I praise God for being AMAZING, AWESOME, ABLE.”

“Thank you, Father, for being BIG, BEST, and BLESSED.”

“I praise God because He is CARING, COMPASSIONATE, CHRIST.”

Go through the whole alphabet in this same way. Some letters are harder. You can work together on this one! Make it fun, and teach your family to praise, all at the same time.

You can use an easy to read the translation or a paraphrase for young children.

Here are the main passages in the four Gospels:

Matthew 27:1-28:10

Mark 14:1-16:13

Luke 22:39-24:12

John 18:1-20:31

You can read all of a passage or just a part of one. The story is familiar, but it is so good to hear it read each year.

You can also download a book to your Nook or Kindle to read.

Here are some book ideas:

Benjamin’s Box by Melody Carlson

Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs

God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergen

The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story by Mike Berenstain