March 2009 – From an early age, I knew there was something special about Easter. Once my eyes were opened to it, the reason for Easter became bigger in my life every year that I grew. The same is true today as I become increasingly grateful for the work of the cross. 

I was blessed as a child to learn about the death and resurrection of Christ, but the theological framework of that teaching was weak. So I recently asked three different church leaders in separate interviews how to best teach children about Easter. 

Their responses were uncoordinated but their consensus the same: Use the Word of God to communicate the truth of the Resurrection; rely on the Holy Spirit to work in the child’s heart; and celebrate every Lord’s day as if it were Resurrection Sunday.

Below, the teachers offer, in their own words, sound ways to help you make an eternal investment in your children this Easter and throughout their lives. 

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Teach the Resurrection as a historical event; don’t spare children painful realities in the Word.
Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr.: I encourage anybody in the position of authority over a child, or anybody else, to emphasize the historical reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The child needs to know: a) people die and b) Jesus is the only man ever to die once, come back to life and not die again. 

I would encourage them to be very careful to affirm this as a historical reality, not as a story, no matter how old the child is. The child who finds out that there’s no Santa Claus, then asks about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, finally says, “What about Jesus?” We have a tendency to teach our children fairy tales as if they’re real and real stories as if they’re fairy tales. 

When dealing with children, always assume more rather than less. Their capacity is far greater than we know, and God the Holy Spirit is at work in ways far more powerfully than we know. So one of the simplest things we can do is to teach and to read them the Bible. 

I’m frustrated by the apparent evangelical mind that says you can’t give children the Bible; you have to give them some safe version of it. We need not to be so timid with our children that we hide from them the historic and painful realities in Scripture. As long as we remember Jesus wins, then let’s tell them the realities of what’s going on in the Bible. 

[But in terms of Easter], when we play up the physical anguish of crucifixion, I think we do a profound disservice to the suffering of Jesus. There is no question that it was horrible. The suffering of Jesus certainly included that physical kind of suffering, but we have to remember that the wrath of God the Father was poured out on Him.

We have so muted and hidden from children and adults the reality of the wrath of God that we can’t make sense of the cross. So we have to see the wrath of God the Father poured out on the Son for us, or we’re not going to understand the Gospel.

Dr . Sproul is the father of seven and elder of St. Peter Presbyterian Church (Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches) in southwest Virginia. 

Provide simple and clear explanations; teach basic Biblical concepts; use Biblical language. 
Burk Parsons: When answering children, we should always strive to be simple and clear in our explanations. We should do our best to provide children with answers they themselves can explain to others. 

For ages three and four, we might simply explain: “Easter is a very special day when we celebrate the day Jesus rose from the dead.” We can certainly provide more explanation; if we do, it is helpful to use picture words that young children are more prone to capture in their minds. 

Ages five to seven are generally ready to learn big, new words and are apt to remember more precise explanations. Therefore, we can provide a more complete picture of Easter while building on the language we have previously employed, repeating certain key words and continually using the name Jesus rather than the third-person singular pronoun “He.” This is helpful for children as they strive to remember the basic storyline of historical events, especially when we speak of the Trinity.

Children ages eight and up, depending on their spiritual maturities and intellectual capabilities, are ready to learn as much as we are ready and willing to spend quality time teaching them.

Children are able to understand the simple history and general message of Easter without understanding fully the Biblical concepts of sin, redemption, and grace. However, it is fundamental that we begin teaching the basic Biblical concepts of salvation as soon as they understand their own sins. 

We need to explain to our children the following things, trusting the Lord to do His gracious work in their hearts to bring them to salvation: Who is God, and what is God’s standard? Who are we as sinners? Why are we at opposition with God, and what does it mean to be at opposition with God? Why did Jesus come? Why did Jesus die on the cross? Why did Jesus rise from the dead? How do we know God and live with God forever?

As we provide answers to our children, it is crucial that we help them know and use language that is Biblical and confessional. We would do well not to use some sort of dumbed-down, childish “Christianese” language that often distorts the truths of God’s Word.

[Also], we need to teach with a clear purpose in mind, showing our love for them and visible care about the Biblical subject we are addressing; with authority, gentleness and proper motivation, constantly and with consistency – when we rise up in the morning and when we lie down at night.

Parsons is the father of two, minister of congregational life at Saint Andrew’s Chapel (non-denominational) in Sanford, Florida, and editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Treat every Sunday as Resurrection Sunday; read Scripture daily as a family.
Rev. James L. Harvey III: We want to convey to our children that every Sunday is Easter Sunday. If we’re going to celebrate Easter Sunday in a church, it ought to be somewhat like an anniversary. You might remember the day that you were married, but every day you are married. We are called to live according to our resurrection in Christ daily, not just on Easter Sunday (Colossians 3:1).

There is no doctrine of Christian theology that does not relate in a vital way to the resurrection of Christ. [That’s why] I emphasize learning Scripture together and letting the Scriptures set the priorities for the significance of the Resurrection, the Christian life and what our children need to understand in order to be believers. But don’t pressure the child to understand everything perfectly at once. Make it a daily practice to read portions of Scripture with your children and pray with them. 

A helpful way to focus on the Resurrection is to take verses of Scripture that teach on the Resurrection and learn them as a family. Fathers should participate and lead along with their wives. Children will love saying the verse at mealtimes or before bed. This should be fun and joyful for the whole family, not a test. 

As children absorb truth from Scripture they begin to have a Biblical theology with all the nuances of Scripture, and they get there by dwelling upon the Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. I suggest these verses with a certain progression in mind:

▶ Romans 4:25 – “He was delivered over to death for our sins, but raised to life for our justification.” Our children need to know that death entered the world because of sin. Death is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23). The resurrection shows that God was satisfied with Jesus’ payment for sin because the penalty for sin was removed. He did not remain dead but rose again. 

▶ 1 Peter 1:21 – “Through Him you believe in God who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” We come to God the Father through Jesus. The resurrection makes it clear that we should put all our faith and hope in God and not in the things of this world. Our faith and our hope are in God because He is the one who raised Jesus from the dead so that we too can live forever. 

▶ 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” When we see the firstfruits of the harvest come in, we know that the rest of the harvest is coming soon. We know that our bodies will be raised just as Jesus’ body was raised. 

▶ 2 Corinthians 5:15 – “And He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” The Apostle Paul is compelled by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14). The context suggests that it is not his own love for Christ that is compelling, but Christ’s love for him. We should see in the Resurrection the great love of Christ for us.

Harvey is the father of four and senior pastor of Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Newark, Delaware (PCA).    

Resources
Children’s books

▶ The Prince’s Poison Cup by R.C. Sproul 
▶ The Priest With Dirty Clothes by R.C. Sproul 

Both available at www.ligonier.org/ or 800-435-4343

Family guides 

▶ Christ in Easter by various authors – 800-435-4343
▶ Lenten Lights: Eight Biblical Devotions to Prepare for Easter by Noël Piper www.desiringgod.org or 888-346-4700
▶ “Holy Week: prepare for Easter with Your Family” by Noël Piper – www.crosswalk.com/parenting/1317997/