Easter

Video Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

View the video:  "He is Risen" (from Nest Entertainment)

Here's a clip of it from Youtube:

Scripture Reference:

Matthew 28: 1-20
(for the full story, see Matthew 21:1-17, Matthew 26-28; Mark 11:1-19, Mark 14-16; Luke 19:28-48, Luke 22-24; John 12:12-19, John 13, John 18-21)

Memory Verse:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)

Objectives for Rotation:
At the end of the rotation, the students will be able to

• identify Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as the first four books of the New Testament and identify them as the Gospels containing the Good News of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
• retell the events of Holy Week in order.
• understand the importance of the events of Holy Week, specifically that it is through Jesus' death and resurrection that our sins are forgiven.
• repeat the memory verse (John 3:16).
• understand that we are called to spread the Good News of Jesus' resurrection.
• have decided with whom they can share that Good News.

Leader Preparation:

• Read the scripture passages and lesson plan.
• Prepare a closing prayer.
• Make sure you have all the supplies you need. The video, video setup, popcorn, and handouts will be provided. If you would like anything purchased, let ___ know by ___.
• Preview the video. Be familiar with the places where the video should be stopped for discussion. (Neil MacQueen's "Two Most Important SHOWING TIPS: 1.) Use the PAUSE button. It's your most powerful "video" teaching tool. 2.) Don't be afraid to view an important scene a second time. Kids (and adults) watch movies over and over all the time.")

Room set-up:
Students will sit in seats facing the video/projection screen.

Supply List

• Popcorn
• wet wipes
• DVD
• Bibles
• copies of the ticket form for everyone (see the attachment at the end of this lesson)
• crayons or marker
• tables or writing boards
• Video: He Is Risen, Animated Stories from the New Testament, 1988, (About 25 minutes long).

Lesson Plan

Opening:
Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name-tag. Make sure the children are wearing name-tags.

We had an opening prayer during the gathering time, but you may open with prayer if you feel led to do so.

Explain the purpose of this workshop. Use kid friendly words to give a brief overview of what the children are going to learn and do.

Dig:

Scripture/Bible Story:
Read the scripture: Matthew 28: 1-20
(Everyone should use their Bibles to look up verses and read along. While they are opening their Bibles, review the names of the first four books of the New Testament and that they are the Gospel — the Good News about Jesus. Be prepared to help the younger children find the passage; consider pairing them up with older students. Ask for volunteers to read a paragraph at a time.)

After reading the scripture say, "The scripture we read is just a small part of the story of the events of a week we often refer to as Holy Week. Can anyone tell me anything else that happened that week?" [Possible answers: Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), the clearing of the Temple, the Last Supper, Jesus' trial, Peter's denial of Jesus, Judas' betrayal of Jesus, Jesus praying in the Garden, the Crucifixion. Remind the children of any key events they forgot.]
"We are beginning a study of the events of Holy Week today by watching a video. This video starts with the scripture we just read, but does refer to some of the other events we just talked about."

Application:
Before beginning the video, make sure everyone knows who each of these people in the story are:

• Pilate [Roman official in charge of Judea, including Jerusalem; he knew Jesus was innocent, but he bowed to public demand for Jesus' execution] - shown as a blond — point him out when he appears on the screen without stopping the video
• Caiaphas [ruling high priest during Jesus' time, a Jew skilled at working with the Roman government] - shown on video wearing a red hat — point him out when he appears on the screen without stopping the video
• Joseph of Arimathea [a Jewish leader who had been a secret follower of Jesus, but who came forward when everyone else was afraid and fled; Arimathea is a town in Judea]
• Mary and the other women [there were several women who went to the tomb; it is not real clear in the video who they all were, but they were close friends and followers of Jesus, just like the Disciples/Apostles]

Tell the children: While you're watching the video,

• notice that at the time of Jesus' death, there is much earth shaking and thunder shown in the video. You will see a curtain tearing. This is the curtain in the Temple that separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy of Holies Place. The tearing of the curtain shows that by Christ's death, all can approach God directly because of Christ's sacrifice for our sins. "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split." Matthew 27:51 (NIV)
• watch for how the disciples reacted to Jesus' trial and crucifixion with fear — by going into hiding.
• Notice that the disciple Matthew, the writer of the Gospel from which we just read, sits down to write what he remembers: "His words must never be forgotten."

Pass out popcorn. Start the video; if time permits, include the opening credits as the music helps set the mood for the events that follow. (Don't dim the lights too much as you will be stopping frequently for brief discussion.)

STOP after the Roman soldier says, "Truly this man was the son of God." (Matthew 27:24b)
Q I wonder why the soldier said that?

STOP after Pilate says, "He died for peace."
Q Pilate said, "Joseph of Arimathea, I would have saved him if I could." I wonder why Pilate did not stop the crucifixion?
Q Do you believe that Pilate is feeling sorry about his part in Jesus' death? Or is he feeling something else?
Q Do you think Jesus died for peace?

STOP after one of the disciples says, "Wherever he [Jesus] is, he's watching. We should try to make him proud of us."
Q Repeat this statement (or rewind the video a teeny bit and replay it). I wonder what this means?
Q Think about the attitude of the women who followed Jesus compared to the attitude of the men at this point.

COMMENT: "Notice Matthew writing down what happened. Which gave us the book of Matthew that we read at the beginning of the session!"

STOP after the women return and a disciple says, "With all my heart I wish I could believe."
Q I wonder why the disciples can't believe the women?

STOP after Jesus says to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe."
Q I wonder what Jesus means?
Q Who is Jesus talking about?

STOP after the third time Jesus asks Peter to "feed my sheep."
Q How many times did Jesus ask the same question to Peter? [three]
Q Does anyone know why? [refer to the three times Peter denied Jesus]

Restart video and watch to the end.

"Any additional questions or comments about the video?"

Reflection:

Pulling it all together (closing discussion):

• Early in the video, one disciple asks, "Why didn't he save himself?" Could Jesus have saved himself? Why didn't he?
• Did the disciples understand why Jesus died? At the beginning of the video? By the end?
• I wonder why Jesus showed himself to Mary at the tomb, but not Peter?
• At the very end of the video, the boy says, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus. I'll always be watching for you." I wonder what he meant?
• Have you ever had a chance to share the Good News about Jesus, and denied him? Or maybe just didn't mention him? Is it hard sometimes to stand up for what we believe in?

Review the memory verse.
Make a movie ticket for this movie using the following form (or use the attachment). If you are making a ticket, encourage children to illustrate or list highlights of the video that illustrate the key verse.

Talk about, "To whom should you give this movie ticket?"

If time permits:
Children may complete one of the puzzle/activity sheets for the story or you may wish to continue discussion of the video or watch part of it again.

Close with a prayer.
[Offer a prayer asking for Jesus to go with each child this week and be with them as they carry the good news tickets to family and friends.]

Additional Suggestions:
Older children:
They can be helpers (finding Bible passages, passing out popcorn and crayons).

Younger Children:
Be prepared to help them write on their tickets.

Resources:

• Eaton, Heather. "Holy Week - Complete Elementary Rotation."
• MacQueen, Neil. A MANUAL for the "VIDEO ~ A-V" WORKSHOP.
• Life Application Study Bible notes, Tyndale House Publishers, 1986.
• Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

This lesson was written by Amy Crane for River Community Church in Prairieville, Louisiana.
Copyright 2003 Amy Crane. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.