Series Focus: Easter is the Best Day Ever
Use this guide to lead your family. In each guide, you will find a parenting affirmation to help you focus on God's call on you as a parent/guardian. Then, you will find a Scripture passage from the New International Reader's Version of the Bible. When you are done reading, there are discussion questions to help your family talk about what you read. Feel free to add to or skip questions as time allows. At some point during the week, it would be extra special to plan to do the optional Family Activity.
Parenting Affirmation: God has given me what I need to be a good parent. Philippians 4:13
Read: 35 The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar. 37 They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 A written sign had been placed above him. It read,
this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself! Save us!” 40 But the other criminal scolded him. “Don’t you have any respect for God?” he said. “Remember, you are under the same sentence of death. 41 We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43
Discussion Questions:
Family Activity: During the Sunday service this week, we celebrated communion together. Let’s do the same together as a family. Gather crackers/bread/or tortilla chips and a drink for everyone. Read Luke 22:14-23. As you read the sections use the crackers and drinks as representations for the bread and cup. Ask your family to eat or drink as you read. Remind your family that Jesus used what is in front of Him at dinner to give new meaning for those things. In other words the item you use to represent the bread and cup are not holy, it is the action of doing this together and what it means, that makes it special. Remind your family that every time we eat and drink we can remember Jesus and His sacrifice. As we remember those things we can thank God for Jesus and the opportunity to be made right with God.
Use this guide to lead your family. In each guide, you will find a parenting affirmation to help you focus on God's call on you as a parent/guardian. Then, you will find a Scripture passage from the New International Reader's Version of the Bible. When you are done reading, there are discussion questions to help your family talk about what you read. Feel free to add to or skip questions as time allows. At some point during the week, it would be extra special to plan to do the optional Family Activity.
Parenting Affirmation: God has given me what I need to be a good parent. Philippians 4:13
Read: 35 The people stood there watching. The rulers even made fun of Jesus. They said, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him. They offered him wine vinegar. 37 They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 A written sign had been placed above him. It read,
this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals hanging there made fun of Jesus. He said, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself! Save us!” 40 But the other criminal scolded him. “Don’t you have any respect for God?” he said. “Remember, you are under the same sentence of death. 41 We are being punished fairly. We are getting just what our actions call for. But this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43
Discussion Questions:
- The people were making fun of Jesus and mocking Him as hung on the cross. If Jesus is God can’t He save himself? People are questioning how the Son of God could allow this to happen.
- What do you think? If you were a person watching this happen, what kind of questions or thoughts might you be considering?
- One of the men hanging near Jesus on a cross had a different reaction. What did He say?
- How did Jesus truly show He was God’s Son in this passage?
- Could there have been any other way?
Family Activity: During the Sunday service this week, we celebrated communion together. Let’s do the same together as a family. Gather crackers/bread/or tortilla chips and a drink for everyone. Read Luke 22:14-23. As you read the sections use the crackers and drinks as representations for the bread and cup. Ask your family to eat or drink as you read. Remind your family that Jesus used what is in front of Him at dinner to give new meaning for those things. In other words the item you use to represent the bread and cup are not holy, it is the action of doing this together and what it means, that makes it special. Remind your family that every time we eat and drink we can remember Jesus and His sacrifice. As we remember those things we can thank God for Jesus and the opportunity to be made right with God.