Easter Cookies with a Gospel Message

Much like the anticipated tradition of making Christmas cookies, me and my children have made making Easter Cookies a tradition as well. But, aside from enjoying these yummy treats, we like to share them with neighbors and include a message about the true meaning of Easter. Bunnies, eggs, and candies aside- I want to help my kids focus on the message of the gospel.
It is easy- too easy- to find "Spring-time" cookie cutters. But finding some that are actually "Easter" oriented is a little harder. So, I was excited to find this set of cookie cutters at a local grocery store a few years back. The set included a lamb, a church, a cross, (and one other cutter that I did not use.)  Amazon.com also carries these cutters...click here.

We just made sugar cookies and I let the kids take turns cutting out the shapes. While doing this, we talked about what each shape could remind us about Easter. After, finishing the cookies, we prepared plates for neighbors and family, and included a little tag with some verses that explained the cookies.

Here are the verses and descriptions I used last year, just to give you an idea. (Feel free to copy and paste and print to use for yourself.)
To make the tag I just cut out each description with verse, individually, and glued them to a colorful piece of construction paper or card stock. It can be as simple as that or you could definitely get more creative with it, too!

If you are giving this small gift to unsaved family or friends, pray with your children that God will use this simple seed in their hearts.

Last year, we took a platter of these cookies to a family get-together, and read the verses out loud before easting them. It was a nice small way to point my kids (and the adults and myself, too!) back to the reason for Easter. Whenever you are able, point your children back to the gospel!

~Kari Boyer

Resurrection Rolls

Resurrection Rolls

Here's a new twist on the Resurrection Cookie idea for Easter, both are recipes you can do with your kids/grand kids in order for them to understand the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This fun recipe uses Crescent rolls and a disappearing marshmallow!

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

Ingredients:
Crescent rolls
Melted butter
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Read Matthew 27:57-61

1. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.
2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.
3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.
4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.) This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.
5. Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. (The oven represents the tomb - pretend like it was three days!)
6. Let the rolls cool slightly. The children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!!!! (The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)

Now read Matthew 28:5-8

Explain: At the tomb, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw an angel, who told them not to be afraid. No one had taken Jesus' body, but He Had risen from the dead! The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples what they had seen, that Jesus had risen from the dead. They were so excited, they ran all the way home to tell the disciples the good news! He is risen from the dead! Alleluia!

After that Jesus appeared in person to Peter, then to the 12 disciples and after that, to more than 500 people. Jesus' appearance to eyewitnesses, those who saw Him with their own eyes, would give support and prove that Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

By rising from the dead, Jesus proved once and for all that He was the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Chosen One, and the Lamb of God. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, Jesus did what no other had ever done before. As both God and man, He overcame sin, death, and hell. And now because of what Jesus has done, these things no longer have any power over those who believe in Jesus and allow His Spirit to lead and direct them. Rather than being slaves to sin and death, Christians ( those who love and believe in Jesus) are free to obey God and do good ( Romans 6:17-18). The Bible says in John 8:36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."

However, we will only obey God if we listen to the Holy Spirit our helper. He enables believers in Jesus to do the right thing. It is important that we read the Bible (God's Word) because one of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us obey God is by reminding us of what He says to us in His Word. God's Spirit will never go against his Word. In fact, when we read God's Word, we are listening to the Holy Spirit. Of course, you won't always do the right thing; the Bible says this ) 1 John 1:5-10). But that is why we need to continue to confess our sins knowing that God forgives us, based on what Jesus did on the cross. This is also a reason we need to spend time with other believers in Christ so they can encourage us in our faith.

May you have a blessed and meaningful Easter!

- Author Unknown -

Activities to Emphasize the True Meaning of Easter

~The Empty Tomb (see pictures)

We do this activity every year at Easter to help the kids visualize the Empty Tomb. We place it on our hutch when complete to remind us of the true meaning of Easter- Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.

Recipe-

4c. flour

1 c. salt

1 1/2 c. warm water

Mix flour and salt. Add water and mix until dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. Then knead the dough on lightly floured surface until smooth. Roll out to about 1/2' thickness. Use a small oven proof bowl (glass is fine) turned upside down on cookie sheet. We spray the outside of the bowl with cooking spray so the tomb won't stick. Cover the bowl with the dough and make a finished edge at the bottom. Cut out a door "stone" to place up against the finished tomb. Place the stone face down on cookie sheet. Bake in warm oven (150 degrees) for about 2 hrs.

When cool carefully remove the tomb from the bowl. We place a piece of construction paper underneath the tomb with the words "He is not here, he has risen as He said." Place in a visible location for the Easter season.

~We always read a good Bible story book about the Resurrection. We have one we've used for many years. I like ones with true to life pictures that adequately express the meaning of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us.

~During the Easter season we read the Biblical account of the Passion week beginning with Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

~Joni Eareckson Tada's Passion Hymns for a Kid's Heart is a great resource. We LOVE The songs about the cross and the resurrection and play them often, especially around Easter time.