That Missing Piece

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Upper Elementary

Lesson Easter Sunday
Spring 2023
By: RLD Editorial Team
April 09, 2023

Lesson Focus:

We can celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Bible Basis:

John 19:16—20:20

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

Cards (or cardstock)
Envelopes
Pens/markers

Summary & Links:

In order to introduce the idea of an empty tomb, students will watch a short video about missing objects.

Memory Verse:

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead. . . . This is my gospel.
—2 Timothy 2:8

ECHOES Verse
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
—1 Corinthians 6:14

Step 1:

In order to introduce the idea of an empty tomb, students will watch a short video about missing objects.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

What’s something you often have trouble finding when you need it? (Possible answers might include: Shoes, backpack, homework.)
Have you ever needed somebody’s help to find a lost item? Tell us what happened. (Answers may vary.)

It can be very frustrating to misplace or forget something important. When you finally do find what you’re looking for, it can come as quite a surprise! These fun “hidden object” games hide items in detailed pictures. See if you can spot the hidden item in the images I’ll show you. Touch one finger to your nose to let me know you’ve found the image.

Show students as many hidden pictures from this article as time allows. Allow students 2–30 seconds per image before scrolling down to the answers.
Can You Find the Hidden Objects in These Pictures?

Have you ever been surprised by where a missing object turned up? Why? (Answers may vary.)
Have you ever been glad when something was missing? What prompted that situation? (Be prepared to share your own examples.)

Most of the time, it’s disappointing when we can’t find what we were looking for. However, our story today is a little different: When these people realized they had lost something, it turned out to be a reason to celebrate! Let’s find out why.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Step 4:

Materials Needed:

Cards (or cardstock)
Envelopes
Pens/markers

If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring supplies with them to class.

The disciples in our story today were expecting to grieve over Jesus’ body, but what they discovered turned into an opportunity for a celebration!

What was the reason for celebrating? (Answer: Jesus had come back to life!)
Why is Jesus’ resurrection a celebration for us as well? (Possible answers: It represents the promise of salvation, it is the center of our faith and belief.)

Jesus’ resurrection is the biggest reason for celebration in all of history. Because Jesus defeated sin and death, we know that sin and death aren’t all-powerful. God is bigger than our fears and our anxieties.

What are some difficult things in this world, things that make you not want to celebrate? (Possible answers: having to stay home all the time, not being able to play with friends, disease, poverty, death, hatred, disappointment.)
How does the Resurrection change your perspective on those things? (Answer: Jesus’ resurrection proved He is greater than anything bad in this world.)

If the Resurrection is a reason to celebrate, then we should do exactly that! Of course, there are lots of different ways people celebrate. Some of you may have had to cancel or postpone a celebration of some kind because of social distancing. Allow students to talk about these instances if opportunity arises.

What are some examples of celebrations? (Possible answers: Birthdays, holidays, victories, parties.)
What do you normally like to do at your celebrations—when you aren’t sheltering in place? What would you do to celebrate now? (Possible “before” answers might include: Get together with friends, sing, eat good food, play games, etc. Possible “now” answers might include renting a family movie to watch together, doing something special like making homemade ice cream, playing a board game together.)

Every celebration needs an invitation! Let’s create some invitations for friends, inviting them to celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead! Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home).

On the front of your card write “Celebration Invitation” but the rest of it is up to you. Address it to someone who needs to hear about Jesus’ love. On the inside, write why you’re celebrating (the Resurrection) and when (from now until the end of time!). You can also write down at least one reason why the Resurrection gives you personally a special reason to celebrate.

Once your preteens have had a chance to create at least one celebration invitation, challenge them to send it out sometime during the week. We often celebrate Easter as if it was only one day, but in reality, the Resurrection is reason to celebrate all year round! This week find some ways to celebrate the Resurrection with your family and make more Celebration Invitations and send them out. There are a lot of people who need to know the Good News.

Close in prayer.

Spread the word

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