Resurrection

MEETING AIM: To explore what the resurrection means for us today. 

BIBLE PASSAGE: Mark 16:1-8 

BACKGROUND: The story of the resurrection is the essential conclusion to the story of Jesus’ death. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15: “…if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (verse 14). Today’s session is designed to be a celebration of this momentous event, and also a challenge to the young people to see what it means to be ‘resurrection people’. 

Before the session, spend some time thinking about what this might mean for you. 

 

 

GATHERING TOGETHER

5 MIN 

Welcome the young people and chat together about what has happened this week. Rejoice in the young people’s triumphs and sympathise with their difficulties. Use this time to build relationships and settle into the session. 

 

 

INTRO ACTIVITY

10 MINS 

You will need: a selection of party food (make sure you cater for the different allergies in your group); tablecloths; cutlery; crockery; Easter decorations 

Show the group the food and decorations you have brought and invite them to help you prepare the food, set out tables and decorate the room. You can do this all together or split into teams and take on one of the aspects of preparation each. Make sure you risk assess any cooking or baking you decide to do. You will share the food together later. 

 

 

BIBLE EXPLORATION

10 MINS 

You will need: copies of the Bible passage printed on paper; reflective music and the means to play it 

Explain that you’re here to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection from the dead – the big comeback after Good Friday’s ‘all is lost’ moment. Take this opportunity to look at how the Bible tells the story. Give everyone a copy of Mark 16:1-8 as a print-out which they can write on. Give them five minutes to read and reflect on the passage while you play some ambient music in the background. 

After five minutes (or less if the group are restless), ask if anyone would like to share any words or phrases that particularly spoke to them, anything that they felt God might be saying, or anything significant that the passage made them think about. If no one brings this out, make sure you clarify that Jesus’ death was all part of the plan. Because he died and rose again, the way is open for us to be in relationship with God – and the exciting news is that he’s still alive today. 

 

 

CHATTING TOGETHER

5 MINS 

Continue your exploration of the passage by discussing these questions: 

• What do you think the women were talking about on their way to the tomb? 
• What might have gone through their heads as they saw the empty tomb? And the angel? 

• What might have happened next? 
• What does this story mean? 

 

 

CREATIVE RESPONSE

10 MINS 

You will need: the party set-up from ‘Intro activity’ 

Sit everyone around the table and ask someone to give thanks to God for the food. Invite people to serve one another and enjoy the banquet you’ve prepared together. 

Ask the group how they think Christians are seen by the rest of the (non-Christian) world. As do-gooders perhaps? Religious weirdos? Do they think Christians are known for what they stand for, or for what they stand against? As you eat this meal, you’re getting to the heart of what Christianity is really about – celebration, community, serving each other out of love. 

Ask what it might mean to live as ‘resurrection’ people, rather than as ‘Good Friday’ people. How can your lives reflect that the Christian faith is about good news, not a list of things you have to stop doing? Invite everyone to come up with one way in which their lives are going to better reflect the celebration heart of their Christian faith from now on. 

 

 

PRAYER

5 MINS 

You will need: small Easter eggs; small pieces of card to be used as labels; marker pens; sticky tape 

Give out Easter eggs to the group, along with pens and card labels. Invite every- one to write something on their label which would encourage someone who found it – perhaps something they’ve heard or thought of in this session. Stick those labels to the eggs and challenge the group to hide the eggs where they will be easily found. You could choose to hide them around your church building (but not near any radiators) or you could be bolder and hide them around another place or building in your local community. Do this now if you have time and the opportunity, or encourage the group to hide them this week. 

Pray for the people who will find the eggs, that they will be encouraged and encounter something of the Easter story through their discovery. 

 

If you’re running all four sessions on Easter, choose a movie that illustrates the various episodes covered by the session plans. The clip should be the moment where the main heroic character is introduced. For example, you could choose The Lion King and watch the opening shot as Simba is held aloft; the scene where Princess Leia is under attack in Star Wars IV: A New Hope; the original Toy Story, when Woody comes to life or when Buzz arrives. Ask the group what they notice about how the main character is introduced. What do they learn about them? How does this introduction setup the story?