Children's / Sunday School · aligned to Standard Evangelical (default)
He Is Risen! The Women Find the Empty Tomb
Jesus is alive! Just like the women who came to the tomb and found it empty, we can be filled with joy because Jesus did not stay dead — He rose again, and that changes everything.
How this lesson was made
DiviNav AI drafted this lesson (Children's / Sunday School, aligned to the Standard Evangelical statement of faith), then an automatic review checked it for Scripture accuracy, theology, sensitive content, and originality. No pastor has read it line by line, so treat it as a starting point: read it all the way through and adapt it to your group before you teach.
Lesson plan
Greet each child warmly by name as they arrive. Gather everyone in a circle and say: 'Today we have the BEST news in the whole world to talk about!' Play a quick icebreaker: Ahead of time, place a big beach ball or large soft ball (the 'stone') in the middle. Have kids take turns rolling the 'stone' to a friend across the circle; whoever catches it shares one thing that makes them happy (a pet, a snack, a game). After a few rounds, say: 'In our Bible story today, some women found a very heavy stone had been rolled away — and what they discovered made them the happiest they had EVER been!' This builds energy and curiosity for the lesson. Keep it light and fast-moving.
Open your Bible to Luke 24. Tell the story gently and simply: 'Jesus loved people so much. But some people did not like that Jesus said He was God's Son. On a sad day we call Good Friday, Jesus died on a cross. He did it because He loves us: He was taking away our sins, the wrong things we do, so we could be close to God. His friends were very, very sad. They wrapped His body carefully and placed Him in a tomb — a cave cut into rock — and rolled a huge, heavy stone in front of it.' (Keep the crucifixion brief and gentle — one or two sentences. Do not dwell on pain or fear. Move quickly to the joy.) 'But that is NOT the end of the story! Very early on Sunday morning, some women who loved Jesus walked to the tomb. Read Luke 24:1-3 (BSB). When they got there — the giant stone was ROLLED AWAY! And when they looked inside… Jesus was not there! Suddenly two shining angels appeared and asked them a question.' Read Luke 24:5-6 (BSB): 'Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!' 'Jesus was ALIVE! He had beaten death! The women ran to tell the others. Peter ran to the tomb too and saw it was empty, and he was amazed.' (Luke 24:12.) End with the big idea: 'Jesus is alive today! That is why we celebrate Easter. It means Jesus is stronger than anything — even death — and because He lives, we can be His friends forever.' Have the kids shout the Easter cheer together: Leader: 'He is risen!' Kids: 'He is risen indeed!'
Sit the children down and walk through the discussion questions below, starting with easy ones and moving to how the story touches their own lives. Affirm every answer. For 5-6 year olds, keep it concrete (what did the women SEE?); for 8-10 year olds, invite more thinking (why is this good news?). Let several kids answer each question. Celebrate their ideas.
Hands-on activity: 'Make an Empty Tomb.' Give each child a paper plate or cardstock with a cave/tomb drawn on it, plus a circle 'stone' cut from gray paper fastened with tape (or a brad an adult pushes through ahead of time; brads are a choking hazard for little ones) so it can roll open and shut. Kids color the scene, then write or trace the words 'He Is Risen!' Let them roll their stone away to reveal the empty tomb inside. As they work, chat about the story. (Simpler option for younger kids: pre-cut pieces they just glue and color.) When most are finished, gather again and practice telling the good news: each child holds up their craft, rolls away the stone, and says to a partner, 'Guess what? Jesus is alive!' Explain that just like the women ran to share the news, they can share this good news with their family this week. Encourage them to take the craft home and tell someone the Easter story using it.
Gather the children in a circle. Review the big idea in one sentence: 'Jesus died, but He did not stay dead — He is ALIVE, and He loves us!' Do the Easter cheer one more time ('He is risen!' / 'He is risen indeed!'). Then pray a simple prayer the children can echo line by line: 'Dear God, thank You for Jesus. Thank You that Jesus is alive. Help us to be happy and to share the good news. In Jesus' name, Amen.' As they leave, bless each child by name: '[Name], Jesus loves you and He is alive!' Make sure every child has their craft and any take-home item.
Discussion questions
- warmupWhat did the women bring with them when they walked to the tomb early in the morning?
- digWhen the women got to the tomb, what big surprise did they find — and what did the angels tell them?
- digWhy do you think the women felt so happy once they knew Jesus was alive?
- applyThe women ran to tell their friends the good news. Who is one person you could tell this week that Jesus is alive?
Scripture
Luke 24:1 (BSB) — On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
Luke 24:2-3 (BSB) — They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:5-6 (BSB) — As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:
Luke 24:12 (BSB) — Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Leader notes
Prep checklist
- Read Luke 24:1-12 ahead of time so you can tell the story warmly without reading it word-for-word.
- Pre-cut the tomb shapes, 'stone' circles, and brads for younger children to save time during the craft.
- Set out the beach ball/soft 'stone' and arrange seating in a circle before children arrive.
- Practice the Easter cheer ('He is risen!' / 'He is risen indeed!') so you can lead it with energy.
- Decide how you will keep the crucifixion part brief and gentle — one or two sentences, then move straight to the joy of the resurrection.
- Running short on time? Trim the icebreaker game to two or three rounds and shorten the craft by using pre-assembled pieces; if discussion runs long, you may drop the second 'why were the women so happy' question. Always keep the closing prayer, the blessing of each child by name, and time to hand out crafts.
- If a child shares something concerning during the lesson — such as being hurt at home, feeling unsafe, or talking about wanting to hurt themselves — stay calm and caring, do not promise secrecy, and report it right away to your children's ministry director or a parent/guardian per your church's child protection policy. For a child in immediate danger call 911. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988, 24/7) and the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453, call or text, 24/7) are resources you can pass to a parent or supervising adult. Prayer is wonderful, but it is never a substitute for getting a child real help and safety.
Materials
- A Bible (to open to Luke 24)
- Large soft beach ball or foam ball for the icebreaker
- Paper plates or cardstock with a tomb/cave shape
- Gray paper circles for the 'stone,' plus brads or tape to make it roll open
- Crayons, markers, and colored pencils
- Glue sticks and child-safe scissors
- Pre-printed 'He Is Risen!' word strips for younger children to trace or glue
- Wet wipes/paper towels for cleanup
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