This guest post was contributed by Jen Rhine who severs as children’s ministry director at Crossings Community Church in Columbia, PA.
I created this because we often use egg hunts to invite children to the church at Easter but we do not really use the opportunity to teach about Jesus. I decided to try to use the egg hunt as a family teaching time. I see parents drop off kids and never interact as a family at church. I am working to gently guide parents to interact with their kids and talk to them about Jesus.
I also had a big bin of eggs filled with prizes for DVDs, candy, stickers, and tatoos and used a spinner I found at Oriental Trading Company. The kids would get to pick out the amount of eggs based on the number from the spinner. So they went home with candy and prizes too!
You’ll need to download and print these two files to get started
Directions for Egg Hunt
Each child picks up 1 egg of each color and puts it inside his or her bag. I placed a strip of paper inside each child’s bag that showed each color as a guide for young children. (PDF included)
Children went to tables and opened the eggs as they worked on their coloring books with their parents.
Color Story Bible verses
Blue– Jesus is born in the manger
Luke 2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
*stickers- Jesus is born!
Purple– Jesus performed many miracles and taught people about God
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
*loaves and fish candy fun pack (fruit chews) 36/2375 6.99 for 46 at Oriental Trading Company
Red– Jesus died on the cross
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
*cross necklaces
Pink– the tomb is empty
Matthew 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
*nothing!
Orange– Jesus ascended into heaven
Act 1:9 After he said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
*Bubbles PL-36/1091 5.99 for 48 at Oriental Trading Company
White – Jesus forgives us
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
*cross erasers
Green – Jesus helps us grow
I Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;
*flower bulb
Yellow – Jesus invites us to live in heaven
Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
*gold coins (gold coin gum melts less than gold coin chocolates)
I used this activity 4-5 years ago. I had several parents ask me for a “clean” copy of the booklet because they wanted to use it again. Since I haven’t used it in a few years, I’m gearing up to use it again this year.