Editor’s Note: This post was originaly published in March of 2016. We’re republishing it now to be a resource in these times of social distancing.
The final weeks leading up to Easter are a wonderful time for families to gather around the Bible and consider the life of Christ. This family-oriented scavenger hunt is for families to engage with Christ while also spending quality time together. After they find each “clue” the family takes a selfie together with the object they found so by the end, not only do they have fun, faith-filled memories, they have seven new family pictures.
Feel free to use this scavenger hunt with your church and/or family and may we all be blessed as we consider together the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord!
Clue #1—Birth—Luke 2:6-12
This story begins in a different way
The Baby Jesus was sleeping on hay
He was the Messiah, God’s Only Son
But His journey began as a quiet, humble one…
With your family, find a barn or manger and take a selfie together beside it. Think about what it meant that Jesus wasn’t born rich or mighty, but as a humble baby, just like us. Talk about why that is important to us as we follow Him.
Clue #2—Baptism—Matthew 3:13-17
As He grew, He gained respect from God and man
And His calling to save us, He began to understand
He declared He came to set the captives free
And was baptized by John to begin that journey.
John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. See if you can find a stream, a pool, or a river, anything with water for your family selfie. Take some time to think about what happened when Jesus was baptized, how God spoke from Heaven and what John said about Him.
Clue #3—Ministry—Matthew 4:18-20
Jesus began to teach all the people
They’d come to hear Him, no building or steeple
He’d talk in the mountains and down by the sea
And to those who would listen, He’d say “Come, follow me!”
Jesus went to places where people were, to talk to them about God’s Love. If Jesus were here today, where do you think He would teach? Take a picture of your family in the place you thought of and write down a little explanation of why you picked that place!
Clue #4—Miracles
Many people came to Jesus in need
Some sick and some lame, some broken indeed
And often Jesus would heal, touch, or feed
News of Him spread around Israel with speed.
There are many stories of Jesus’ miracles in the Bible. With your family pick your favorite story and read it together. There are several ways to take your family selfie—you can all point to the Scripture reference and take a pic; you can re-enact the story and take a pic; or you can take a video of your family reading or telling the story!
Clue #5—Last Supper—Matthew 26:20-30
But some of the people did not like God’s Son
And started a plan to get rid of the One
So Jesus gathered His friends for a Passover meal
And shared what would happen; it seemed so unreal.
During the Last Supper, Jesus explained He would die and rise again, but the disciples didn’t understand His words. It was here that Jesus first described communion—the bread representing His body and the juice representing His blood. After this, He left and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before the soldiers came to arrest Him. With your family, go find a garden or a patch of flowers. Take your picture together and consider how just a few weeks ago this ground was cold and dead, but today there is hope and new life. Jesus came that we might have new life and have it for all eternity!
Clue #6—Crucifixion—Matthew 27:32-56*
Betrayed by a friend, Jesus was arrested
He was tried by a court and His death was requested
On that saddest of days, our Savior did die
But within that dark moment, our salvation did lie
When Jesus died on the cross, His disciples and His friends lost all hope. But God had a bigger plan. A beautiful plan that was way bigger than they could see in that moment. We remember the cross as a place of suffering, but also as a place of hope for all eternity. With your family, find a cross, take your picture, and talk about how we can have hope in Jesus.
*Parents, this can be a difficult subject to approach with children. You know your kids best and what is the best way to share this part of the story. While I have included the Scripture reference, use your discernment and discretion when you share.
Clue #7—Resurrection—Luke 24:1-12
Some may think that our story is done.
But they would be wrong! It has only begun!
For after 3 days, Jesus rose from the dead
To give us New Life forever…just as He said!
Our greatest hope comes in knowing we will get to spend all of eternity with Jesus and with all who follow Him! We don’t have to be slaves to sin. Jesus can help us to live with joy and life now. That is what Easter is all about! Take a picture of your family celebrating with GREAT JOY that Jesus is ALIVE!
This blog was republished with permission. To read more from Christina, check her out at http://refocusministry.org/
She writes at www.refocusministry.org and is a contributing writer at D6 Family, ChurchLeaders.com, and Seedbed. You can follow her on FB: ReFocus Ministry and Twitter: @EmbreeChristina
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