It’s Holy Week! And although the gospel, the good news of salvation, is evergreen, this week is a special time of reflection, gratefulness, and celebration. A time to remember the timeline of how Jesus went from being followed and celebrated by multitudes to being crucified and, more importantly, risen!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3.
We have hope because Jesus paid for our sins when He laid down His life for us. Thanks to His sacrifice on the cross, we are made right with God and have access to Him (Isaiah 53:5, John 3:16).
We have hope because He was risen! He conquered the grave! Death could not hold him (Matthew 28:6) and because of this, we will be risen with Him (John 6:40). Our lives don’t end here on this Earth, there’s an eternal life in His presence, the precious gift of redemption available for each one of us because of God’s unfailing love.
This is the precious, happy, hopeful news we absolutely need to share with our children and with everyone we know. But how? Here are some simple yet meaningful ideas to share the gospel with our children this Holy Week (and year-round).
1. Take them to watch King of Kings
This is a low-hanging fruit. If you want to introduce your kiddos to the gospel or reinforce what you have taught them, this movie will become your best resource.
The entire gospel is summarized in this animated film by Angel Studios in an engaging, fun, and emotional way. I just went to watch it with my children the day it premiered in theaters on April 11th. We laughed, cried, and left discussing the movie and our favorite parts. I answered so many questions, and my kids’ hearts were touched by the full scope of what Jesus did for us, his ministry, his miracles, his death, and resurrection.
Trailer and details about King of Kings can be found on the film’s official website. Grab your kids and take them to your nearest theater today!
2. Do Family Devotions
Coming together as a family to read the Bible and talk about it has become an important habit and part of the family culture my husband and I have built. You don’t have to be a scholar or a pastor to make this happen. You don’t need fancy resources for this purpose, although books and devotionals are always helpful and welcome. But if you have a willing heart, a Bible, and create the opportunity and space to sit together, even for a few minutes, that’s all you need. If you don’t have a Bible, I’ll leave links on each passage for you to click on and go straight to them online.
Here are some ideas to dive into Scripture as a family this Holy Week:
- Tuesday-Wednesday: Jesus enters Jerusalem. Read Mark 10:32-34; 11:1-10
- Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper. Mark 14:12-16; John 13:1-14:7
- Good Friday: Jesus is crucified on the cross. The Son of God dies. The veil is torn. The earth is shaken. Matthew 26:17-19.
- Saturday: Jesus lies in the tomb, and usual things happen. Read Matthew 27:45, 50-66.
- Easter Sunday: Jesus is alive! Read Luke 23:55-56; 24:1-20, 28-53; Matthew 28:1-20.
3. Use Other Resources
If you would like a more specific guide for a week of family devotions with questions and conversation starters, here is a wonderful devotional guide/article by Focus on the Family: Celebrating Easter as a Family.
I have also found great books that have helped me share the gospel and resurrection story with my kids (elementary age). You are still on time to get these on Amazon this week.
- The Garden, The Curtain and The Cross
- The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. The audiobook is available for purchase on Spotify.
Top picks from Miami Mom Collective’s founder and mom friend, Cierra, include:
- Darkest Night Brightest Day, a family devotional for the Easter season.
- Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About The Resurrection Story. This one is for parents, and it explores evidence for the resurrection.
4. Music
Music always works! It’s a powerful storytelling resource to teach and memorize Scripture, and a wonderful way to expose our children to content that will stay in their hearts and minds forever. God can speak to us through music. Here is a list of my family’s favorite playlists on Spotify:
- The Barbosa Easter Playlist. This is a list of the songs my kids and I have been worshipping, jamming, and dancing to this season. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
- Easter Worship 2025
- Kids Easter Worship
- Ultimate Kids Worship
- Shout Praises Kids
5. Find a local church
Nothing like gathering with our family in Christ to worship the King of Kings, especially on Holy Week. If you don’t have one, find a local church to celebrate Easter and every Sunday of the year. Going to church is a habit that blesses each member of the family. Your kids will learn and reinforce the gospel you have taught them at home, and you will be connected to a community of believers to learn, worship, and get involved in line with your time, capacity, and gifts.
6. Check out these Easter posts on Miami Mom Collective
- Bake resurrection rolls with your kiddos and make it a sweet family Easter tradition
- My fellow contributor, Holly Farver, wrote this heartfelt post on how Easter helped her become a better mom.
Beauiful post Valerie! Thank you for taking the time to write out these awesome ways we can equip our children with the good news of the gospel – during Easter time and always!