April 20, 2025 – Easter – Matthew 28; 1 Corinthians 15

Lesson Date: April 20, 2025 – Easter

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 28:1-10, 16-28; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, 14-22

AIM: To lead students to review the facts of Jesus’ resurrection, the proofs of Jesus’ resurrection, and the importance of Jesus’ resurrection, and to encourage them to do as He commanded by telling others about His resurrection.

 

Before class: Be sure your class is ready for guests.  Have some extra chairs and quarterlies available.  Enlist some of your students to greet people at the door and get guests to complete a paper or digital Sunday School guest form (the QR code for the digital form is on your class folder).  Write the word “News” on the board or screen.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Welcome everyone to Sunday School and wish them a very happy and blessed Easter.  Remind them that Easter is the day on the calendar when Christians all around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Direct everyone’s attention to the word “News” written on the board or screen.  Remind the students that our area has made news in the last couple of years because we have experienced three hurricanes, a flood, and other severe weather events.  Tell them when natural disasters occur, the news media spreads the word about what happened.

Ask: “After any of those storms, did you tell others about any damage or downed trees on your property?” (they probably did).  Ask: “Why did you tell them those things?” (because they were important events).  Tell the class when a storm causes damage to your home or property, that is big news.  Tell them we usually tell others about big events that affect us personally.

Ask: “Natural disasters are bad news, but what are some times in life when we have really good news to tell people?” (some examples might include the announcement of a wedding or birth of a baby, when we receive a promotion or honor, when we overcome a serious illness, when a friend or loved one comes to know Jesus, etc.).

Tell the students that this morning we are going to learn about the best news ever to come to mankind.  Tell them the title of today’s lesson is Tell Others About Jesus’ Resurrection.  Tell them we will learn about the facts, proofs, and importance of Jesus’ resurrection, and use what we learn as encouragement to personally tell others about His resurrection.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell everyone that we are interrupting our study of the Old Testament book of 1 Kings to study Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Don’t Sin Away God’s Blessings; we discovered that the kings described in that lesson foolishly sinned away the blessings of God, and we used their experiences as a warning not to follow their examples).
2. Facts of Jesus’ Resurrection.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Matthew 28.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 28:1-4.
   • Ask: “According to verse 1, when did the women come to Jesus’ tomb?” (at dawn of the first day of the week; in other words, Sunday morning).
   • Ask: “Based on your knowledge of these events, why were the women coming to the tomb?” (to finish anointing Jesus’ body for burial, which was interrupted by the onset of the Sabbath; Mark 16:1).
   • Ask: “What does verse 2 say happened?” (there was a great earthquake, and an angel rolled back the stone from the mouth of the tomb and sat upon it).
   • Ask: “How is the angel described in verse 3?” (his face glowed like lightning and his clothes were brilliantly white).
   • Ask: “According to verse 4, what happened to the guards at the tomb?” (they were paralyzed with fear).
   • Read Matthew 28:5-8.
   • Ask: “What did the angel tell the women?” (Jesus was crucified, but He had risen from the dead; go tell the news to His disciples, and that they would see Him again in Galilee).
   • Ask: “According to verse 8, what did the women do?” (they departed quickly to bring the good news to the disciples).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 28:9-10.
   • Ask: “Who did the women meet on the way to tell the disciples?” (Jesus).
   • Ask: “What were they to tell the disciples?” (go to Galilee, where Jesus would meet them).
   • Summarize: The facts of Jesus’ resurrection are these: Jesus was dead, but He arose from the dead, an angel announced His resurrection to the women, Jesus appeared to the women, and Jesus sent word to His disciples to meet Him in Galilee.
3. Proof of Jesus’ Resurrection.
   • Ask everyone to turn to 1 Corinthians 15.
   • Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
   • Ask: “What important facts do these verses tell us?” (Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the scriptures).
   • Tell the class that one important proof of Jesus’ resurrection is that the holy scriptures (the Bible) proclaim it to be true.
   • Tell the class that documentary evidence is good proof that an event happened, but another useful tool is eye-witness testimony.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 15:5-7.
   • Ask: “According to verse 5, who saw Jesus alive after His resurrection?” (Cephas [Peter] and the rest of the twelve disciples).
   • Ask: “According to verse 6, who else saw Jesus alive after His resurrection?” (more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom were still alive at the time 1 Corinthians was written).
   • Ask: “According to verse 7, who else saw Jesus alive after His resurrection?” (James and all the apostles).
   • Summarize: The proof of Jesus’ resurrection is that the scriptures (the Bible) confirm that He arose from the dead, and literally hundreds of people saw Him alive after He arose.
4. Importance of Jesus’ Resurrection.
   • Tell the class that we read about Jesus’ resurrection every year at Easter.
   • Ask: “What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make? Why does it matter?”
   • Read 1 Corinthians 15:14-15.
   • Ask: “If Christ did not really arise from the dead, what does verse 14 say that would make our preaching and our faith?” (they would both be vain, empty, and useless).
   • Ask: “According to verse 15, what else would it mean if Jesus didn’t arise from the dead?” (we and everyone who ever witnessed or taught about Him would be nothing but liars).
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 15:16-19.
   • Ask: “What does verse 17 say would be the result if Jesus never arose from the dead?” (we would still be in our sins and eternally lost).
   • Ask: “According to verse 18, what would that mean for the dead in Christ?” (their souls would have perished, and they would be in hell).
   • Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
   • Ask: “What good news do these verses contain?” (Jesus did in fact arise from the dead and He has given new life to those who trust Him).
   • Summarize: The importance of Jesus’ resurrection is that it rescues those who trust Him from death and hell, providing new life in Him. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then we are all doomed to eternity in hell.
5. Tell About Jesus’ Resurrection.
   • Ask everyone to turn back to Matthew 28.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 28:7.
   • Ask: “What did the angel tell the women to do?” (go and tell the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and would meet them in Galilee).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 28:10.
   • Ask: “After telling the women not to be afraid, what did Jesus tell them to do?” (go and tell the disciples to go to Galilee, where they would see Him).
   • Tell the class that the disciples followed Jesus’ instructions and went to Galilee.
   • Read Matthew 28:16-20.
   • Ask: “What did Jesus tell His disciples to do in verses 19-20?” (go and tell everyone about Him and His teachings).
   • Stress the fact that three times in this one chapter Jesus’ followers were told to go and tell others about His resurrection.
   • Summarize: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history. We are commanded to tell others about the resurrection.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention once again to the word “News” written on the board or screen.  Remind them that when we have important news we are usually eager to tell others about it.

Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Tell Others About Jesus’ Resurrection.  Tell them that we have learned or been reminded about the following:

• The facts of Jesus’ resurrection.
• Some of the proofs of Jesus’ resurrection.
• The importance of Jesus’ resurrection.
• Commands to tell others about Jesus’ resurrection.

Ask: “Now that you know about the facts, proof, and importance of Jesus’ resurrection, will you obey His command to tell others that He is alive and has given you new life?  Who do you know that needs to hear that message?  Easter is a wonderful time to tell others the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection.”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Encourage them to pray for someone they know who needs to know Jesus as their Savior.  Tell them to ask the Lord to help them tell that person this week.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a prayer of commitment to tell others about Jesus’ resurrection.

 

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Matthew 28:18-20, and to look for opportunities this week to tell others about Jesus’ resurrection and how it has changed their life.