Easter for kids

This is the talk I gave at our family Easter service:

Do you ever wish you could have a second chance?

Like when you are skipping and loose concentration and wish you could try to get a high count again

Or when you miss the all important goal and you don't win the match

Like when you shouted at your mum and didn't mean to

Or when you told a great big fib "yes I've tidied up" 

or perhaps a lie "it wasn't me" 

Like when you said something horrible to a friend and upset them

Or maybe just when you touched your gran's favourite vase and it broke


How great would it be to be able to turn back time, just a little bit, and do it again; but better this time.

Would you like that?


Do you want to hear the good news?
Jesus gives us the second chance.

We have heard the Easter story this morning.

We've heard how Jesus was sentenced to death for no good reason, was humiliated and put through awful pain, and died on the cross.

Why?
He could have stopped his death; he was God.
But he let it happen, he went through it, so that WE could be forgiven for all the things we do wrong.
Jesus, on the cross, gave us our second chance.


And guess what, there's even more good news!
When Jesus came back to life, was resurrected, He sent the disciples out to spread the news that Jesus died to forgive us.  And to help them and us, God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us.  Here, outside; yesterday, today and tomorrow; we have the Holy Spirit with us helping us in making the right decisions and supporting us.


So do you ever wish you could start again?
Today we know we are forgiven and we know that God is with us if we but ask him to help us.

Amen.