Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks
Jesus Is Alive: Joy
Matthew 28:1-10; John 16:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 New Testament PrincipleJoy
Jesus died on the cross, and His body was put in a tomb cut into rock. A huge stone was rolled in front of it. Early on Sunday morning, two women named Mary went to the tomb. Suddenly the ground shook! An angel rolled the stone away and sat on it. He said, "Don't be afraid. Jesus is not here. He has risen, just as He said! Come and see." The women ran with great joy to tell the disciples, and on the way, Jesus met them! Joy is the deep gladness God gives, because Jesus is alive and nothing can take Him away from us.
Joy is the deep gladness God gives us because Jesus is alive. Our joy comes from Jesus, not from how things are going, so no one can take it away.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!”
Matthew 28:6 BSB
Christ Connection · The gospel
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus took the punishment for our sin, and God raised Him to life to show that the payment was complete (Romans 4:25). Everyone who trusts in Jesus is forgiven and gets "a living hope" (1 Peter 1:3) and a joy that no one can take away (John 16:22).
1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 1:3
The Big Story · Redemption
Sin brought death into God's good world. Jesus came, died for our sins and rose again on the third day. Because He is alive, death has lost, and everyone who trusts in Him will live forever with Him. That is the best news ever, and the reason for our joy.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: What's inside?
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): The rolling stone
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Roll the stone
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus is alive! I have joy!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Shake, roll, run!, Color the empty tomb
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jesus died on the cross and was put in a tomb with a huge stone in front. Early Sunday morning, two women went to the tomb. The ground shook, and an angel rolled the stone away and sat on it. He said, "Jesus is not here. He has risen, just as He said! Come and see." The women ran with great joy to tell the others, and Jesus met them on the way! Joy is the deep gladness God gives, because Jesus is alive.
Start here
Do "What's inside?" Let kids guess what's in the closed brick box. Roll the stone away. Say, "It's empty! Sometimes empty is the best news. Let's find out why!"
Bible story 6 min
Jesus died on the cross on a Friday. His friends were very sad. A rich man named Joseph put Jesus' body in a new tomb. The tomb was a room cut into a rock hill. Then he rolled a huge stone in front of the door.
Soldiers came to guard the tomb. They put a seal on the stone. No one could get in or out!
Early Sunday morning, as the sun came up, Mary Magdalene and another Mary went to see the tomb.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Build the empty tomb 10 min
You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Minifigures or small brick people
- Pairs build the tomb in the hillside from the build guide, with a round stone at the door.
- Act out the story. Shake the table for the earthquake, roll the stone away and sit an angel minifigure on top.
- Walk the women minifigures down the path. Have Jesus meet them. Everyone says, "Jesus is alive!"
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
After Jesus died, His body was placed in a tomb cut into rock, and a great stone was rolled across the door. The tomb was sealed and guarded. At dawn on the first day of the week, two women came to the tomb. A great earthquake shook the ground, and an angel rolled away the stone and sat on it. "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay." The women ran "in fear and great joy," and Jesus met them. Joy is the deep gladness God gives because Jesus is alive.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Evidence at the tomb, Roll the stone
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Jesus' body was laid in a new rock-cut tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, sealed with a great stone and guarded by soldiers. At dawn on the first day of the week, an earthquake shook the ground as an angel rolled away the stone and sat on it. He announced, "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay." The women ran "in fear and great joy," and the risen Jesus met them. Christian joy is rooted in the fact of the resurrection, which is why Jesus promised a joy that "no one will take away."
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Why the resurrection brings joy, Joy that can't be taken
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Joy
The same principle in other Bible stories.
The Church BeginsThe Holy Spirit ComesActs 2:1-47; Genesis 11:1-9On Pentecost, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit like a rushing wind and tongues of fire. The disciples told about Jesus in many languages, Peter preached, and 3,000 people believed. The church was born with great joy.New TestamentFreeJoy
With MusicWorthy Is the Lamb: A New Song in HeavenRevelation 5:1-14; Revelation 7:9-10; Psalm 96:1God showed John a vision of heaven. No one was worthy to open God's scroll, until Jesus, the Lamb who died and rose, stepped forward. Then all of heaven sang a new song, and people from every nation praised Him. Because Jesus won, we can sing with joy too!New TestamentJoy
Fruit of the SpiritFruit of the Spirit: JoyPhilippians 1:12-14; Philippians 4:4-13; Philippians 4:22; Acts 28:16, 30-31Paul wrote a letter full of joy while he was chained to a Roman soldier. His chains even helped the good news spread through the palace guard and into Caesar's household. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It doesn't come from how things are going. It comes from Jesus, who is with us and always at work.New TestamentJoy
Found! The Lost Sheep and the Lost CoinLuke 15:1-10Tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus, and the Pharisees grumbled, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus told two stories. A shepherd with a hundred sheep lost one, so he left the ninety-nine and searched until he found it. Then he carried it home on his shoulders with joy. A woman with ten silver coins lost one, so she lit a lamp, swept the house and searched until she found it. Both said, "Rejoice with me!" There is joy in heaven when one lost person turns back to God.New TestamentJoy
The Church BeginsPhilip and the EthiopianActs 8:26-40; Isaiah 53:7-8God sent Philip to a desert road to meet an important man from Ethiopia who was reading the Bible. Philip told him the good news about Jesus, the man was baptized, and he went home full of joy.New TestamentJoy
The Joy of the LORD: Ezra Reads God’s WordNehemiah 8:1-18After God's people came home from exile and rebuilt Jerusalem's wall, they all gathered in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra read God's Word aloud from early morning until noon, and the Levites helped everyone understand it. When the people heard it, they wept. But the leaders said, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The people went home to eat, drink and share food with those who had nothing, and they celebrated with great joy because they understood God's Word.Old TestamentJoy