3 Ways to Help Your Family Stay Focused On Christ This Easter

1. Share with Your Children about Holy Week

I have been a Christian for over thirty years, but it wasn't until recently that I learned the significance of Holy Week. Some of that could be attributed to my growing up Baptist, where the focus was Thursday through Sunday before Easter. And while helping our families understand the importance of Maundy Thursday, walking through the events of Good Friday, and celebrating Easter Sunday, take the opportunity to mediate and worship the Lord Sunday to Sunday.

Carve out some time each day to teach your children about Holy Week and the significance of each day, read Scripture passages together and pray for the Lord to help your family prepare for Easter Sunday. If you have older children, invite them to lead the devotional time, reading from the Bible and closing in prayer. For those with younger children, while you read through the Scriptures, put out paper and crayons and let them draw out the story.

Don't get discouraged if your children aren't as excited to sit down each day and read through the Bible together. I have found that even when glitter or snacks are involved, children can easily get distracted. Introducing the habit of reading through the Bible, asking the Lord to help us focus on His Word, praying together as a family, and purposefully setting aside time with the Lord will help cultivate a habit when they are older.

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2. Serve as a Family

Easter is a time to reflect on Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. In the ultimate act of service, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV)

As we share the gift of salvation with our children, we can provide opportunities for our families to serve others out of gratitude for what Jesus has done for us.

Pick a few houses in your neighborhood and, as a family, work to help get their yards ready for Spring. Have your younger children help by picking up sticks or pulling weeds. Your older children can serve by mowing or planting flowers. If your neighbors aren't part of a church, make a card sharing your church's website or social media pages, making sure to personally extend the invite to join your family on Easter Sunday.

Get together with a few families from church and host a free car wash or oil change in the church's parking lot. While people are waiting, tell them about upcoming activities at the church, and let them know they are welcome to join you all on Easter Sunday.

Contact the local soup kitchen and sign up to serve meals or sort clothes at the pregnancy center. Host a birthday party for a child in foster care or volunteer to clean kennels at the Human Society.

These are just a few ideas, but there are countless ways in which we can serve those around us. We see that often, Jesus started by meeting the physical needs of others, which led to meeting their spiritual needs.

3. Introduce a Fast

Typically, fasting is associated with abstaining from food. And while we see that often in the lives of people in the Bible, we can also fast from things that distract us from Jesus. Life is busy! For many of us, our schedules are packed between school, sports, dance, church, parties, fellowshipping, family gatherings, work, and chores!

We should take inventory of where we spend our time, even when our calendars are filled with good things, and ask ourselves if we need to let go of something, opting for a little more breathing room. Consider this Easter a way to purposefully and intentionally focus on Jesus and have your family fast from something that consumes your time.

Maybe that means no television during the week, choosing to sit with your family and talk about how God works in your lives. Perhaps your family decides to eat at home during the Easter season, choosing to forgo eating out, making meals together, and gathering around the table. It could mean saying no to certain activities, spending more time as a family resting, and reflecting on Easter.

We desire to guide our families into continually thinking about, talking about, and spending time with the Lord. By intentionally fasting from things that draw our attention away from Christ, we can help reset and refocus our families.

We need help, not just at Easter, keeping our focus on Christ. Might I encourage you to incorporate some of the above tips into your family's routine in the next few weeks and as a practice? Above all, I pray that our families will be strengthened and encouraged as we celebrate the Gospel's good news this Easter.

More Resources for Families:

3 Powerful Ways to Be Missional to Your Community This Easter

A Bible Reading Guide for Families to Grow Together This Holy Week