How do you teach your children the story of Easter?

Sin.
An innocent Man.
A Savior who came to Redeem us.
Resurrection.
LIFE!

In order to explain the message of the Cross to my little punks I use vinegar, salt and very dirty pennies.

I begin explaining to my littles that sin is anything we do that keeps us from being friends with God.  “Sin” is the bad and yucky things we do. (I realize that’s a very basic statement, but my kids are little)

Then I bring out some very dirty pennies and tell them the dirt on the penny is like their sin.

In a small bowl, I mix ¼ cup of white vinegar and 1 Tablespoon of salt.

Stir.

Place the pennies in the vinegar mixture for about five minutes.

I suggest you try this alone first, so you can gauge how long it will take the penny to become shinny, you may need to adjust the time up or down by a few minutes.

They will come out shiny and clean!

I explain that Jesus can make our hearts shiny and clean if we ask Him to forgive us.

We celebrate Good Friday because Jesus died on the cross for our sins!

I end by having them repeat a little prayer of forgiveness and thankfulness for what Jesus did on the cross!