Supplies Needed:

Paper
Coloring Supplies
Bibles (or printed copies of Luke 24:13-35)
Index cards
Writing utensils

Note to the Teacher

Some days are burned in our memories. Such days affect our lives for years to come. Usually, at the start of those days, we don’t know that those are the days that change everything! For two of the disciples, today’s story is that kind of day. The day ended with the breaking of the bread. This breaking of the bread is done regularly and often, ending in the same mundane way it began.

Icebreaker: Emoji Timeline (10 min.)

Supplies:

Paper
Coloring Supplies

The best thing about seeing a friend you haven’t seen in a while is catching up with each other. Let's catch up on our week together now...but with a twist! Let’s use no words, only emojis! In the next five minutes, pick (and draw) six emojis to describe your week.

After five minutes, everyone will hold up their emojis and try to guess one another’s adventures (or non-adventures) of the past week! For example, if my week consisted of a math test, a winning basketball game, and a lot of sleep, I might draw a plus sign, a paper with a pencil, a basketball, confetti, and a sleeping smiley face.

Scripture (5 min.)

Supplies:

Bibles (or printed copies of John 20:19–31)

Today, we will read about two friends walking to Emmaus and catching up with each other as they walked. When they encounter a stranger on the road, they need to bring him up to speed as well.

Read Luke 24:13-35.

Discussion (10 min.)

Why do you think Jesus would show up as a “stranger” to the two disciples?
What does it mean for you, today, that Jesus “came alongside” the disciples?
Why do you think Jesus asks questions instead of giving answers immediately?
What does “breaking bread” communicate beyond food?
What might “burning hearts” feel like?
Do you think, if we’re paying attention, we might still see Jesus in our interactions with strangers? How so or how not?

Activity: Postcard for “The Day” (30 min.)

Supplies Needed:

Index cards, writing utensils

Optional:

Coloring supplies

Sometimes we don’t recognize God’s hand in our lives. Sometimes we are like the disciples at the beginning of today’s passage. We may be looking at God in our lives without even knowing it! Then suddenly, just as the disciples did, you realize that God is right there. Maybe a random conversation turns out to be a really big deal. Maybe you are supposed to get out of school at exactly 2:35, but for some reason, you are staying a little late. While leaving, you cross paths with someone, and the conversation you have with them changes the trajectory of your life. Maybe they encourage you to try out for the school band or to try a class you were considering. It seems like no big deal. Then you realize that because that conversation convinced you to “go for it,” your life takes a turn.

If you have experienced a day like this, think about what happened that made it “that day” for a minute. If you have not experienced this yet, imagine what might happen. What made you realize that it is God at work? It would be helpful the next time you feel unsure about your faith or have trouble seeing God walking alongside you to have something to remind you of that game-changer day, when you realized God was there. Today, we will make ourselves that reminder.

Write a postcard to yourself from “that day,” whether it’s one you are remembering or one you are imagining. Tell yourself what you want to remember when faith feels foggy.

Closing. Jesus met those disciples on the road to Emmaus. But what if they hadn’t started down that road? It was important for those disciples to take that step down the road. What is one step that you can take this week, so that Jesus can meet you on your road? Think about that step as you hear this blessing.

“May you take that first step of many, so that God may meet you and walk beside you, even when you don’t recognize it, and turn your everyday into the first day in a new life.”