Road to Emmaus Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free road to Emmaus Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Jesus is alive. On the day He rose, two of His followers walked to Emmaus, and "Jesus himself drew near, and went with them" (Luke 24:15). He opened the scriptures to them, and when He broke bread, "their eyes were opened, and they knew him" (24:31). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

• Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a walk-and-stay game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, the memory verse with motions, and a drawing activity.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 4 pages: the Whose Voice? game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Run and Tell memory verse game, and a Back to Jerusalem game.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: an eyes-opened drawing game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story ("their eyes were holden," "Moses and all the prophets," "Abide with us," "Did not our heart burn"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Luke 24:13–35 out loud themselves, then look closer at why the two were still sad, how the whole Bible points to Jesus (24:27, 24:44), the breaking of bread and "the same hour." Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Luke 24:34 and Luke 24:32).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: Luke 24:13–35
• Main point: Jesus is alive!
• Memory verse: Luke 24:34 (KJV), with Luke 24:32 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about not recognizing someone at first.
2. Bible story: the walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13), "Jesus himself drew near" (24:15), "their eyes were holden" (24:16), Cleopas (24:18), "beginning at Moses and all the prophets" (24:27), "Abide with us" (24:29), the breaking of bread (24:30–31) and "The Lord is risen indeed" (24:34). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Luke 24:34.
5. What this means for us: Jesus is alive, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and telling others the good news this week.
6. Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the road to Emmaus craft, a back-to-Jerusalem game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching the road to Emmaus

• It happened "that same day" Jesus rose (Luke 24:13), so it fits Easter Sunday or the Sunday after.
• Luke names only one of the two, Cleopas (24:18). Don't give the other a name.
• Read 24:30–31 slowly. The moment Jesus broke the bread is the moment their eyes were opened.
• Tell the cross gently, and spend your time on the good news: "The Lord is risen indeed."
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.