Giving Away Books for Easter
Updated March 6th, 2024
Easter can often feel like a wasted opportunity for evangelism. After all, the message of Easter is clear – Christ died for your sins and mine, then rose again so that we can have a new life in Him. But amid the Easter–egg hunts, the chocolate, and the bunny costumes, that message can feel lost in the noise.
When would you even have the chance to speak of the message of the cross? Your friends may have happily come along to your church’s nativity celebration, but attending an Easter service feels like a bigger ask. In your conversations in the weeks leading up to Easter, you listen, waiting for the question: ‘So what is Easter about, really?’ But Easter Sunday comes and goes with the question never arriving.
What can be done about this?
Books can help us to start grabbing those evangelistic opportunities before they slip away. The book opens the conversation for you; you’re not waiting for the questions to be asked, you’re letting the book ask those questions for you. It’s a meaningful way of blessing your friends and family members, as this gift that will last them long after the chocolates have been eaten. A book can also meet them where they’re at – for a child, a brightly illustrated story of Jesus’ death and resurrection may engage their heart; for a skeptic, an in–depth look at the evidence for the empty tomb may be deeply compelling; for a seeker, an introductory gospel could open their eyes to the truth of the claims of Jesus.
How do I give an Easter book?
When you’re looking for them, there are more opportunities to give away books than you might think. Why not pop a book in an Easter basket of goodies for your neighbor? Or give out Easter story books to children as prizes in a treasure hunt instead of (or in addition to) chocolate eggs? You could even involve your whole church – put a book in every seat at your Easter service, or if your Easter service is online this year, have some members of the congregation canvas their neighborhoods and hand out books with an invite to your virtual service. Imagine the evangelistic reach you could have, if every member of your congregation gave away just one book this Easter.
Sharing a book is not the end of the story! Before you pass out books, you can pray, ‘Lord, please show me who to give these to this Easter. Help me to be bold in giving this away.’ Afterward, you can pray, ‘Lord, open their hearts to the message of your Cross. Give me opportunities to speak about this book with them.’ And then, be willing to open the conversation. Ask open questions and be prepared for them to return with questions of their own. Maybe start with, ‘Have you had a chance to read that book? What did you think?’ It’s helpful to have read (or at least skim–read) the book beforehand so you can engage in meaningful discussion. Then be prepared for God to work. Our books, conversations, and answers do not bring people to faith – only God alone can do that.
Resources:
For Children:
New! The Topsy Turvy King (Board Book)
Told through fun and memorable rhymes, this board book follows the disciples as they discover that even though Jesus' ways as King are surprising, they are truly best.
New! The Friends and the Traveller
New for 2024, this is an illustrated retelling of the journey along the road to Emmaus—of two friends and a traveller who opens their eyes to a life-changing discovery as the joy of the first Easter dawns.
New! The Most Glorious Easter Morning
This unique and creative board book, filled with facts that fascinate and build faith through poetic prose and illuminating illustrations, will be a go-to Easter book for kids of all ages.
It's hard to be patient! Using this relatable truth, this rhyming illustrated storybook reminds kids of how Jesus' disciples had to wait for him to show that he is King of everyone.
Part of The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible series, this board book shares the gospel story—starting with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter—and encourages children to respond and celebrate that every day is resurrection day!
The story of the most incredible day in the history of the world—a day on which the earth shook and rocks split, all because an incredible man died. Read the book to find out why he died, and what that means for us.
The mysterious story of a tomb left empty, and how it got that way. Introduces children to the Easter story, starting with a bad man named Barrabas and a good man named Jesus.
The Garden the Curtain and the Cross
A beautifully illustrated gospel presentation that focuses on the significance of the temple curtain, this storybook takes children on a journey from the Garden of Eden to God’s perfect new creation.
Help kids learn about the gospel by giving them this fun activity book, packed with mazes, spot-the-difference, drawings to copy, coloring pages, word puzzles and more!
For Adults:
New! 12 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Easter
From Bob Lepine, on-air host of Truth for Life, comes these 12 fun facts about Easter—from its beginnings to present day—that show the enduring significance of the holiday for Christians. An approachable and intriguing book to give away to someone you know this Easter, this would even make a great read for teens.
The King, the Cross and the Meaning of Easter
In only 48 pages, this book gets to the heart of the Easter story and introduces readers to Jesus through the narrative of John's gospel.
Your Verdict on the Empty Tomb
First published in 1988, former lawyer Val Grieve provides a clear and brilliant examination of the evidence for the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The story of the thief on the cross, told in his own words, as he looks back from Heaven on the day that changed his eternity, and the faith that can change yours.
Award-winning legal journalist Lee Strobel retraces the startling findings that led him from atheism to belief and examines the evidence of the resurrection, prompting us to use that evidence to make our own decision about what we believe.
The story of Easter has the greatest news for us – the answer to our biggest problem that will bring peace, assurance and freedom.
Glen Scrivener explores the 'myth that really happened' and tells the story of Easter.
Gospels and Tracts:
New! How Did Someone Like Me End Up in a Place Like This?
From the author of the Halloween tract, The Scariest Stories Are Always True, this tract follows the theme of wondering how we ended up in unexpected places to show us how someone like Jesus ended up in a place like the cross, and what his sacrifice means for us.
Referencing tragedies that make our worlds stand still and leave us in need of hope, this tract points readers to the hope of the gospel.
Following the true story of a French soldier Arnaud Beltrame and how he gave his life for another, this tract explains how Jesus sacrificed his life for each of us, and how we can respond to his offer of forgiveness.
Winsome and clear, this tract about Jesus' death on the cross is ideal to use at Easter, but also suitable for use throughout the year.
ESV Gospel of John (Cross Design)
One of the most-read books of the Bible, this special paperback edition makes it easy to share the gospel of John with others. This affordable booklet comes with a short gospel presentation, the English Standard Version (ESV) text of the John's gospel, and favorite verses from the book.
