On this Page: FAQ - General Pieces - Clues - Briefcases and Locks - Decorations - Promotion - Resources


What is the cause of Jesus’ empty tomb?

Did Jesus really rise from the dead or could there be another explanation for the empty tomb?
On this page you will find instructions and pieces that you will need for a DIY (Do it Yourself) Resurrection themed Escape Room for your youth group or family as they solve puzzles and clues to solve the Case of the Empty Tomb. You could also just do the clues for one or two of the theories listed below and talk about that, if you don't have time to do the full Escape Room.

(To have NETworkers TEC come to your group to SET UP this Escape Room, CONTACT US for availability and questions.)

FAQ

What is an Escape Room?
An Escape Room is a puzzle challenge where participants are “locked” in a room for 1 hour and must solve a series of clues in order to successfully “escape” within the time frame. It is kind of like a scavenger hunt.

What is the Purpose?
To help attendees investigate, in a fun way, whether or not there is evidence to back up Jesus' resurrection.
  • Saved: To give them confidence that the resurrection is true, not because they were told to believe it, but because it is reality and there's evidence to back it up. Also to give them quick things that they can share with others who are doubting the resurrection.
  • Unsaved: To cause them to think about the evidence of the resurrection and to present the opportunity to believe IN the risen Savior.

Where does the material come from? 
The clues were created by Hanna w/ NETworkers TEC. The source of the content for the clues come from the booklet Alive by J. Warner Wallace from Cold Case Christianity.  He is a cold-case homicide detective and approaches the case of the empty tomb from a detective's perspective.
Are participants really locked in a room?
No. The idea of being "locked" in a room just adds to the mystery and pressure of solving all the puzzles and clues in time to "escape."
Do you have to have prior knowledge, be a Christian, or familiar with church to participate?
No, the clues are written so that anyone can participate and learn from the game. These puzzles and clues can be solved by students as young as upper elementary; the Escape Room style also works for families of all ages to do together.
How long does the event take?
Suggested time: 1hr and 45 minutes
  • 15 minutes for Introduction/Briefing
  • 1 hour for Escape Room
  • 30 minutes for Concluding Discussion
If you were doing this in a setting where you would see the participants again (like in a youth group) you could do the teaching segment of the Escape Room the week(s) before or the week(s) after.

You could also focus on one theory each week if you were doing this as a family devotion or over a period of time with a youth group.
How many people can play at a time?
Recommend: 6-8 players per room so that everyone stays engaged and players do not become uninterested. If you have more than 6-8 players, it is recommend that you set up multiple rooms (with the same information) for your players to participate in. It can be a race, not only against the clock, but also against the other teams. To help players stay engaged, it is recommend that most of the players are given a job which are discussed in detail under the "General Pieces" section below.
For whom is the Escape Room Designed?
Any group of people (youth groups, homeschool groups, young adult groups, church groups, families, etc.). The Escape Room game is flexible whether you are wanting to do it in your house with your family or at a church with a youth group. You could even consider setting up Resurrection themed Escape Rooms to make open to the public or groups in your area if able.

General Pieces

Introduction/Briefing
​(Read this script to your attendees to before they start their Escape Room.)
briefing.docx
File Size: 21 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Concluding Discussion
(Read this script to your attendees to help them process the information they investigated during the Escape Room. This will also be the time to present the Gospel. You could serve snacks before or during this time as well. This discussion is approx. 30 minutes. When the Discussion refers to the "POSTER" that is the "Detective's Report - See below.")
For kids you could show the below YouTube clip from In the Gap Kids that provides a concise summary of what is presented in the Conclusion Script.
concluding_discussion.docx
File Size: 28 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

​Detective's Report/Poster
(The "Investigative Recorder" be the one that reports the answers from the Detective's Report to the group during the Concluding Discussion. Since the Detective's Report contains the answers to the Escape Room, you may want him/her to fill it out real quickly right after the Escape Room or at the very beginning of your discussion time in order to share with the group, instead of during the game. Pass out this handout during the Concluding Discussion to all participates for them to fill it out during the Concluding Discussion. This will be their take home page that summarizes what they learned.

It is also suggested that you print a larger version of this and hang it up on the wall so that you can fill it out during the Concluding Discussion for your audience to follow along as you talk about each answer. You can get the file enlarged at a place like the UPS Store or Office Max.)
Detective Report
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
answer_key
File Size: 30 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Detective's Bookmark
(This bookmark is to be given to each participant at the beginning of the Escape Room, as a reminder of the theories that the team is investigating. Cut each column to make the bookmarks to pass out.) 
theory_bookmarks.docx
File Size: 26 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Role Tags
(There are 5 different optional roles that you can have available for the participants to keep the players engaged and to help delegate responsibility so that one or two people are not over-stepping on others. You could make badges like these pictured below or use stick on name tags.)
  • Detective Sergeant – To be your team leader.
  • Investigative Recorder – To record and share the official results for each theory on the "Detective's Report" during the Concluding Discussion. 
  • Lock Smith – To apply the combination to the locks.
  • Clue Board Organizer – To put the theory directions and clues you find on the board.
  • Clue Reader – To read the clues and directions.

​These two roles are to be filled by those running the Escape Room.
  • Captain - The one to lead the Concluding Discussion
  • Lieutenant (Room Monitor) - The one to read the game instructions and be in the room with the group to oversee the group and give assistance if needed.

Clue Board
(You could have a clue board that the participates can put their clues on during the game. This helps them to keep all the pieces in one place and allows all the players to see the clues versus one person holding on to the clue and not allowing the other players to read the clues. This board can also be taken into the Concluding Discussion to refer to during the discussion. You could use a white board, foam board, or poster board.)

Clues

Below are the clue files that need to be printed and cut for each theory. Within the clue files are instructions for what kind of props could be used to accompany the clues and the pictures illustrating the suggestions are below. You can change the objects/supplies to fit supplies you already have or do something you feel would work better.

Suggestions: Print each clue set on different colored paper so that it is easy to keep each theory's clue set together (Example: Theory #1 = Red paper, Theory #2 = Orange paper). Laminate the clues for durability. 
10 Envelopes 
Briefcases #1-#5 needs two envelops; one labeled "TRUE" and the other labeled "FALSE". The clue documents will tell you what should go in the appropriate envelopes. To see pictures of suggested briefcases, see the "Briefcase and Lock" section farther down. The envelopes go inside the briefcase so that when the briefcase is opened, the participants have to decide which envelope to open to access the next set of clues.

Theory #1-Fainted
clues_for_theory_1__fainted_.docx
File Size: 21 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Pictured below: Theory #1 clues hidden in a book written by a medical doctor.
Theory #2 - Stolen Body and Lying
clues_for_theory_2__stolen_and_lying_.docx
File Size: 32 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

​Pictured Below: Theory #2 "Power" clue taped on the back of a 1st place ribbon. 


​Pictured  Right: Theory #2 "Power" clue taped on the bottom of "The Buck Stops Here!" plaque.

​Pictured below: Theory #2 "Relationships" clue is hidden on the bottom of a Valentine themed can with jewelry covering the clue. The key to the money box for the Theory #2 "Money" clue is taped to the top of the Valentine's lid. 

​Pictured below: Theory #2 "Money" clue is taped on the back of a piece of fake money. All the money is placed in a locked box labeled "U.S. Treasury". The key to the box is taped to the top of the Valentine's lid from the Theory #2 "Relationship" clue. Or you could hide the "Money" clue in a coin bag with some coins inside.

Suggestion: You could print out the "Jesus and Disciples Picture" and "Disciples Death Chart" to hide or display as a "distraction" as they are not directly needed to solve "Theory #2" clues but are related decorations.
Jesus and Disciples Picture
jesus_and_disciples.pdf
File Size: 352 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Disciples Death Chart
disciplesdeath.pdf
File Size: 315 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
​Theory #3 - Hallucination 
clues_for_theory_3__hallucination_.docx
File Size: 70 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Combination Code: These numbers from the combination code (3, 6, 8, and 4) are hidden on the corresponding poem objects that show that the disciples did not hallucinate seeing Jesus. When you write the combination number on these objects, don't forget to also write #3 somewhere on the object to indicate to the players that this number goes with theory #3.
Pictured below are the objects that the participates are looking for that coordinate with the clue poem:
(1) Over 500 saw with their eyes. - Combo Code Number = 3
(2) And when the disciples touched him, they realized, - Combo Code Number = 6
That he wasn’t dead
(3) But since he was fed, - Combo Code Number = 8
(4) They knew the one they walked with was truly alive. - Combo Code Number = 4

(1) "Over 500 saw with their eyes." - The combination number (3) is written on the inside of the glasses and the glasses were hung on the bookshelf.

​(2) "And when the disciples touched him..." - The object for this clue is a picture of the disciples touching the risen Jesus, taped inside a "robe" similar to what they would have worn during Jesus' time. The combination number (6) is written in "invisible ink" by a special pen that is revealed with UV light from the pen. I hung the pen on the picture to make it easier to find.

(3) "But since he was fed" - The combination number (8) was written on one of the fish in the Shark Bite game. Another type of fish could be used instead of the game like fish crackers, fake fish, lure fish, etc. 

​(4) "They knew the one they walked with..." - This combination number (4) was written on the inside of the sandal. 
​Theory #4 - Added Later
clues_for_theory_4__added_later_.docx
File Size: 451 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Combination Code: The combination for this clue is a series of shapes. Three of the shapes are found on the clue picture in the clue file above and the last shape is found at 1 Corinthians 15:3-6. You will need to draw this symbol in each of the Bibles you provide so no matter which Bible the players use to look up 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, the correct shape will be there.

The lock that I bought (see "Briefcase and Lock" section further down) had sticker shapes that you could put on the lock but if you would rather use letters or numbers for your combination code, just change the instructions and shape clues on this clue picture found in the clue file above before printing.
Pictured below: You could use a fake book like the one pictured below to hide one of your clues.
​Theory #5 - Wrong Tomb
clues_for_theory_5__wrong_tomb__redo.docx
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
Theory #6 - Resurrection
clues_for_theory_6__resurrection_.docx
File Size: 15 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Briefcases and Locks

Pictured below is a type of briefcase that can be used for this game. These work well because of their size and they cannot be opened without taking off the lock. These were purchased at Michaels.
Combination Codes
(Download this document to have the combination codes for all the locks.)
lock_combinations.docx
File Size: 25 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
You may use pre-programmed locks, but you would also have to change some of the clues to reflect the pre-programmed combination code. Therefore, it is suggested that you purchase locks that can be set to your own combination. These types of locks can be found at Target, Lowes, Office Max, etc. See more info below.
Theory #1, #3, #4, #5, and #6 - This lock (pictured right) is a Master Lock product. The kit includes stickers so that you can have any letter, number, color, shape, or symbol combination for the various clues. This type of lock can be set to any combination you would like.
Theory #2 - I placed a star on the bottom of this lock as  a hint that the combination code from the "Theory #2" clue was the letters with the star underneath. If you wanted to use the Master Lock shown above instead of this type, you could do that as well.

Decorations

You can make the Escape Room as elaborate and decorated as you want. When you set up your room you will want to be sure that you have enough distracting items in the room that are not clues for the Escape Room. This is part of the challenge for the participants to search and evaluate what is a clue and what is not. Don't leave too many of your clues in plain sight; part of the fun is looking for them like a scavenger hunt. 

You can utilize whatever space you have available whether its a classroom at your church or room(s) in your home. You can decorate your Escape Room like a scene from the crucifixion or resurrection, a detective's office, crime scene, normal house/classroom, or whatever other type of theme you would like. Below you can see a couple different decoration settings and hiding places depending on the space available.

Resources

Below are recommend resources that can be used during your discussion time or for other lessons around this topic.
More Evidence about the "Case of the Empty Tomb" from cold case homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace Theory #1: Fainted Theory #2: Stolen Body and Lying Theory #3: Hallucinated  Theory #4: Add Later Theory #5: Wrong Tomb Theory #6: Resurrection7-Day Family Devotional
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7-Day Devotional
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