See below for resources to use for your family worship time, including a song, coloring page, learning activities activities, teaching materials and ideas for ongoing family fun. Choose the activities that best suit your family or the amount of time you have. Be blessed! Supplies Needed:These will depend on the activities you choose-
Parent Prep (Scripture Notes)God showed kindness to us first. None of us are better than anyone else; we are all sinners and deserve to be separated from God forever. That’s what we deserve, but God is loving, merciful and full of grace. He forgives anyone who asks for it. If God sent His Son to pay by suffering so cruelly in order for us to be forgiven, why should we decide who deserves our kindness? We can’t. To begin your lesson: SINGUse this song to connect with this week's lesson. Also, choose your favorite songs to worship with your kids. THE POINTJesus is quick to forgive the thief just as he is quick to forgive us. KEY VERSES34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23) FAMILY ACTIVITIES (Introduce)Use these activities to introduce some of the themes from this week's lesson. Crown to Wear:
Have children cut out and decorate a CROWN and write JESUS IS THE KINGS OF KINGS. Have gel glue, sequins, glitter, etc available to make a beautiful crown for the KING! As an added twist, cut out a crown and glue toothpicks or sticks to it to represent a "crown of thorns". Painted Cross Craft:
On a piece of paper (heavier the better, like card stock), write the phrase “Jesus is My Savior!” about ⅓ of the way down the page. Using painter’s tape or masking tape (something that will pull off the page without ripping), cover up the written phrase and then add a piece of tape vertically to create a cross. Using a cotton ball or paint brush and washable paint, have kids paint the entire page including the taped area. Once the paint is dry, remove the tape to reveal a clean white cross.
Check out a video example here: Cross Hangman:
Use the key verse, “Father, Forgive them” to play a game of Hangman. If time allows, use “I am thirsty” and “It is finished” for other rounds. TeachTo begin the scripture lesson, check out video below OR Read from your favorite translation Luke 23:26-43. SAY: Have you ever had a day where it felt like one bad thing after another kept happening? For example, maybe you were late for school and then you broke something and then at lunch you were supposed to have your favorite sandwich, but before you could take a bite, you spilled your milk all over it and made it squishy…and when you got home, your dog ate your shoe. Ever have a day like that? Where it felt like EVERYTHING was going wrong? And then, maybe what happens for you is that you start to get mad about it. And, maybe you get so mad that when someone asks you, "Hey, what's wrong?" – you might yell at them, "Leave me alone!" It's almost like, in those moments, that we try to share our bad day with others by making their day bad, too. I bring this up because in today's scripture story, we hear that Jesus is having an incredibly bad day, too. He's been arrested and punished for something he didn't do, and while he's slowly dying from that punishment, EVERYONE is making fun of him. And when I say everyone, I mean the religious leaders are making fun of him, Roman soldiers are making fun of him, even one of the criminals (who is being punished just like Jesus is) is making fun of Jesus. It is the worst of worst days for Jesus. But, amazingly, Jesus does not get mad. Instead, Jesus does an amazing thing and asks God to forgive the people. Later on, when a second criminal, who was also having a really bad day, asked Jesus to remember him, Jesus did not say, "Go away! Leave me alone!" Instead Jesus said, "You will be with me." He quickly shows him grace. Because Jesus was seeking God's help despite having a bad day, Jesus was able to then help make that other man’s day a little bit better. Make it personalToday’s story, as sad as it is, is also a reminder that inviting God’s presence into our worst days keeps us from sharing our bad day with others… …and instead helps us share God's love, forgiveness, and grace with others… …just like Jesus did in today's story. Family Activity (Reinforce)Use this final activity to reinforce the themes learned in this week's lesson. See you all next week. Be Blessed!
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See below for resources to use for your family worship time, including a song, coloring page, learning activities activities, teaching materials and ideas for ongoing family fun. SING TOGETHERSing this song together with your kids. Enter full screen and follow the lyrics on the screen. PARENT PREP (SCRIPTURE NOTES)Jesus said “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me;” Then Jesus said, “…yet not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus' love for us is so great that He was willing to suffer many hardships, even death, on our behalf to save us from God's righteous wrath. We should be ever thankful for the incomprehensible gift of grace, which Jesus provides for us, in that we may be forgiven of our sins; thus we are able to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. We should sacrificially share this Good News with others. God wants us to pray when we are sad, afraid, or upset. Kids will learn that when they are upset, they should remember to pray like Jesus did. THE POINTJesus prayed and spoke with his Father but, Jesus went to the cross willingly for you and me. Jesus is alive now forever! KEY VERSELuke 22:42 “… not my will, but yours be done.” FAMILY ACTIVITIESChoose ones that work best for your family or the amount of time you have. PRAYING HANDS CRAFT
"GREEN BEAR" ACTIVITY/SNACK
INSTRUCTIONS: One at a time, put the blindfold on the kids. Hand them a green gummi bear in one hand, and a different color in the other. The player will taste both gummi bears and try to guess which one is the green one. (Note: In Haribo Gummi Bears, the green flavor is actually strawberry!) VARIATION: This can be done with any colored, flavored candy that has a green piece, including Lifesavers and Jelly Beans. WHAT’S THE POINT? Prayer helps us grow and comforts us when life isn’t so green. "GREEN THINGS" ACTIVITY
Stand in a circle, and pass a green ball around your group. Every time someone throws the ball, they need to name something green. How many green things can you come up with in a row without repeating? Green is for the garden. The garden is where we pray. TEACHRead Luke 22:39-46 or watch the video below. How many of you pray? (Wait for responses.) Good! I’m glad that you pray! When do you pray? (Wait for responses; some may have been given already.) We often pray together before we eat, or just before bedtime. We pray together at church or even in Sunday School! Did you know that Jesus prayed? He did. He prayed a lot. The Bible talks about Him praying at night, early in the morning, in front of big groups, with His Disciples, and even all by Himself. He always prayed to His Father in Heaven (God the Father.) The Bible also tells us that He prayed on the night before His death on the cross. On that night He prayed on the Mount of Olives at a place called Gethsemane. One of the most powerful stories in the Bible is the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is there that Jesus prayed on the night before His death, asking His Father, "…if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me." However, Jesus finished His prayer with these words, "…yet not as I will, but as you will." Jesus went through untold agony in the Garden, even to the point of sweating blood. But despite this He stayed true to the Father’s will. It was important that the Savior (Jesus) be a willing sacrifice. It would not have been alright for God the Father to have somehow forced His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross. But Jesus, though He in His humanity dreaded all that it meant to die on the cross, was willing to do what His Father asked, even if it meant His death. When Peter fought back as Jesus was arrested, Jesus stopped him and asked “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54) Jesus was not forced to die on the cross. As He told Peter, He could have called on His Father and received the immediate help of more than 12 legions of angels (more than enough!) But He wanted to do the Father’s will, to fulfill the scriptures, and to set mankind free from sin and death. Jesus went to the cross willingly for you and for me. But, He prayed with his friends and his Father first. MAKE IT PERSONALWe know Jesus was born to die for our sins, and we know he went willingly. But the Garden of Gethsemane reveals that this was no easy task. Jesus would have gladly skipped the cross if it was possible, but he put God’s plan ahead of his own comfort and fulfilled his mission. God has a plan for every one of you. For some, it will mean serving God right where you are, in school or at home or someplace else close. For others, it may mean going out on a mission trip. It may one day even mean going someplace dangerous to share the good news. Whatever God calls you to do, do it. Do it with all your heart. Do it knowing that God will go with you. Jesus didn’t want to suffer. If there was another way, he’d have gladly taken it, but he was never, ever going to run. Jesus was obedient. That incredible obedience means we can have eternal life. It means we are amazingly loved. And it means we need to prepare our hearts to be just as obedient. Let’s thank God for the obedience of Jesus, and ask him to help us to be just as obedient when the time comes. PRAYJesus used prayer to strengthen himself. He also asked for his friends to pray for him. It's ok to ask for relief, as long as we accept that God can say no! It's very important to share our feelings with God. It's OK to be angry or fearful. Those feelings should be shared with God, not harbored against Him. But we must always be willing to accept God's answers and go ahead and do what we fear. He will help us through it. Jesus asked his friends for help. His friends failed him by falling asleep. Your friends and family may fail you, but they still love you. Let's spend take a moment to pray today and ask God for help for our family, and our friends! FAMILY ACTIVITY (REINFORCE) - "MOTHER MAY I?"Although the Father answered Jesus' prayer request with a "No," Jesus stayed obedient. Parents can reinforce this concept by organizing a round of "Mother, May I."
1. One child or an adult must stand in the front of the group to act as the "mother". The others line up across the back of the room. 2. The "mother" shouts out a command that causes someone to advance forward. For example, the mother may say "Jeff, hop forward three steps," or "Mary, leap forward one step." 3. The individual must respond with "Mother, May I" to gain permission to follow the command before she actually follows the command. If she fails to do this, she must go back to the starting position. The first one to reach mother, wins. See below for resources to use for your family worship time, including a song, coloring page, learning activities, teaching materials and ideas for ongoing family fun. SING TOGETHERSing these songs together with your kids. There is a playlist with several songs to listen to throughout the day or spend an extended time of worship this Easter morning. Hallelujah! PARENT PREPLike the women who expected to find Jesus’ body still in the tomb that Sunday morning (Luke 24:1-5), these two followers of Jesus, traveling on the road to Emmaus, thought all their hopes about Jesus were wrong. A visit from a “stranger” would soon change that. It was quite common for people who didn’t know each other to band together while traveling to and from Jerusalem. However, the two disciples did know the person who joined them- it was Jesus. He was now risen just as he had promised. But, the Lord did not allow them to recognize him right away. He had a lesson to teach them first. THE POINTJesus helps us follow Him even if we don’t always understand. KEY VERSE“ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him...” Luke 24:31a FAMILY ACTIVITIESChoose the activities that work best for your family or the amount of time you have. Do some activities to introduce the point at the beginning and some at the end to reinforce to point. "SEEING" our Bible Verse
Write the Bible verse, "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him." (Luke 24:31a) in very small print on several pieces of paper on the wall of the classroom. Give each child a turn at using binoculars from across the room to find and read the Bible verse on one of those small pieces of paper. (If children are too young to read, they can use the binoculars to find the word JESUS written in tiny print somewhere on the classroom wall.) OR write the verse very small on a single sheet of paper and use a magnifying glass or eye glasses to magnify. Scavenger Hunt
Have kids find each item and bring them to parents. Parents can share the thoughts associated with each item. Post some pictures of your collections on the church’s Facebook page! Rock - God is our rock. Psalm 18:2 Silverware - We are to feed ourselves on God’s Word. Job 23:12 Flashlight - Jesus is the light of the world. John 8:12 Band-aids - God is our healer. Psalm 147:3 Key - Prayer is the key to knowing God. Matthew 7:7-8 Salt - Christ followers are the salt of the earth. Matthew 15:13 Baby Picture - We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 Hand Sanitizer - God can give us clean hands and pure hearts. James 4:8 Stuffed Animal - God loves animals, but he loves us more! Matthew 6:26 Fruit - Be filled with the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 Build a Tower of Blocks - God is our strong tower. Proverbs 18:10 Flower - God will take care of us just like the flowers. Luke 12:27 Solve a Puzzle
Items: 3 sets of 3 objects (ex. 3 apples, 3 books, 3 blocks)
Set out all 9 items. Have students work together (or take turns) so that in each row and column there are no more than 1 of each item. As they work, ask : “Is this puzzle difficult to understand?”. “What can you do to understand something?”. If children are still struggling, show them an example: TEACHRead LUKE 24:13-35 OR Watch this video: On the day that Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to different people. Towards the end of the day, He appeared to two of His disciples who were walking from Jerusalem towards Emmaus, which was a 2-3 hour walk. The Bible tells us that the eyes of the men were made to not know that it was Jesus who joined them on their walk. SHOW: SAY: I have a picture of an unfinished puzzle, here…in fact, the puzzle is barely started. What picture do you think this puzzle is going to show? [Hold up first picture - let the kids make guesses] Those were good guesses! But it's tough to tell what the picture is going to be when so many pieces of the puzzle are missing, don't you think? SHOW: SAY: Here's a picture of the puzzle with more pieces of the puzzle having been added. Now, what picture do you think the puzzle is going to show? [Let the kids make guesses - most will probably say "elephant"] You say "elephant" with such confidence. Are you sure? (yes!) Share this photo: SAY: Now that all the pieces of the puzzle are in place, what do you see? [a mouse, a cat, a dog, a horse, a gorilla AND an elephant] POINT OUT: So every time more pieces of the puzzle were added, the better you were at seeing the picture that the puzzle was supposed to show, right? In today's story, the same thing is true for the two disciples walking to Emmaus. But instead of seeing more and more animals, the two disciples were finally able to see that it was Resurrected Jesus who was with them. So the story starts with the two disciples walking and then Resurrected Jesus joins them in their walk. BUT, they don't know that the person who joins them is Resurrected Jesus – and, that’s because they don't have all the pieces of the puzzle in place, yet. So Jesus helps them put the pieces of the puzzle in place. And those pieces of the puzzle were: 1. Talking with each other about stories about Jesus (that's what they did at first) 2. Talking with each other about other stories from the Bible (that's what Jesus did with them) 3. Praying together. Once all three of these pieces of the puzzle were put in place, then the two disciples were FINALLY able to see that the person who was with them was Resurrected Jesus. And once they saw Resurrected Jesus, did you hear what they did? They went back to Jerusalem to help put those same three puzzle pieces together for the other disciples (to talk about the Jesus stories together, to talk about the Bible stories together and then to pray together). |
Learn how to make perfect hot cross buns using this deliciously spiced yeast dough. Brown sugar, raisins or currants, butter, and vanilla add exceptional flavor and each bun is marked with a traditional cross. Orange icing is the best finishing touch to this classic Easter recipe!
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MAUNDY THURSDAY - FAMILY THREEFOLD COMMUNION
Check out our Holy Week Worship guide for instructions on leading a 3-Fold communion service with your family to re-enact the Last Supper.
For an additional layer of meaning, you can hold a traditional Jewish seder meal for your dinner portion. See the guide below for instructions on how to hold your own family Threefold Communion Service + Seder Meal.
For an additional layer of meaning, you can hold a traditional Jewish seder meal for your dinner portion. See the guide below for instructions on how to hold your own family Threefold Communion Service + Seder Meal.
GOOD FRIDAY - INTERACTIVE PRAYER WALK
Use this interactive prayer walk to help kids reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Supplies: Bible, paper towel tubes, packing paper, string, soil, seeds, “Coin” handout, pens, scissors, glue sticks, red fabric/paper, fabric pens
Set up the following destinations ahead of time, and dim the lights before kids arrive.
Destination 1
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read aloud Matthew 26:36-39, 42-44. Have kids cut two-inch sections from the paper towel tubes and then wrap packing paper around them using string so they’re open on one side and closed on the other. Have them stuff soil into the tubes and plant one seed for each fear or worry they currently have. They’ll offer these things up in prayer to Jesus as they learn to trust and wait on Jesus, knowing Jesus understands them.
Destination 2
Jesus is betrayed and arrested, and then denied by Peter. Read aloud Matthew 26:47-50. Have kids write or draw regrets on the back of paper coins after they’ve cut them out. Say: Even Jesus’ good friend did something he regretted. Read aloud Matthew 26:69-75. Have kids write “forgiven” on an equal number of coins. Have them confess to Jesus as they glue the “forgiven” coins over the other coins, covering up the regrets. Invite them to commit to follow Jesus as they hold the “forgiven” coins in their hands.
Destination 3
Jesus is tried, mocked, crucified, and buried. Paraphrase what happened to Jesus after he was arrested and until he was buried (from Matthew 26:57-67; 27:11-61). Have kids cut out red fabric hearts as they think of ways they’ve received grace from Jesus. Ask kids to think of specific people they can show grace and love to and pass it along. Have them write the names on the hearts with fabric pens and keep the hearts with them throughout the upcoming week. Encourage kids to take out the hearts when they’re struggling to show grace or love to those people and pray, asking Jesus for help.
Supplies: Bible, paper towel tubes, packing paper, string, soil, seeds, “Coin” handout, pens, scissors, glue sticks, red fabric/paper, fabric pens
Set up the following destinations ahead of time, and dim the lights before kids arrive.
Destination 1
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read aloud Matthew 26:36-39, 42-44. Have kids cut two-inch sections from the paper towel tubes and then wrap packing paper around them using string so they’re open on one side and closed on the other. Have them stuff soil into the tubes and plant one seed for each fear or worry they currently have. They’ll offer these things up in prayer to Jesus as they learn to trust and wait on Jesus, knowing Jesus understands them.
Destination 2
Jesus is betrayed and arrested, and then denied by Peter. Read aloud Matthew 26:47-50. Have kids write or draw regrets on the back of paper coins after they’ve cut them out. Say: Even Jesus’ good friend did something he regretted. Read aloud Matthew 26:69-75. Have kids write “forgiven” on an equal number of coins. Have them confess to Jesus as they glue the “forgiven” coins over the other coins, covering up the regrets. Invite them to commit to follow Jesus as they hold the “forgiven” coins in their hands.
Destination 3
Jesus is tried, mocked, crucified, and buried. Paraphrase what happened to Jesus after he was arrested and until he was buried (from Matthew 26:57-67; 27:11-61). Have kids cut out red fabric hearts as they think of ways they’ve received grace from Jesus. Ask kids to think of specific people they can show grace and love to and pass it along. Have them write the names on the hearts with fabric pens and keep the hearts with them throughout the upcoming week. Encourage kids to take out the hearts when they’re struggling to show grace or love to those people and pray, asking Jesus for help.
HOLY SATURDAY - "lOOK AT THE LIGHT" (cRAFT)
Use this experience to show kids that hope remains even in the shadows.
Say: Jesus’ followers surely felt that they were in a shadow on the day after Jesus’ death, but hope remained. Have kids each choose a word that can remind them of the hope they have in Jesus, such as love, hope, or forgiven. Instruct them draw the word in bubble letters on the poster board and cut it out (see the photo example). Have each child stand in front of a bright light holding the poster as shown to create a shadow. Take a photo of each child’s shadow. Print or email the photos to kids, and encourage them to hang the photos in their rooms as a reminder that hope always remains in Jesus. |
SNACK PREP FOR SATURDAY/SUNDAY: RESURRECTION COOKIES
If you haven't heard of Resurrection Cookies before, you and your children are in for a treat. Make sure you start the cookies the night before Easter and they will be ready in the morning for you and your family to enjoy.
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EASTER SUNDAY - SCAVENGER HUNT + JELLY BEAN SNACK POEM
You likely have many traditions for Easter Sunday, but check out the PDF below if you're looking for a few more creative ideas to engage your kiddos in scripture (with some fun along the way). Included is a scavenger hunt, including items you likely have laying around your house, and a jelly bean snack with poem to explain the Gospel story.
See below for resources to use for your family worship time, including a song, coloring page, learning activities activities, teaching materials and ideas for ongoing family fun.
SING TOGETHER
Sing this song together with your kids. Enter full screen and follow the lyrics on the screen.
PARENT PREP
As the church prepares to enter its most significant celebration with Holy Week and Easter, Palm Sunday is an exciting “kick-off” of sorts. Yet even as we wave palm fronds and prepare to worship, not everyone understands what the meaning behind the activity is. This message offers a simple overview of the triumphal entry, and why it is significant for us.
THE POINT
Our greatest need is to be forgiven of our sins. Jesus came to save, but not always in the way people expected. He came to deliver from sin, but some of the people wanted other things from him. If we are not careful, we can impose our hopes and dreams on Christ. When we do this, we miss the true joy that is to be found in Him alone.
KEY VERSES
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" - Luke 18:38
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it..." - Luke 18:41
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it..." - Luke 18:41
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Choose what work best for your family or the amount of time you have.
Palm sunday craft
Celebrate and discuss Palm Sunday with this simple craft of handmade palm leaves. All it takes is green paper, scotch tape, a popsicle stick and a little hand tracing fun!
OR you can use the template below to cut out palm leaves.
game: "don't touch the ground
Use this game to get kids talking about living lives of praise for Jesus. Supplies Needed: Bible, green construction paper.
Form groups of 2 or more. Give each group enough pieces of construction paper to have one piece per person, plus one extra. Say: When Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people laid some of their clothes in the road to make a path for Jesus. They also took palm branches from nearby trees and laid them on the road.
Establish start and finish lines. Say: In our game, your team’s goal is to get to the finish line without anyone touching the ground. We’ll pretend the paper is the clothes and the palm branches.
Use one team to demonstrate these rules: Only one child can be on a piece of paper at a time. The whole team will start the game with each person standing in line on a piece of paper. The kids will put the extra piece of paper on the floor in front of the line so each of the kids can move forward. Once they’ve all moved forward, the last person picks up the extra piece of paper at the end of the line and passes it to the front again. Although this isn’t a race, they’ll repeat this process as quickly as possible so they can reach the finish line without anyone touching the ground.
After the game, ask: What was difficult about this game? What’s difficult about following Jesus sometimes? Read aloud Matthew 21:6-11. Ask: What can you lay down in your life so you can focus on Jesus? Why does Jesus deserve our attention and praise? Close in prayer.
Form groups of 2 or more. Give each group enough pieces of construction paper to have one piece per person, plus one extra. Say: When Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people laid some of their clothes in the road to make a path for Jesus. They also took palm branches from nearby trees and laid them on the road.
Establish start and finish lines. Say: In our game, your team’s goal is to get to the finish line without anyone touching the ground. We’ll pretend the paper is the clothes and the palm branches.
Use one team to demonstrate these rules: Only one child can be on a piece of paper at a time. The whole team will start the game with each person standing in line on a piece of paper. The kids will put the extra piece of paper on the floor in front of the line so each of the kids can move forward. Once they’ve all moved forward, the last person picks up the extra piece of paper at the end of the line and passes it to the front again. Although this isn’t a race, they’ll repeat this process as quickly as possible so they can reach the finish line without anyone touching the ground.
After the game, ask: What was difficult about this game? What’s difficult about following Jesus sometimes? Read aloud Matthew 21:6-11. Ask: What can you lay down in your life so you can focus on Jesus? Why does Jesus deserve our attention and praise? Close in prayer.
"It's a parade"
Get noisemakers, flags, whistles, kazoos, clickers, banners, etc. Talk about or show clips of parades. Now have a parade of your own. Be loud. Be quiet. Be silly. Be serious.
Palm Sunday "HangMan"
Play a round of hangman on the marker board using the main point for today’s lesson "Jesus is our Savior King."
Once the kids guess the phrase explain that today we’ll hear the story of Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem for the last time before he was crucified. We’ll hear about how the people greeted him as he came into the city and why they were so excited to see him.
Once the kids guess the phrase explain that today we’ll hear the story of Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem for the last time before he was crucified. We’ll hear about how the people greeted him as he came into the city and why they were so excited to see him.
Minute to Win It
Check out the link below for some fun "Minute-to-win-it" style games!
TEACH
Ask: I want you to think about a person that you would be most excited to see right now. Who would be the person that you would just be so happy to see walk through the door right now? (Allow a few kids to answer.)
Ask: Now, everyone think of their special person and imagine how you would react if you saw them right now. What would you do? (Jump up and down, scream, wave your arms in the air…You might have a couple kids even act it out)
Say: In our story today we are going to hear about how excited people were when they saw a special person walking along the road to the city of Jerusalem. Does anyone want to guess what person might be talking about? (Jesus!)
Say: That’s right! The people were so excited about Jesus! Jesus is our Savior King! We’ll hear more about it in just a minute. This story is in the Bible, in two of the four gospel accounts, Luke and John. In the gospels we read about the life of Jesus while he lived on earth. Before we hear the story let’s practice our MAIN POINT: Jesus is our Savior King!
Ask: Now, everyone think of their special person and imagine how you would react if you saw them right now. What would you do? (Jump up and down, scream, wave your arms in the air…You might have a couple kids even act it out)
Say: In our story today we are going to hear about how excited people were when they saw a special person walking along the road to the city of Jerusalem. Does anyone want to guess what person might be talking about? (Jesus!)
Say: That’s right! The people were so excited about Jesus! Jesus is our Savior King! We’ll hear more about it in just a minute. This story is in the Bible, in two of the four gospel accounts, Luke and John. In the gospels we read about the life of Jesus while he lived on earth. Before we hear the story let’s practice our MAIN POINT: Jesus is our Savior King!
TELL THE STORY
Watch the video below and/or using the teaching prompts provided to tell the story of Palm Sunday.
Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem right before the Passover celebration. Passover was the holiday for the Jews where they celebrated all that God had done when he brought them out of Egypt. Many people came to Jerusalem to the temple for Passover, so the roads were crowded with people. When Jesus and his disciples got to the town named Bethany, Jesus told his two of his disciples to go into the town and bring him a young donkey that was tied up in a certain place.
He said, “If anyone asks you why you are untying the colt tell them, ‘The Lord needs it.” Sure enough, when the disciples were untying the colt a man asked them what they were doing. When they explained that the Lord needed the colt, the man left them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus and laid their cloaks on its back to make a saddle. Then Jesus rode the rest of the way to Jerusalem on the colt. This was to fulfill a prophecy made by Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
Ask: Does anyone know what a prophecy is? (Allow a few kids to answer)
Say: A prophecy is kind of like a prediction. There were many prophecies made about Jesus hundreds of years before he came to earth. This shows that God had a plan to send his son to us long before it happened.
Tell the Story: Well, as Jesus was riding up the rode to Jerusalem a lot of people started to recognize him. Some of them knew him from when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Others had heard of his great miracles of healing the sick. Everyone was glad to see him. They were so glad that they started laying their coats in the rode for him to ride on as he passed. Some of them even began waving palm branches. Listen to what God’s Word says that they said to Jesus as he passed:
Read Enthusiastically: When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:37-39)
Everyone was glad to see Jesus! ...Well, almost everyone. The Pharisees were also there watching Jesus ride by but they weren’t glad to see him at all. You see they were mad that Jesus was getting so much attention. They were the religious leaders of the day so they thought they deserved all the attention and praise! They even said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” But Jesus said to them, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Ask: Why do you think Jesus said that? (allow kids time to answer)
Tell: Jesus knew that he was worthy of the people’s praise. Even though the Pharisees didn’t understand who he was, all of history had been leading up to the time when the Messiah (Jesus) would come to redeem God’s children and all of creation.
Now when Jesus got closer to Jerusalem, the Bible says he wept.
Ask: What does it mean to weep? Why do you think Jesus was weeping?
Tell: Jesus was weeping because the people, even though they were praising him didn’t really understand who he was. They thought Jesus was coming to Jerusalem as king. Jesus is a King, but the people were expecting an earthly king, one who would rule the people instead of Rome. But Jesus is our heavenly King who has come to save us from our sins. Jesus wept because he wished the people understood this.
MAIN POINT: Jesus is our Savior King!
He said, “If anyone asks you why you are untying the colt tell them, ‘The Lord needs it.” Sure enough, when the disciples were untying the colt a man asked them what they were doing. When they explained that the Lord needed the colt, the man left them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus and laid their cloaks on its back to make a saddle. Then Jesus rode the rest of the way to Jerusalem on the colt. This was to fulfill a prophecy made by Jeremiah in the Old Testament.
Ask: Does anyone know what a prophecy is? (Allow a few kids to answer)
Say: A prophecy is kind of like a prediction. There were many prophecies made about Jesus hundreds of years before he came to earth. This shows that God had a plan to send his son to us long before it happened.
Tell the Story: Well, as Jesus was riding up the rode to Jerusalem a lot of people started to recognize him. Some of them knew him from when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Others had heard of his great miracles of healing the sick. Everyone was glad to see him. They were so glad that they started laying their coats in the rode for him to ride on as he passed. Some of them even began waving palm branches. Listen to what God’s Word says that they said to Jesus as he passed:
Read Enthusiastically: When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:37-39)
Everyone was glad to see Jesus! ...Well, almost everyone. The Pharisees were also there watching Jesus ride by but they weren’t glad to see him at all. You see they were mad that Jesus was getting so much attention. They were the religious leaders of the day so they thought they deserved all the attention and praise! They even said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” But Jesus said to them, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Ask: Why do you think Jesus said that? (allow kids time to answer)
Tell: Jesus knew that he was worthy of the people’s praise. Even though the Pharisees didn’t understand who he was, all of history had been leading up to the time when the Messiah (Jesus) would come to redeem God’s children and all of creation.
Now when Jesus got closer to Jerusalem, the Bible says he wept.
Ask: What does it mean to weep? Why do you think Jesus was weeping?
Tell: Jesus was weeping because the people, even though they were praising him didn’t really understand who he was. They thought Jesus was coming to Jerusalem as king. Jesus is a King, but the people were expecting an earthly king, one who would rule the people instead of Rome. But Jesus is our heavenly King who has come to save us from our sins. Jesus wept because he wished the people understood this.
MAIN POINT: Jesus is our Savior King!
EXTRA LEARNING
Check out the video below for a quick explanation on the significance of Jesus riding in on a donkey.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES (HOLY WEEK)
Check out the activities below for fun ways to make the events of Holy Week interactive for your family.
spy wednesday - "Don't wink at me" (GAME)
Use this game of strategy to get kids talking about how Jesus willingly gave himself up for us.
Preparation
Supplies: Bible, index cards, pen, tasty snack
Ahead of time, prepare your game cards. You’ll need enough index cards for each child to have one. For every 5 participants, draw an eye on one index card. Draw a stick figure on the rest of the cards.
The Game
Read aloud Matthew 26:17-20.
Say: Let’s pretend to sit around a table like the disciples did for the Last Supper. (Have the kids sit in a circle on the floor.) During the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that he knew one of them would betray him. Let’s play a game to help us think about betrayal.
Give each person an index card. Have them privately look at the pictures on their cards, and tell them to keep the pictures on their cards a secret.
Say: In our game, you’re either a betrayer or you’re one of the other disciples. Either way, remember to keep who you are a secret.
If you have an eye on your index card, then you’re a betrayer and you’ll try to get other players out of the game by winking at them. You’ll want to be sneaky about winking at others in the group so you don’t get caught.
If you have a stick figure on your index card, then you’re one of the other disciples and you’ll try to figure out who the betrayer is by looking for a player who is winking at others. If someone winks at you, you’ll silently count to 10 before you lay down your card. Remember not to reveal to the others who the betrayer is.
Serve a snack and start the game. (The snack gives kids something to do while they play and serves as a distracter to help the betrayers get going with winking.) Play until all the betrayers are found out or all of the non-betrayers are “winked” out of the game. If time allows, play several times, each time switching who the betrayers are.
Debrief
Ask: Did you feel betrayed by someone in this game? Encourage kids to explain what they feel and think about when they feel like someone has betrayed them.
Read aloud Matthew 26:21-25. Then ask: Why do you think Jesus let himself be betrayed? How does what Jesus did show his love for us?
Preparation
Supplies: Bible, index cards, pen, tasty snack
Ahead of time, prepare your game cards. You’ll need enough index cards for each child to have one. For every 5 participants, draw an eye on one index card. Draw a stick figure on the rest of the cards.
The Game
Read aloud Matthew 26:17-20.
Say: Let’s pretend to sit around a table like the disciples did for the Last Supper. (Have the kids sit in a circle on the floor.) During the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that he knew one of them would betray him. Let’s play a game to help us think about betrayal.
Give each person an index card. Have them privately look at the pictures on their cards, and tell them to keep the pictures on their cards a secret.
Say: In our game, you’re either a betrayer or you’re one of the other disciples. Either way, remember to keep who you are a secret.
If you have an eye on your index card, then you’re a betrayer and you’ll try to get other players out of the game by winking at them. You’ll want to be sneaky about winking at others in the group so you don’t get caught.
If you have a stick figure on your index card, then you’re one of the other disciples and you’ll try to figure out who the betrayer is by looking for a player who is winking at others. If someone winks at you, you’ll silently count to 10 before you lay down your card. Remember not to reveal to the others who the betrayer is.
Serve a snack and start the game. (The snack gives kids something to do while they play and serves as a distracter to help the betrayers get going with winking.) Play until all the betrayers are found out or all of the non-betrayers are “winked” out of the game. If time allows, play several times, each time switching who the betrayers are.
Debrief
Ask: Did you feel betrayed by someone in this game? Encourage kids to explain what they feel and think about when they feel like someone has betrayed them.
Read aloud Matthew 26:21-25. Then ask: Why do you think Jesus let himself be betrayed? How does what Jesus did show his love for us?
MAUNDY THURSDAY - FAMILY THREEFOLD COMMUNION
Check out our Holy Week Worship guide for instructions on leading a 3-Fold communion service with your family to re-enact the Last Supper.
For an additional layer of meaning, you can hold a traditional Jewish seder meal for your dinner portion. See the guide below for instructions on how to hold your own family Threefold Communion Service + Seder Meal.
For an additional layer of meaning, you can hold a traditional Jewish seder meal for your dinner portion. See the guide below for instructions on how to hold your own family Threefold Communion Service + Seder Meal.
good friday - interactive prayer walk
Use this interactive prayer walk to help kids reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Supplies: Bible, paper towel tubes, packing paper, string, soil, seeds, “Coin” handout, pens, scissors, glue sticks, red fabric/paper, fabric pens
Set up the following destinations ahead of time, and dim the lights before kids arrive.
Destination 1
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read aloud Matthew 26:36-39, 42-44. Have kids cut two-inch sections from the paper towel tubes and then wrap packing paper around them using string so they’re open on one side and closed on the other. Have them stuff soil into the tubes and plant one seed for each fear or worry they currently have. They’ll offer these things up in prayer to Jesus as they learn to trust and wait on Jesus, knowing Jesus understands them.
Destination 2
Jesus is betrayed and arrested, and then denied by Peter. Read aloud Matthew 26:47-50. Have kids write or draw regrets on the back of paper coins after they’ve cut them out. Say: Even Jesus’ good friend did something he regretted. Read aloud Matthew 26:69-75. Have kids write “forgiven” on an equal number of coins. Have them confess to Jesus as they glue the “forgiven” coins over the other coins, covering up the regrets. Invite them to commit to follow Jesus as they hold the “forgiven” coins in their hands.
Destination 3
Jesus is tried, mocked, crucified, and buried. Paraphrase what happened to Jesus after he was arrested and until he was buried (from Matthew 26:57-67; 27:11-61). Have kids cut out red fabric hearts as they think of ways they’ve received grace from Jesus. Ask kids to think of specific people they can show grace and love to and pass it along. Have them write the names on the hearts with fabric pens and keep the hearts with them throughout the upcoming week. Encourage kids to take out the hearts when they’re struggling to show grace or love to those people and pray, asking Jesus for help.
Supplies: Bible, paper towel tubes, packing paper, string, soil, seeds, “Coin” handout, pens, scissors, glue sticks, red fabric/paper, fabric pens
Set up the following destinations ahead of time, and dim the lights before kids arrive.
Destination 1
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Read aloud Matthew 26:36-39, 42-44. Have kids cut two-inch sections from the paper towel tubes and then wrap packing paper around them using string so they’re open on one side and closed on the other. Have them stuff soil into the tubes and plant one seed for each fear or worry they currently have. They’ll offer these things up in prayer to Jesus as they learn to trust and wait on Jesus, knowing Jesus understands them.
Destination 2
Jesus is betrayed and arrested, and then denied by Peter. Read aloud Matthew 26:47-50. Have kids write or draw regrets on the back of paper coins after they’ve cut them out. Say: Even Jesus’ good friend did something he regretted. Read aloud Matthew 26:69-75. Have kids write “forgiven” on an equal number of coins. Have them confess to Jesus as they glue the “forgiven” coins over the other coins, covering up the regrets. Invite them to commit to follow Jesus as they hold the “forgiven” coins in their hands.
Destination 3
Jesus is tried, mocked, crucified, and buried. Paraphrase what happened to Jesus after he was arrested and until he was buried (from Matthew 26:57-67; 27:11-61). Have kids cut out red fabric hearts as they think of ways they’ve received grace from Jesus. Ask kids to think of specific people they can show grace and love to and pass it along. Have them write the names on the hearts with fabric pens and keep the hearts with them throughout the upcoming week. Encourage kids to take out the hearts when they’re struggling to show grace or love to those people and pray, asking Jesus for help.
holy saturday - "Look at the light" (craft)
Use this experience to show kids that hope remains even in the shadows.
Say: Jesus’ followers surely felt that they were in a shadow on the day after Jesus’ death, but hope remained. Have kids each choose a word that can remind them of the hope they have in Jesus, such as love, hope, or forgiven. Instruct them draw the word in bubble letters on the poster board and cut it out (see the photo example). Have each child stand in front of a bright light holding the poster as shown to create a shadow. Take a photo of each child’s shadow. Print or email the photos to kids, and encourage them to hang the photos in their rooms as a reminder that hope always remains in Jesus. |
EASTER SUNDAY
You likely have many traditions for Easter Sunday, but check out the PDF below if you're looking for a few more creative ideas to engage your kiddos in scripture (with some fun along the way). Included is a scavenger hunt, including items you likely have laying around your house, and a jelly bean snack with poem to explain the Gospel story.
It Takes a Village
Faith formation in children is a massive undertaking. While parents are the primary disciple-makers of their kiddos, we're here to let you know you're not alone.
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