HEY TCC KIDS FAMILIES! Traditionally, Holy Week, the week before Easter, is when NOTE Christians look back and remember the events of Jesus’ life the Our hope is that by Easter Sunday, your gardens will be full of week before His death and resurrection. This Holy Week we want sprouting grass. In order for this to happen, you need to begin your to help you and your family have fun while also remembering and garden no later than Palm Sunday. You also need to be sure the soil celebrating what Christ has done! doesn’t dry out, or is not overwatered. We recommend checking the Throughout this week, we’ll be looking at true stories found in soil every day to make sure it is damp. Also, keep your garden in a the Gospels. Each of these stories lead up to the most beautiful sunny spot in order for the seeds to germinate. event in Christ’s earthly ministry, His victory over sin and death on our behalf!

As we walk through some of these stories together, your family will also be creating your own “resurrection garden.”

Each day your family will look at a different event from Holy Week by reading a Scripture passage and a short devotion, adding to your garden, and praying together as a family. By Easter morning, your family will have completed a garden to symbolize the new life we have when we become followers of Christ.

Our ultimate hope is that all of our TCC Kids would come to truly understand the depth of what Jesus has done on their behalf and one day make a decision to follow Christ as their Savior. JESUS CAME PALM SUNDAY TO JERUSALEM

SCRIPTURE Matthew 21:1-9 PRAYER When Jesus came with His disciples to Jerusalem for the Passover Lord, we know that you are the King of Kings and worthy of all of feast, He had a pretty fancy entrance! They rolled out the red our praise! Help us to always praise you no matter what happens. carpet for Him…well sort of! His followers put their cloaks on the Let the soil of our hearts be healthy and open to your Holy Spirit. ground and waved palm branches in the air as He rode in on a Amen. donkey. He was welcomed as a king with shouts of “Hosanna,” Jesus, we praise you because ______(Take time for each family which was an expression of joy and praise! This makes sense member to say one reason they want to praise God). because we know that Jesus is the King of all Kings! The only problem was that Jesus’ welcome didn’t last very long because only a few days later He would die on a cross. Still, His entrance gives us a picture of what it will be like when Jesus returns someday.

TASK Make the base of your resurrection garden! • Begin by placing the cup on its side in the basin. • Add the soil to the garden, making sure you cover the top of the cup while leaving the opening visible. • Sprinkle your seeds on the soil and water them.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? In the Bible, Jesus used soil to represent the state of our hearts and seed to represent God’s Word in His teachings (Mat. 13:1-9). If the soil of our hearts is good and not rocky, and we tend to it and water it, we will see growth! One way we can “water” and tend to our hearts is by spending time worshipping God, just like the people in Jerusalem did when He entered on Palm Sunday. Spend some time worshipping and recognizing God as the King of Kings together as a family today. JESUS CLEANSED MONDAY THE TEMPLE

SCRIPTURE Matthew 21:12-17 PRAYER Do you think that Jesus ever got angry? He did! The temple was a Jesus, help us to be angry about the same things that anger you. very holy and special place where people would go to pray to God Forgive us for our sins. Help us to always devote a special time and offer sacrifices for their sins. However, there were people and place for prayer with you. Thank you for showing us what is who had turned it into a store! They were selling animals for right and what is wrong, and help us to always stand up for what people to sacrifice and cheating people out of money. This made is right. Jesus VERY ANGRY! He ran them out of the temple and told them Jesus, forgive me for ______and help me to be more like you that it was supposed to be a place of prayer. It may be difficult (Take time for each family member to share). to picture Jesus being angry, but remember that sin separates us from God and breaks His heart.

TASK • Choose a place in your home where you will keep your garden. Make sure it can get plenty of sunlight and that it will be protected from pets and younger siblings. • Take a permanent marker and have each family member write a sin that they struggle with on a rock or a small piece of paper. Place the rocks at the bottom of the basin in front of the tomb opening.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? It was important to Jesus that God’s house be set apart for worship and prayer. Do you have a special place or time that you set apart just for worshipping or praying to God? What makes you angry? Does your sin or the sin of someone else make you angry?

Our hearts should break over our sin. Sin separates us from God, but through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God made a way for us to have a relationship with Him! Christ took our sins to the cross! By burying your sin rocks in your garden, you are showing that our sins were buried with Jesus in His death. JESUS IS TUESDAY ANOINTED

SCRIPTURE Matthew 26:6-13 PRAYER When Jesus was at a friend’s house eating, a woman came and Dear Jesus, thank you for pouring yourself out for us. Thank did something crazy! She came to Jesus, fell at His feet, and broke you for giving all you had on the cross just so you could have a her jar of really expensive and special perfume all over Jesus’ relationship with us. feet - on purpose! The leaders were upset, but Jesus thought it Jesus, help me to pour out my life for you by ______(Let each was beautiful! She knew she was a sinner that needed Jesus, so family member pray for one way they can pour out their lives). she treated Him like a king. And in just a few days, just like the perfume, Jesus would pour out himself for us. His blood would run to the ground, and God’s most prized possession, His Son, would die in our place.

TASK • Take the remaining small rocks and place them in front of the tomb. • Choose one rock, and put a few drops of perfume, cologne, or essential oil on it. Place this rock near the tomb.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The perfume was the most precious thing the woman owned. She was willing to sacrifice it all for her Savior. In the same way, God was willing to sacrifice His most precious Son. When you smell the perfume on the stone in your garden, remember how Jesus poured himself out on our behalf. Think of ways that your family can pour out your lives for Christ. You probably won’t pour out a bottle of perfume, but what ways can you show gratitude for what Christ has done? THE PLOT WEDNESDAY AGAINST JESUS

SCRIPTURE Luke 22:1-6 PRAYER Jesus spent a lot of time in the last week before His death Lord forgive us for the times that we have been greedy and for teaching and healing people. His teachings had a way of making the times that we have betrayed others. We know that when we the chief priests and pharisees very mad. They did not like sin, we break your heart. Help us to not let selfishness or greed the things Jesus taught because He called them to surrender, overtake our hearts, but let us serve one another the way you did when all they wanted was power and control. They looked good and put you first in all that we do. on the outside, but their hearts were rotten and sinful on the Jesus, help me surrender ______to you (Take turns praying inside. Earlier in the week, they decided they had had enough about surrendering the idols you just talked about to the Lord). and plotted ways that they could kill Jesus. Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, was their answer. He discussed with them how he could betray Jesus, and his greed allowed him to turn Jesus into the authorities for only 30 pieces of silver. Can you think of anything more upsetting than being betrayed by one of your best friends? Jesus endured this heartache for us.

TASK • Take a penny and hide it somewhere in your garden.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The penny represents the deal that Judas made to betray Jesus. His love of money was greater than his love for Jesus. We have to remember what is most important and put everything else in its place. When we become followers of Jesus, He is more important than anything else. That penny in your garden is so insignificant compared to what Christ was willing to do for you! Our idols (things we make more important than God) really are just pennies compared to what Jesus has done for us! What are things that you think could tempt you to betray someone you love? Would money be enough? Or a new toy or experience? Think about these things and name the idols you may have in your life. THE LAST THURSDAY SUPPER

SCRIPTURE John 13:1-20 & Matthew 26:26-29 PRAYER Before Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and crucified, He had one Dear Jesus, thank you for showing us how to love and serve last meal with His disciples. At this meal, He did something others. Jesus, thank you for giving your body as a sacrifice for our completely unheard of. He got a bowl of water and a towel, and sins. Thank you that even though you knew what was going to He washed His disciples’ feet. This may not seem like a big deal to happen, you were obedient to God and suffered in our place. you, but in Jesus’ day, this would have been the job of a servant. Jesus, help me to serve others by ______(Have each family It was a stinky, dirty job that no one would ever expect the King member pray for ways they can serve others). of all Kings to do! Jesus did this to show them that a true king is someone who serves others. Jesus humbled Himself in this moment as a picture of how He would serve all of us and humble Himself on the cross the very next day. During this Passover meal, Jesus also shared bread and wine with His disciples as a representation of His body and blood. These were symbols of what would happen to him in the following hours.

TASK • Around the outside of the base of your garden, attach the sticker that says “Let us serve one another.” • Use the other stickers to decorate the base however you’d like. • Have a special meal with your family and discuss what Jesus meant when He said to “eat of His body” and “drink of His blood.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Your basin represents the basin that Jesus used to wash ALL of His disciples’ feet, even Judas who would betray Him. He showed great humility in doing this. How can we show humility to those around us? The cup that was used to create the tomb reminds us of the Passover meal that Jesus had the night He was betrayed. The drink that they shared represented His blood that would be poured out the following day. It is this blood that covers our sin. JESUS IS GOOD FRIDAY CRUCIFIED

SCRIPTURE Mark 15:16-41 PRAYER You could say that the day Jesus died was the saddest day in the Dear Jesus, thank you so much for the ultimate sacrifice that you history of the world. A perfect lamb (Jesus), spotless and innocent made. Thank you for suffering in my place and humbling yourself was tortured, humiliated and killed. So, why would today be called on the cross. We should be punished for our sin, but instead, the Good Friday? It is because Jesus died in our place. It is the best perfect lamb of God took our place. Help us remember all that news for us because it means we get the chance to live with Him you gave up for us. forever in heaven. Jesus, thank you that because of the cross I can ______(Have (Try to have a moment of silence together as a family to mark this each family pray for a reason they are grateful for the cross). moment in history. Encourage your children to close their eyes and think about what Jesus did for them.)

TASK • Take two twigs and use twine to tie them together in the shape of a cross. Create 3 crosses total. • Place your crosses in the soil above the tomb.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Jesus never did anything wrong, but He was punished for everything that has ever been done wrong and ever will be done wrong. Does this seem fair to you? It definitely wasn’t fair, but Jesus went to the cross willingly so that we could have a relationship with Him and the chance to spend forever in Heaven. The cross is a symbol of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. PRAYING AND SATURDAY WAITING

SCRIPTURE Mark 15:42-47 PRAYER The moment Jesus died, the sun stopped shining. Jesus was Jesus, just like Mary and the disciples were sorrowful and waiting separated from His heavenly Father because He had our sin on for your return, we wait eagerly for you to return to Earth. Thank Him, which is the worst thing that could have ever happened you for your patience with us and thank you for dying so we to Him. His body was taken and placed in a tomb, which was could live. like a big cave. A huge rock was placed in front of the tomb and Jesus, when things seem sad and dark, help me to remember sealed in place. Everyone was sad and the earth was dark, but ______(Have each family member pray for one thing they this wouldn’t last for long. He was so powerful that He could can remember). have immediately risen from the dead, but He waited and did so on the third day. This was a fulfilment of many prophecies in the Old Testament. God had a beautiful pattern of bringing new life from death on the third day, which makes the waiting so incredibly meaningful. Jesus would bring hope and joy and change absolutely everything very soon.

TASK • Place a large rock in front of the tomb opening in your garden.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Spend some time talking about what it must have been like for the disciples on this day of Holy Week. What were they feeling? What would you feel if you were there? When Jesus was placed in the tomb and the stone rolled in front of it, the world thought He was dead forever. It looked like sin had won, but we know this wasn’t the case at all! God would do something miraculous and amazing the very next day! HE’S EASTER SUNDAY ALIVE!

SCRIPTURE Mark 16:1-7 Note to parents: Anytime is the right time to talk with your child about their relationship with Jesus. Today would be an excellent day to reflect The best part of the whole Bible happened on this day. Mary and on what they have learned and felt this week as you walked through Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and did not find Jesus’ body. Jesus’ journey to the cross. You can use the following questions to help They found the stone rolled away and an angel there instead. guide a conversation about accepting Jesus as their Savior if they are Jesus was no longer dead! He was alive! All the sorrow and ready for this step. suffering was wiped away in a single moment! This is the best • Who is Jesus? (He is God’s Son.) news of all time and a reason to celebrate! This is one reason • Why did God send Jesus? (To rescue us from our sin.) we go to church on Easter - to celebrate this miracle with other believers! • What does it mean to sin? Are you a sinner? (To disobey God, yes.) • Why did Jesus have to die? (He took our punishment for us.) TASK • How should we respond? (Repent of our sin and trust in God.) • Roll the stone away from the opening of your tomb and • Is there anything we can do to earn God’s love or God’s forgiveness set it to the side. of our sin? (No, salvation comes through grace.) • Hopefully, by now, your grass has started to sprout. If it hasn’t, it will in the next few days! Take a picture of your completed garden and celebrate Easter by attending or watching a church service!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The empty tomb is such an important part of the story of our faith. Jesus did indeed die a horrible death on that cross, but He did not stay dead! The fact that the tomb was empty showed that He defeated death. In the same way, our sins can be defeated. We can have victory over our sin by trusting in Christ and following Him as our Savior. The grass shows life and growth. Only God can take something horrible and turn it into something beautiful. Jesus shows us that out of death, we can have life! True life in Him! What a beautiful promise!

PRAYER Jesus, what more can we say but thank you! Thank you for the gift of new life in you! We give you all the glory, honor and praise! Jesus, thank you for ______(Give each family member a moment to thank Jesus for something they are grateful for). twocitieschurch.net/kids