Le -2 ade K r s G e u d i a d r PALM SUNDAY e G Jesus needs us—ready or not. KEY VERSE Then those who went ahead and those who Hosanna! followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in ACTIVITY TIPS the name of the Lord!” Mark 11:9 Fewer kids? More kids? Cut 2 in. x 17 in. construction paper strips ahead of time Make 2 parallel roads. Take turns shouting, “Hosanna!” so kids will have more strips to create a longer road. Which group is the loudest? STORY AT A GLANCE Less time? More time? Precut all the pieces so kids can get right to the coloring Act out the story. Have 1 kid pretend to be the donkey, and road construction. another lean on him pretending to be Jesus, and the rest Jesus The Donkey of the kids wave palms and cheer. • Enters holy city of Jerusalem • Symbol that Jesus comes in peace. A military as a wildly popular figure for conqueror would ride a horse. the Passover festival. • Fulfills prophecy that Jerusalem would rejoice • Roman and Jewish when a humble king came riding on a donkey leaders can’t ignore (Zech 9:9). him after this show of • Also called a colt, another name CLOSING PRAYER popularity. for a young, male donkey. • Says that “the stones • Never been ridden before. Dear God, would shout out” if the • Jesus knows where Pharisees silenced the the disciples can find it We are ready to help Jesus with what is coming down the road. Thank crowds (Lk 19:40). you for trusting us to be disciples, too! Hosanna! for him. Amen! The Crowds Coats and Palm Branches • Greet Jesus like a king, praising him. • Crowds cut leafy branches and put • Quote the words of a psalm to welcome Jesus (Ps 118:26). them in front of Jesus’ donkey. • Echo words the angels • Cloaks on a path were a sign of honor said to the shepherds for a new king (2 Kings 9:13). on the night Jesus was born (Lk 2:14; 19:38). Supplies: Holy Moly Holy Moly Holy Moly Scissors Clear Tape Crayons/ Grades K-2. Palm Sunday Leader Guide. Holy Moly. wearesparkhouse.org. © 2013 sparkhouse. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for local use only provided each copy carries this notice. DVD Leaflets Bible Storybooks Markers (10-15 min.) (20-30 min.) DISCOVER CREATE Get Ready PALM-BRANCH ROAD: Kids work together to color and construct a road for Jesus, and decorate palm branches to wave. Explain that today is a day for honoring Jesus and celebrating with cheers. To get in the mood, lead kids with several cheers made from 3-syllable phrases or words. Begin by identifying kids with 3-syllable names. Once everyone understands the concept, work together to answer the following 1 2 questions. Then have kids practice cheering the answers. Gradually increase Holy Moly! tempo from slow to fast. Gradually increase volume from whispering to We can work together to get shouting. ready for Jesus. • What 3-syllable phrase tells someone you love her or him? (I love you.) • What are ways we work • What 3-syllable phrase asks how someone is feeling? (How are you?) together for Jesus? • What 3-syllable phrase says you regret something you did? (I’m sorry.) • How do you feel when you work with others on a project? • What 3-syllable phrase is another way to say “Hooray for God!”? (Praise the Lord!) • What kinds of things do you In today’s Bible story we’ll learn another way to cheer for God! like to do alone? Can those Play the Palm Sunday Video Open your leaflet, and cut off the To get ready for Jesus, things help Jesus? 2 road strips. Color them to look work together to make a Introduce the Characters dry and sandy. long road by taping your • Do you think Jesus wants us strips together. to work alone and together? • Disciples find a donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem. Watch for when the Why or why not? • The donkey doesn’t want to go with them. road changes color. • People along the way wave and cheer, “Hosanna,” which What else happens then? means “Hooray! Praise God! Our Savior has come!” If time permits, watch it again! • Palm branches and clothes are thrown on the road as 3 4 Jesus enters the city. • Jesus rides the donkey over the palms and clothes. (5-10 min.) (5-10 min.) RELATE CONNECT Cut out your palm branch. Color your palm branch a leafy Talk about the Palm Open the Holy Moly green or another cheerful color. Sunday Video Bible Storybook • How did the disciples help Jesus get ready to go to Read A Palm Parade on pages 7-10. Jerusalem? Listen for the word the people shout. Hint: “Hosanna!” 5 6 • Why do you think the people raised their arms and • What does this word mean? Holy Moly! Give kids time to imagine and help cheered when Jesus went by? • What words do you shout when you’re excited to them reflect. • How did you feel about the people at the Jerusalem see someone? • How did you feel when you put gate who looked angry? • What does it mean that Jesus is our Savior? down your palm branch for Jesus? • Why do you think the road changed color at the • How do you think palm branches end? Why do you think the people got even more Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem was like a parade. could make the road easier for excited? • What do you like to see in a parade? Jesus? • I wonder if Jesus felt like a king as he rode toward • I wonder why Jesus rode a donkey. • How can we be ready to help Jesus Jerusalem. • Does Jesus look happy? Why or why not? Practice waving your palms! Lay down your palms for Jesus. on Palm Sunday? • When have you had to get ready for something hard Then wave your arms and cheer • I wonder how we can help Jesus or scary? What did you have to do? as you pretend he’s riding by! every day..