CEL 2.2 LEADER’S GUIDE CELEBRATE BIG MESSAGE ‘Live’ EASTER BIG PICTURE: DOCUMENT PURPOSE CELEBRATE EASTER This document is the Leader’s Guide for BIG Picture ‘CELEBRATE EASTER’. It contains a summary of the BIG Message ‘LIVE’. The BIG IDEA: BIG ‘Celebrate’ User Guide document contains all the service element information, including the large group segment of your PALM SUNDAY service. BIG POINT: Make sure you read through and prayerfully study this material HOSANNA! KING JESUS IS WORTHY TO BE prior to your service to be fully prepared to minister to your children. PRAISED BIG WORD: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT USER AGREEMENT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT Upon purchase of this resource, Hillsong Kids BIG gladly grants PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. the buyer (The Licensee) or the organisation they represent, a free and non-exclusive license to tailor Hillsong Kids BIG JOHN 3:16 (NIV) print materials to fit their unique leadership requirements. However, it is prohibited to make changes to doctrine, scripture references, biblical principles and concepts presented. Please see doctrinal guidelines we have expressed in our What We Believe statement. These resources are intended to be printed for use only by the buyer or the organisation they represent and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by others. Any unauthorised reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of copyright laws. © 2017 Hillsong Church. All rights reserved. CEL2 BIG MESSAGE LIVE ©2017 Hillsong Church CEL 2.2 CELEBRATE EASTER BIG MESSAGE ‘LIVE’ OUTLINE BIG IDEA: PALM SUNDAY LEARNING OUTCOMES: BIG POINT: HOSANNA! KING JESUS IS WORTHY TO BE At the conclusion of this lesson children will: • Learn the story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. PRAISED • Know that Jesus is the King of kings and worthy to be BIG WORD: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT praised. HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER • Discover the events that led up to Jesus’ death and BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE resurrection. ETERNAL LIFE. JOHN 3:16 (NIV) BUILD YOUR MESSAGE Use the outline in the following pages to construct a message that works for you and your children’s ministry. Pray, read the scripture references and choose which elements best suit your audience. Then prepare by gathering any supplies needed. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:37-39, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Timothy 6 MY MESSAGE PLAN: SUPPLIES NEEDED: CEL2 BIG MESSAGE LIVE ©2017 Hillsong Church CEL BIG IDEA: PALM SUNDAY 2.2 BIG POINT: HOSANNA! KING JESUS IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED STORYTELLING STRAIGHT FROM THE DONKEY’S MOUTH SUPPLIES NEEDED: A donkey costume or donkey puppet. Share today’s story about Jesus arriving to Jerusalem on a INTRO WHAT IS PALM SUNDAY? donkey, which we now know as Palm Sunday. The story is told Today we’re celebrating Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday isn’t a from the perspective of the donkey. day that we all go to Hawaii and lie on the beach under palm Dress up as a donkey or use a donkey puppet to share the story. trees, although that does sound good. Palm Sunday is when Christians around the world celebrate when Jesus arrived in I was just going about my business, eating hay, you know, Jerusalem, one week before His death and resurrection. because it’s awesome, when this totally random guy came up We read about this event in each of the four gospel books to my owner and pointed to me saying, “The master has need of the Bible; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We can also of him.” So my owner, who has generally been good to me, put read about it in the Old Testament, where it was prophesied a rope around my neck and handed me over to the strangers. that the King would come riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The strangers patted me on the head and said, “You’ve got a Zechariah 9:9 (NIRV), “City of Zion, be full of joy! People of really important job today.” I felt pretty special to be chosen Jerusalem, shout! See, your king comes to you. He always to do an important job and held my head up high and walked does what is right. He has won the victory. He is humble and taller. I even felt more like a horse, than a lowly donkey. Hee- riding on a donkey. He is sitting on a donkey’s colt.” What was haw. written about the coming Messiah thousands of years before, was fulfilled. After a short walk, the two strangers introduced me to their friend. Their friend placed his hands on my cheeks. His hands It was customary in those days that a king would ride into were warm and His smile made me feel safe and a little bit town on a white horse after a victorious battle. In times cosy. Next, He placed a cloth on my back, sat on me and His of peace, a king would ride in on a donkey. Jesus rode into two friends led me by the rope down a path. I wondered where Jerusalem on a donkey and He is the bringer of peace. The we were going. Hee-haw. people lined the street and laid their cloaks down covering the path where Jesus came; a sign of great honour. They sang It was a busy time of year. The Passover festival had started “Hosanna to the King!” And waved palm branches as they and there were lots of people about, but I didn’t expect them praised Him. That’s why it’s called Palm Sunday. all out on the streets. They made a lot of noise. It was a bit strange at first and my legs felt a bit wobbly, because I was a little scared. But the man that was sitting on my back, stroked my neck and said, “It’s okay, it’s as it was written.” I didn’t know what He meant, but I felt comforted by His touch. As we got further into the crowd, some of them took off their coats and laid them in front to me to walk over. I’d never seen Reminder: anything like this before, but I knew it was a sign of great This is a great time to play the ‘Big Story’ video respect. Other people cut off big palm tree leaves and waved to your group. We find it breaks up your Big the about shouting, “Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!” And others shouted, “Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of Message Live really well and keeps the children the Lord! The King of Israel!” focussed. I didn’t know that I was carrying a king on my back. He may not have looked like a king, He didn’t have purple robes and a crown, but I could see that He was special and the crowds thought that too. Hee-haw. When we got through the excitement of the crowds it was time for me to be taken back to my owner. The man looked me in the eyes and said, “Fair one, you have today fulfilled ancient prophecy and this fulfilment will go down in the books of history. For today, a King and Saviour rode on your back.” Hee-haw. CEL2 BIG MESSAGE LIVE ©2017 Hillsong Church CEL BIG IDEA: PALM SUNDAY 2.2 BIG POINT: HOSANNA! KING JESUS Jesus didn’t arrive to the town of Jerusalem in a shiny chariot with a security team. The people of Israel were expecting a king IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED to come in power and majesty to rescue them from the rulers of the day. Instead, their Saviour rode into town on a humble donkey with no important leaders to meet Him. Word about Jesus had spread; He was the man who had healed SHOWING HONOUR OBJECT LESSON people from sickness, performed powerful miracles and even In traditional Chinese cultures, people bow to show honour to brought dead people to life. The crowds of everyday people the emperor, to their parents, grandparents or elderly relatives. gathered to see Him. He wasn’t arriving to a royal palace, but In ancient times, they would even bow so low that they would He was honoured by the people who gathered. Jesus is the King lay down with their forehead touching the ground. of a different kind of kingdom. The Kingdom of God, a spiritual kingdom. His rule was prophesied about hundreds of years In the military, soldiers, show their respect and honour to their before and continues to this very day. commanding officers or their country’s flag by saluting. They stand tall, raise their right hand, keeping it straight with the 2. WORSHIP HIM fingers together, and touch it to the edge of their eyebrow. Everyone show me how to salute. (Children all show a salute.) The Bible says that on that day when Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, the city was in uproar, with people When people meet royalty, it’s customary to bow or curtsey. yelling and shouting. Luke 19:37-38 (NIV), “When he came near Let’s all stand and do our best bow or curtsey as if we’re the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the meeting a king or queen. (Children stand and show a bow or whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud curtsey before returning to their seats.) voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king The people of Jerusalem showed honour by placing their who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory garments along the path where Jesus rode.