BIBLE LESSON THEME;
Jesus rides on a donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Matthew 21: 1-11
WELCOME TIME;
Have you ever seen a group of people who were very excited and shouting happily? Sometimes when someone famous comes by, everybody stops what they are doing, and cheers and claps. This happened to Jesus.
THE LESSON'S GOALS;
To honour and love Jesus as God's Son, as the people who cheered Him on Palm Sunday did.
BIBLE STORY;
Jesus was a preacher for about three years. Passover time came around. Lots of people travelled to the big city of Jerusalem to celebrate. Jesus and His friends were on their way there too.
Jesus sent two of His friends to the next town to get a donkey and her colt. When they came, Jesus sat on the donkey and rode into the city. A donkey was a humble animal for a king to ride. Jesus was fulfilling the old prophecy that Israel's king would ride into Jerusalem by doing this.
GAME ONE;
Everybody stand in two lines opposite each other. Shout and call with joy, while one of the children takes two coconut shells and hits them together; this forms a 'clip-clop' noise for the donkey. This is great fun for the children!
BIBLE LESSON CONTINUED;
News that Jesus was coming spread. It was a very exciting time! So many people wanted to see Jesus that it was like a parade. Some people threw their cloaks down to carpet the road, and others cut palm branches and waved them like flags in honour of Jesus.
The children and adults were singing and shouting as Jesus passed, and were delighted to see Him. Some were saying loudly, 'Hosanna!' a word which means "Save, please!" People showed honour and respect to Jesus, and He expects us to do the same.
We must show Jesus how special we think He is. Everyone was so happy to see Him; such a great Saviour came riding in humbly on a donkey. He came to save us from our sins and to be the King of our hearts.
GAME TWO;
The pastor or a supervisory adult organises a large picture of Jesus riding the donkey. Organise a group of children and their parents to go for a walk around a garden - e.g. the church garden - behind the leader carrying the picture. While they are walking the children and adults wave palm branches, and shout 'Hosanna'.
Enjoy the time and make it exciting for the children, explaining to them that this is what the people in Jesus' time did while he was riding into Jerusalem. If you are processing around the church yard, finish at the church door just before the beginning of Palm Sunday service.
GAME THREE;
Write bible verses on slips of paper. Leave the notes hidden around the garden (if it is a fine day) or around the hall (on a rainy day). Let the children have a treasure hunt. Pray together for the parish needs once all the notes have been found.
GAME FOUR;
Colour in a picture of Jesus riding into Jerusalem through the crowds on a donkey. A free sample can be downloaded from the Internet for resources for Sunday School teachers, photocopied and coloured in. Make sure it is one of the free samples, not a picture with copyright on it.
Alternately, there are great resource books for teachers with ready-to-colour in pictures from Christian bookshops. Have colouring pencils and erasers in boxes on the low tables for the children. Have an emergency pencil sharpener in your bag. Supervision is essential while the children work with colours.
SNACK TIME;
Have plastic tumblers of orange juice and edible palm branch biscuits you have previously made ready as snacks at the end of the lesson.
CLEAN UP TIME;
Make sure all have a suitable snack before you and the children clean up at the end of the Sunday School lesson!
Attribution to www.LumoProject.com, with thanks
Triumphant Entry
FreeBibleimages.org
With thanks too to freeclipart.library
