Lesson Overview Today we’ll share the Palm Sunday story in a bit of a new way. We want the kids to focus on what it means to be a King and what should happen when a King comes. Then we’ll let them know that Jesus is the King. Kings would normally have ridden into town on a horse in Jesus’ time. Horses were a sign of strength, war and victory. A King on a donkey, on the other hand, was a sign of peace. Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace. If we truly trust Him, He will give us peace within even when nothing on the outside feels peaceful.

KEY PHRASE: Jesus is the King THEME: Worship

SETTING UP THE LESSON 3 Minutes The King is Coming PRESENTING THE LESSON 10-15 Minutes

Scripture Basis: Matthew 21:1-11 & Ezekiel 9:9

MAKING IT REAL TO KIDS TODAY (Choose as many as you have time for)

Game: Praising Jesus with Dance 5-10 Minutes Craft: “I Am” Banner (Week 6) 15-20 Minutes Song: Psalm 150 and/or “Let Everything that Has Breath” by Matt Redman 5-10 Minutes

WRAPPING IT UP—SENDING IT HOME 5-7 Minutes Clean Up & Prayer Time

Heroes, Heroines, Champs and Chumps Lessons from the Everyday People of the Bible

Holiday 2: Lent, Easter & Pentecost Palm Sunday: Jesus is the King

72 - Holiday 2 © 2011 Lynne Modranski

JESUS IS THE KING KEY PHRASE: Jesus is the King

SETTING UP THE LESSON 3 Minutes The King is Coming

Ask the kids: What would you do if a King was coming to visit you? (allow for answers) Would you clean? (allow for answers) What would you fix to eat? (allow for answers) Do you think that would be a King’s favorite food? (allow for answers) How do you think the King would travel to your house? (allow for answers) What if the King wanted to spend the night with you? Where would he sleep? (allow for answers) What would you do if a King wanted to be your friend? (allow for answers) Listen to what happened in Jerusalem when a King come to town.

PRESENTING THE LESSON 10-15 Minutes Scripture Basis: Matthew 21:1-11 & Ezekiel 9:9

It was Passover in Jerusalem. Do you know what Passover is? (allow for answers) Passover is a celebration that lasted a whole week! God wanted the people in Israel to always remember that He had rescued them from Egypt when Moses lived. So God told them to celebrate Passover every year. Everyone in Israel would find a perfect lamb to bring to the temple to sacrifice for their sins and then they’d take it home and roast the lamb remembering that 1000’s of years before their great grandfathers had taken the blood from the lamb and painted over their doors so God’s angel wouldn’t harm anyone in their house. The people of Israel escaped from Egypt on the night that God’s angel “passed over” their houses. Because of the mark they’d made over the door, the angel passed over their house and everyone was kept safe. That’s why they called it “Passover,” because the angel of God had “passed over” their homes. The Passover meal was scheduled to be eaten in just four days. The King wanted to eat this Passover in Jerusalem. In fact, everyone in Israel wanted to go to Jerusalem for Passover, so the town was very busy on the day the King came to town. First the King sent His servants into the town to borrow a donkey and her colt. The servant found them there and asked the owner if the King could borrow them. He promised to return them as soon as he was finished. It was the Sunday before Passover and the King got on the donkey and rode it into town with His servants walking with Him. When He came to Jerusalem, a crowd had gathered because they heard He was on His way. They laid their coats on the road and cut down branches from the palm trees to cover the path too. People ran to see Him come into town and then they walked in front of Him and behind Him shouting, “Hosanna” and “Blessed is the One who comes in God’s Name” Can you yell Hosanna? (allow for repeating) Do you know who this King was? (allow for answers) Yes, the King was Jesus. He came into town that day just like the prophet said He would. Ezekiel was a prophet a long time before Jesus came. Can you say Ezekiel? (allow for answers) Ezekiel told the people that the King would come on a donkey. That might have been a surprise to a lot of people because kings came on horses most of the time. Kings came on horses because horses were a symbol of winning and being rich. But Jesus came on a donkey. Can you tell me why Jesus would ride into town on a donkey? (allow for answers) When a King came on a donkey it meant that the King wanted to bring peace. Jesus came to bring peace. Jesus wants everyone to trust in Him so we won’t need to fight and we won’t feel all anxious inside. We call the day that Jesus came to town on a donkey Palm Sunday because of all the branches the people put all over the road. We celebrate to remind us that Jesus is a King just like Ezekiel promised. And Jesus did eat Passover with His disciples just like He had planned. We call that celebration Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday). That’s the day that Jesus at His last meal before they killed Him. He asked us to have a “mini-Passover” often with bread and wine (or grape juice) just like He had at his Passover feast. We call this communion and we do it to remember Jesus last Passover celebration when He told His disciples that the bread should always remind us that He gave up His body for us and the juice should remind us that He gave up His blood for us. Jesus is a King. He came to bring us peace and life, so we should worship Him.

www.LynneModranski.com Heroes, Heroines, Champs & Chumps ~ 73

MAKING IT REAL TO KIDS TODAY (Choose as many as you have time for) Game: Praising Jesus with Dance 5-10 Minutes Supplies: Chinese Ribbon Sticks, 3/4” x 6” dowels, shaker eggs and/or maracas, worship music (Casting Crowns “Praise Him With the Dance” would be an excellent choice” Give each child a Chinese ribbon, a set of sticks, an egg shaker or maraca. - To make Chinese ribbon sticks, cut 1” ribbon about 24”-36” long and tack it on the end of 1/2” x 12” dowels. As the CD plays allow the children to dance, twirl the Chinese ribbons and play the instruments. Allow the children to dance around and trade instruments or ribbons for as long as you have time. The Teaching Moment - Dancing can be very fun, but we can also use dancing to praise God. When we play a song that reminds us to praise God and then move to the beat remembering God with every step, we can worship while we dance. Jesus is a King who deserves our worship. Craft: “I Am” Banner (Week 6) 15-20 Minutes Supplies: Craft from last week and scrapbooking paper, scissors and glue Allow kids to cut “King of Kings” out of the scrapbooking paper and glue it on to the banner. This is the last word we’ll add to the banner, so they can take it home today. The Teaching Moment: What does it mean that Jesus is the “King of Kings”? (allow for answers) Jesus is not just the King, He is a King to other kings. Every ruler of every nation should worship Jesus because He’s not just our King, God says He’s the King of all kings. Song: Psalm 150 and/or “Let Everything that Has Breath” by Matt Redman 5-10 Minutes Supplies: Trumpet (or kazoos), stringed instruments, tambourine, cymbals and/or a recording of “Let Everything that has breath” Psalm 150—Distribute the instruments to the kids. If you use Kazoos, let them know that we’re pretending the

kazoos are trumpets. If you use a version of Psalm 150 that says “timbrel” tell them that timbrels are a kind of tambourine, so you’ll be using a tambourine. Now read Psalm 150 once or twice and as you read it have the appropriate instrument play.

Play “Let Everything that Has Breath.” As you do let the kids do motions to it as follows: 1. Let Everything that—spread arms out wide and move from sides to over head 2. Has breath praise the Lord—Shake hands over head three times 3. 1st & 4th line of verses—hands spread out, bring right hand in a large sweep overhead into left hand 4. 2nd & 5th line of verses—Bring right hand back up over head and back to arms wide open 5. 3rd & 6th line of verses—Shake hands to meet up over head and then back to wide open 6. If they could see how much you’re worth —Arms wide open, move left hand over to right in front of you. 7. Your power your might, your endless love—Move right hand back to arms wide open 8. Surely we would never cease to praise - Move hands from sides to overhead and bounce at the word praise.

KEY PHRASE: Jesus is the King

74 - Holiday 2 © 2011 Lynne Modranski

WRAPPING IT UP—SENDING IT HOME 5-7 Minutes Clean Up & Prayer Time

Clean Up Remind the children to take home their banners today after the prayer. Prayer Time Pray this prayer or pray spontaneously (but remember to close in prayer) Dear Jesus, We thank you that you are a King. It’s amazing that you would come to earth to die for us, and we love you for doing that. Just like the Israelites never forgot what God did at Passover, help us to never forget what you did on the cross. Kings don’t usually die for people, but we praise you that you chose to die for us. Bless each of these children and their families. In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.

LEADING KIDS MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY If your church is having a special service on Thursday or Friday this week, send each family a note reminding/inviting them to attend. Families who are new or don't normally attend these special services will probably feel special that you would personally invite them.

KEY PHRASE: Jesus is the King