Leader BIBLE STUDY Use Week of: 3 The Sunday before is Palm Sunday the day Jesus entered Jerusalem as the King of kings the week before Passover. Many of God s people traveled to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem as well. Near Bethphage (BETH fayj) and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead into a village. Jesus told them, You will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you Why are you doing this? say, The Lord needs it. Jesus was going to fulfill a prophecy by the prophet Zechariah that said, Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey. (Zech. 9:9) Jesus made a spectacular entrance into the city. He rode a donkey, and people laid branches and their robes on the ground in front of Him. The people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem believed He was the promised Messiah, but they expected Him to overthrow Roman oppression and set up an earthly throne. Jesus sent a different message. Jesus entered the temple and turned over the tables of the money changers and those selling doves. Read Isaiah 56:6-7. Jesus referred to Isaiah, declaring that His kingship would not just be over the Jews but over all people. While Jesus was in the temple, He healed the blind and the lame. Check out the words of Isaiah 35:4-6. Jesus actions declared, I am not just your King; I am also your God. Finally, the priests and the scribes heard the children worshiping Jesus as their King. Do You hear what these children are saying? they asked. Jesus replied, quoting Psalm 8:2: Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants? Jesus gladly received their praise because He was worthy of their praise. As we prepare for and celebrate, help kids connect the dots between God s promises of a Messiah and Jesus coming. Help them understand why Jesus came: to save the world from sin! Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 1
Younger Kids BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: The Triumphal Entry Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 Big Picture Question: How did people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Small Group Opening Welcome time Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) U N I T 32 3 Large Group Leader Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) Sing (5 minutes) The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (5 minutes) Small Group Leader Key passage activity (5 minutes) Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Additional suggestions for specific groups are available at gospelproject.com/kids/additional-resources. For free online training on how to lead a group, visit ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. 2
The BIBLE STORY The Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 It was the time of year that the Israelites celebrated Passover. Many Israelites had traveled to Jerusalem to remember what God had done when He rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Jesus and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem, too. When they neared Bethphage (BETH fayj) and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead into a village. As soon as you enter the village, Jesus told them, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you Why are you doing this? say, The Lord needs it. Jesus was going to fulfill a prophecy by the prophet Zechariah that said, Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey. The disciples did as Jesus asked. As they untied the donkey, its owners said to them, Why are you untying the donkey? The Lord needs it, they said. Then they brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their robes onto the donkey, and helped Jesus get on it. People were spreading their robes along the road, and others spread palm branches cut from the fields. The whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen. The King who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven! Hosanna! The word hosanna means save now. The people knew Jesus was their promised King! Some of the Pharisees, the religious teachers, told Jesus, Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet! Jesus answered, If they did not praise Me, the rocks would praise Me! Jesus went to the temple complex in Jerusalem and drove out everyone buying and selling in the temple. He quoted the prophet Isaiah and said, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you are making it into a den of thieves! While Jesus was in the temple complex, people who were blind and people who were lame came to Him. The blind and lame were not allowed to worship in the temple. Jesus healed them. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 3
The chief priests and scribes saw the miracles that Jesus performed and heard the children saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! or Our king is here! Our king is here! Even the kids knew Jesus was the promised King. The scribes and priests were angry and asked Jesus, Do you hear what these children are saying? They are saying you are a king! Yes, Jesus replied. The Psalmist said: You have prepared praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants. Jesus left them and went to the town of Bethany to spend the night. Christ Connection: During Jesus triumphal entry, the people welcomed Him as King. Jesus was the Messiah spoken about by the prophet Zechariah: Look, your King is coming to you; He is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Want to discover God s Word? Get Adventure! Invite kids to check out today s devotional to discover more about why Jesus told Thomas Because you have seen Me, you have believed (John 20:29). Many of the people saw the miracles Jesus performed, but they crucified Him. Order in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase individually. For more information, check out www.lifeway.com/devotionals. 4
Small Group OPENING Session Title: The Triumphal Entry Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 Big Picture Question: How did the people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. large piece of paper pencils or crayons Tip: If you have a smartphone or Internet access, consider showing clips from a royal wedding or presidential motorcade. Triumphal Entry activity page, 1 per kid pencils crayons Welcome time Arriving Activity: Royal welcome mural Place a large piece of paper on a floor or table and invite kids to draw a parade honoring a king or queen, or perhaps a president or governor. Say It is a really big deal when a king or queen, president or governor comes to town! Usually, the secret service blocks off streets. There might even be a parade! What do you think should be included in a parade for a government official? Activity page (5 minutes) Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Provide brown or gray crayons for kids to color the donkey. Say People in Bible times did not have cars, so they did a lot of walking. Jesus walked a lot, but one day He traveled to Jerusalem. That day, Jesus did not walk into the city. How did Jesus enter Jerusalem? (on a donkey) Have you ever seen a donkey? What do you think it would be like to ride on a donkey? Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 5
LOW PREP Bibles paper plates marker Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Hip hip hooray! Guide kids to stand in a circle. Choose one kid to begin. Invite her to share something that makes her happy, such as singing a song or going swimming. Kids who are also happy about that thing or activity should jump up and shout, Hip hip hooray! Continue around the circle, giving each kid a chance to share something that makes her happy. Say How do you act when you are happy? Today we are going to hear a Bible story about the day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and people were happy to see Him! Option 2: Praise plates Before the session, label several paper plates with the word praise. Scatter them, along with several blank paper plates, across the floor. Instruct boys and girls to spread out around the room. Explain that the word praise means to glorify or to declare approval of. Jesus deserves to be praised because of who He is and all He has done for us. Invite kids to begin moving around the room. When you say, pause, everyone should put his foot on a paper plate. Kids may share plates. Select one kid to turn over his plate. If the word praise is written on the plate, count to three. On three, lead kids to say together, Praise Jesus! If the plate is blank, guide kids to begin moving around again. Say Jesus deserves to be praised. We can praise Him by giving offerings, praying, telling what God has done for us, or by singing or making music. Let s get ready to hear about a day when many people praised Jesus. Transition to large group 6
Large Group LEADER Session Title: The Triumphal Entry Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 Big Picture Question: How did the people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. countdown video leader attire Bible cloth bookmark Timeline Map Countdown Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. Introduce the session (1 minute) [Large Group Leader enters wearing a robe or tunic fashioned from a sheet and carrying a Bible wrapped in cloth. Place a bookmark in the Bible at Matthew 21.] Leader Hi! It s so good to see you today! Raise your hand if you brought your Bible today. [Unwrap the Bible.] I can t wait to tell you about today s Bible story. Jesus was with His disciples and they were getting ready to celebrate Passover. Jesus told His disciples well, I don t want to tell you the whole story just yet. Let s see where this story fits in the big picture of the Bible. Timeline map (1 minute) Leader Jesus lived on earth for about 30 years. We are getting close to learning about the last few days of His life. Today s story is called The Triumphal Entry, and it happened less than a week before Jesus died on the cross. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 7
Big picture question (1 minute) Leader Throughout the Old Testament, God promised that He would send a Savior. The prophet Zechariah said that the Savior would be a King. (Zech. 9:9) The time had finally come! Jesus was coming into Jerusalem. How do you think the people reacted? Actually, that s our big picture question today. How did people act when they saw Jesus? When we listen to the Bible story today, see if you can hear the answer. Key Passage Slide or Poster Alive Forever song The Triumphal Entry video Bibles, 1 per kid Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Key passage (4 minutes) Leader God loves to hear you sing! Singing is a great way to praise God. We can also sing to help us remember God s Word. God s Word the Bible tells us what is true about God and ourselves. Our key passage is about Jesus and His power over death. Show the slide or poster of the key passage, Romans 6:9. Lead the boys and girls to read the verse. Sing together Alive Forever. Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Leader OK, as I mentioned, in today s Bible story Jesus was getting ready to celebrate Passover with His disciples. They were just outside the city of Jerusalem. Many people had come to celebrate. Let s listen to the Bible story to find out what happened next. Show the video, The Triumphal Entry, or choose to tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. For a shorter version of the story, read only the bolded text. Leader Did you hear the answer to our big picture question, How did people act when they saw Jesus? Here s the answer: People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Say that with me. How did people act 8
when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. The people were so happy to see Jesus. They laid their robes in the road and spread palm branches on the ground. That was something people did to welcome a king! Everyone who celebrated hoped that Jesus would save them from the powerful Romans. Maybe Jesus would make life better and easier for them! Now, if you were a king, what would you ride into a city? I think I would ride a giant, beautiful horse! Is that what Jesus rode into the city? (No, He rode a donkey.) It s not that Jesus didn t like horses; He rode a donkey to show that He is humble. That means Jesus wasn t proud. He didn t walk around demanding everyone to serve Him like a king. In fact, Jesus served others! That s why He came to earth. Was everyone happy to see Jesus? (No.) That s right. The religious leaders were not happy to see Jesus. Maybe they were afraid that if Jesus took over as King, they would lose their jobs! Maybe the Romans would come and fight the people in Jerusalem to keep Jesus from setting up His own kingdom. Even though people were celebrating that Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem, they did not celebrate for long. Later that week, Jesus was arrested. The same people who had praised Him wanted Him dead. Jesus was killed on a cross and buried in a tomb. But that was all part of God s plan. Yes, Jesus had come into the city as King, but not the type of King people expected. Jesus didn t come to build a palace or sit around eating good food and ordering people around. No, He gave up His own life. Jesus died the death we deserve so that we could be forgiven for our sins. For all Jesus did, He deserves all of our praise! Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 9
Unit 32 Session 3 discussion starter video Discussion starter video (3 minutes) Leader Have you ever seen anyone act like the people in Jerusalem did when they saw Jesus coming into the city? Does anything in this video look familiar? Take a look. Show the Unit 32 Session 3 video. Leader Why do you think people get excited to see celebrities or musicians? Who deserves our praise? Jesus! Look and See song Sing (5 minutes) Leader The people who saw Jesus coming into Jerusalem were happy! One thing I like to do when I m happy is sing. Will you sing with me now? Let s sing about Jesus. Let s praise Him! Sing together Look and See. Lead kids to wave their arms in the air as they sing. Leader Great singing, everyone! Do you know why we still praise Jesus today? Because He deserves our praise! The Bible says that Jesus did something wonderful for us. It s called the gospel, or good news. You see, people sinned or disobeyed God. We all disobey God. That s a problem because God is holy, and He can t be around sin. Our sin keeps us apart from God. We can try to be good, but nothing we do is good enough to make up for our sin. The Bible also says because we sin we deserve to die. The good news is that God loves us, and He showed His love by sending His own Son, Jesus, to die instead. Jesus never sinned, but He took the punishment for our sin so we can be forgiven. We don t have to earn God s favor. Jesus was perfect for us. We just trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, and God gives us eternal life. Someday we will live with Him forever. Praise Jesus! 10
The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Prayer (5 minutes) Show the big picture question slide or poster. Leader How did people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Jesus is our King. He deserves our praise. Before transitioning to small group, make any necessary announcements. Lead the kids in prayer. Praise God for always keeping His promises. Dismiss to small groups Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 11
The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. 12
Small Group LEADER Session Title: The Triumphal Entry Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 Big Picture Question: How did the people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Unit Christ Connection: God s plan for redemption is fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Key Passage Slide or Poster dry erase board and markers (optional) crayons or colored stickers Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Key passage activity (5 minutes) Make sure the key passage, Romans 6:9, is visible for each child, either as the printed poster or written on a dry erase board. Read the verse together. Say Can you believe a few days after Jesus triumphal entry, people were calling for Him to be crucified? Jesus was killed on a cross, but God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is more powerful than death! That s what our key passage is about. Allow each kid to select one crayon or colored sticker. Call out colors one at a time. Any kids who have that color of crayon or sticker should jump up and say the key passage together. Bible story review (10 minutes) Encourage the kids to find Matthew 21 in their Bibles. Ask them which Bible division the Book of Matthew is in. (Gospels) If kids need help, show them how to use the table of contents. Say Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on Sunday, just five days before He died on the cross. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 13
Tip: Instead of asking kids to turn to Zechariah 9:9, point to the cross-reference in your Bible. Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in your own words. Form two teams: boys and girls. Review the Bible story by asking questions. If someone knows the answer, he should clap his hands. Call on the first child who claps. If he is incorrect, give the other team a chance to answer. Why were so many people traveling to Jerusalem? (to celebrate Passover) What did Jesus tell His disciples to get from the village? (a young donkey, Matt. 21:2) Which prophet said a King would come, riding on a donkey? (the prophet Zechariah, Zech. 9:9) How did the people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. What did the people shout as Jesus rode into Jerusalem? (Hosanna! Matt. 21:9) Who was upset about what the children were saying? (the religious teachers, Pharisees; Matt. 21:15-16) How did Jesus help people who were blind or lame? (He healed them, Matt. 21:14) Say The people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem by spreading their robes along the road. Others spread palm branches on the road. In Bible times, putting your robe on the ground in front of someone was how you showed that person was a king. (2 Kings 9:13) People celebrated victories by waving palm branches. (Lev. 23:40; Rev. 7:9) Jesus is our King! He is in charge of everything, and He is good. We can celebrate victory because Jesus won the battle against sin and death when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. 14
LOW PREP table chairs hula hoops (optional) green chalk small cups of water black construction paper scissors paper towels (for cleanup) Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Triumphal entry obstacle course Create a simple obstacle course using furniture or objects in the classroom. Demonstrate how kids should move through the obstacle course. Give specific instructions such as Crawl under the table, race around the chair three times, step through the hula hoop, and touch the wall. Adapt the course for your kids abilities. Guide the kids to form a single-file line and take turns completing the obstacle course. Encourage the kids to cheer for each other as they move through the course. Supervise for safety. Say Great work! Did you like hearing everyone cheer for you? When Jesus entered Jerusalem, people cheered for Him. They praised Him because He deserved it. Jesus is our King! Now I ll ask the big picture question, and everyone say the answer together: How did the people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Option 2: Wet chalk drawings Provide a piece of black construction paper for each child. Set several cups of water on the table for kids to share. Soak the ends of several pieces of chalk as you explain the activity. Show kids how to dip the end of a piece of chalk into water to dampen it. Encourage the kids to work in pairs or small groups. Kids should help each other trace their hands and wrists on the construction paper. Drawing with the wet chalk will produce a brighter, more vibrant color. Allow kids to color in their palm outlines or to cut them out. Supply paper towels to clean up excess water. Say How did the people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Younger Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 32 Session 3 15
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, people placed palm branches at His feet to celebrate. Jesus is the King God promised to send to rescue His people. Less than a week later, Jesus died on the cross for our sin. God raised Jesus from the dead, and He returned to heaven. One day we will celebrate His coming back to earth to rule and make everything right. journals Journal Page, 1 per kid markers or crayons Bible Story Coloring Page Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Distribute each child s journal and the journal page provided with this session. Encourage the kids to draw a picture of a king s crown. Writers can write reasons they can praise Jesus as King. Make sure each child puts this week s sheet in the journal, and then collect them. Keep the journals in the classroom so they will be available every week or as often as you wish to use them. If time remains, take prayer requests or allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Pray, thanking God for keeping His promise to send Jesus the Messiah to rescue people from their sins. Invite kids to take turns praying by finishing this sentence: I am thankful for Jesus because. 16
Journal Page Key Passage: Romans 6:9 Session 1: Preparation for Passover Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23 Session 2: The Last Supper John 13 17 Session 3: The Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19 Session 4: Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection Matthew 26:36 28:10; John 18:1 20:18 OK TO PRINT
We know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. Romans 6:9 Unit 32 Key Passage Poster (HCSB) OK TO PRINT
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Romans 6:9 Unit 32 Key Passage Poster (KJV) OK TO PRINT
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Romans 6:9 Unit 32 Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK TO PRINT
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Romans 6:9 Unit 32 Key Passage Poster (NIV) OK TO PRINT
Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. Romans 6:9 Unit 32 Key Passage Poster (NKJV) OK TO PRINT
Unit 32 Key Passage Poster OK TO PRINT
How did people act when they saw Jesus? Unit 32 Session 3 Big Picture Question OK TO PRINT
How did people act when they saw Jesus? People welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem as their King. Unit 32 Session 3 Big Picture Question OK TO PRINT
Unit 32 Big Picture Question OK TO PRINT
Unit 32 Session 3 The Triumphal Entry OK TO PRINT
Instructions: Connect the dots to discover how Jesus entered Jerusalem. 5 4 6 7 10 11 12 13 3 1 2 8 9 15 16 17 14 67 68 18 29 19 66 65 64 57 56 58 51 55 52 49 48 50 47 46 39 38 30 31 32 33 28 27 26 25 20 21 24 22 23 59 45 40 62 61 63 60 42 54 53 43 44 41 34 35 37 36 UNIT 32 Session 3 Younger Kids Activity Pages
The Triumphal Entry Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19
Today we will be tasting/ touching/sniffing: Please notify the leader if your child should not participate. Instructions: Print this poster. You may laminate it and reuse it throughout the quarter. Use a dry erase marker to fill in the necessary information. Display the poster where parents and kids can see it before class. Unit 32 Allergy Alert OK TO PRINT