Week of April 1, 2012 Lessons for the Leader Consider what you would do if you knew you only had a few days left to live. Would you want to make an impact, leave a legacy, or quietly die? Read Matthew 21:1-11. Jesus made an impact during His last few days on earth. He chose to enter a crowded city on a humble animal. The time for Passover was almost at hand. Jerusalem would be crowded with thousands more people than usual. Men within 20 miles of the city were required to be at Passover. People from other lands also came to be part of the celebration. Do you travel far to worship? Notice that many people saw Jesus and praised Him. People ran ahead of Him, praising Him with words and by laying robes and branches on the ground. These people knew who Jesus was. The people welcomed Him to Jerusalem. Other people questioned who He was. His arrival caused quite a stir in the city. People took notice. Some people asked who He was. Others responded that He was Jesus from Nazareth. Read Matthew 21:14-16. Jesus went to the temple. There He saw people selling sacrificial animals and changing money for the people from foreign lands. Jesus became angry because the people were using the temple for their personal gain. He turned over tables and ran the merchants off. Jesus cleansed the temple, which fulfilled messianic prophecy (Malachi 3:1,3). Notice how, in verse 15, the chief priests and scribes showed annoyance with Jesus' arrival. Children kept praising Jesus. The men asked if Jesus heard them. Jesus responded with Scripture: Psalm 8:2. How often do you respond to questions with Scripture? Welcome Jesus today. What do these symbols mean? 1aApplication Activities Format: Follow the numbers with arrows for a 30-minute, large group plus 20-minute Application Activities format. 1 Follow all the numbers for a 45- to 60-minute large group only format. People Welcomed Jesus Bible Passage: Matthew 21:1-11,14-16 Key Bible Verse: Matthew 21:11 Life Application I can thank God for Jesus. Level of Biblical Learning (Jesus) Jesus wants people to love and obey Him. Session at a Glance Introduction to Worship (6 to 8 minutes) Greet Each Child by Name Make Waves Worship (30 minutes/45 minutes) Welcome Children Sing "I Saw" Sing "Hosanna in the Highest" Pantomime "How Would You Feel?" Learn about the Gospels Tell the Bible Story Review the Bible Story Pray and Present Offering Sing "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" Use Worship Guides Sing a Song Learn the Bible Verse Make Application Transition Application Activities (20 minutes) Wrap-Up (10 minutes) OK to copy. Page 1 of 20
Introduction to Worship 1aGreet Each Child by Name Offering container Show children where to place offerings. 2aMake Waves Teacher Tip Lead children to do other actions, such as squat and stand, jump in place, or raise arms and turn to the side. Say: "Sometimes at ball games when people are very excited, they make a 'wave.' One or two people stand quickly and raise their arms over their heads, then lower them and sit down. The people next to them do the same thing. Let's try." Line children up in a straight line facing you. Start at one side of the room and move quickly to the other side, motioning for each child to raise and lower his arms to make a wave. Repeat several times, gaining speed. Comment: "We are excited because we are learning about Jesus." Invite children to take turns leading the waves. People Welcomed Jesus Worship 3aWelcome Children (1 minute) Comment: "That was exciting! Let's learn about people welcoming Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. The people put palm branches on the ground and shouted 'Hosanna!' because they were excited!" 4aSing "I Saw" (DVD, 2 minutes) 5aSing "Hosanna in the Highest" (DVD, 2 minutes) 6aPantomime "How Would You Feel?" (4 minutes) Small bag, scissors Print "How Would You Feel?" (CD), cut apart, and place in the bag. Pull a strip from the bag and read aloud. Guide the children to use expressions and body movements to play out how they would feel. Pull and read additional strips. 7 Learn about the Gospels (4 minutes) Print "Matthew," "Mark," "Luke," and "John" (CD). Ask: "What are the Gospels? Four Bible books are called the Gospels. The books tell us about Jesus' life. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament." Display and read aloud the titles. Invite children to open their Bibles to one of these books. Enlist adults to assist the children. Ask: "What is the name of the first book in the New Testament?" Say: "Our story today is from Matthew 21." 8aTell the Bible Story (7 minutes) Open your Bible to Matthew 21. Instruct: "Listen for these words during our Bible story: donkey, colt, shouted, and shouting. When you hear me say donkey or colt, bray or say 'hee-haw' like a donkey. When I say shouted or shouting, say 'hosanna.'" Practice a few times. Tell the Bible story. People Welcomed Jesus Based on Matthew 21:1-11,14-16 As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem, He came to the village of Bethphage (BETH fuh jee). Jesus told two of His disciples to go into the village, find a donkey and her colt tied there, and bring them to Him. Jesus told the men to tell anyone who asked what they were doing that Jesus needed those donkeys. The disciples did as Jesus told them to do. The disciples laid their robes on the donkeys. Jesus rode the donkeys into Jerusalem. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, people came to see Him. People put their robes on the ground. Some people cut branches from the trees and put them on the road as Jesus rode by. Many people ran alongside and before Jesus, shouting "Hosanna!" Page 2 of 20
In Jerusalem, the whole city heard the people shout, "Hosanna!" Some people asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus!" Jesus went to the temple. People who could not see and people who could not walk came to Jesus. Jesus healed these people. The children in the temple shouted, "Hosanna!" The chief priests asked Jesus, "Do You hear what these children are shouting?" Jesus answered, "Yes. Have you not read that children and babies praise God?" 9aReview the Bible Story (4 minutes) Small sticky notes, marker Print "Teaching Picture 5 People Welcomed" (CD). Print the following words on separate sticky notes: donkey, Jesus, disciples, branches, coats, road. Teacher Tip Print additional descriptive notes for a large group (a particular color of a person's robe, for example) Display the picture. Say: "Everyone look at the picture of our Bible story." Read aloud each sticky note and choose a child to place the note on the picture. Ask: "How did the people welcome Jesus? (They placed robes and branches on the ground before Him; They shouted 'Hosanna!') The people told others in the city that this was Jesus. We can thank God for Jesus and tell people about Him." 10aPray and Present Offerings (2 minutes) 11 Sing "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" (DVD, 2 minutes) 12aUse Worship Guides (7 minutes) Worship Guides, pencils, coins or buttons (1 per child) Teacher Tip Lead the entire group to play the game, placing kids in groups, and using 1 coin for each group. Distribute materials. Lead children to complete the activities. Collect materials. 13 Sing a Song (3 minutes) We Can Thank God Sing to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?" We can thank God. We can thank God Every day, every day. We can tell God thank You We can tell God thank You For Jesus, for Jesus. Teach and lead children to sing the song. Tell: "We can sing the song at home and teach it to our friends. We can thank God for Jesus." 14 Learn the Bible Verse (5 minutes) Children's scissors, straws, green florist tape, paper, markers, leaf stamp or stencil, tape Stamp or stencil leaf patterns (1 leaf per word and reference of Bible verse) onto 1 page. Print individual words of Matthew 21:11 (from your preferred translation) on each leaf. Photocopy, making 1 set per child. Teacher Tips Print on green paper and use "Matthew 21:11 Paraphrase" (CD). Save the branches for the Wrap-Up review. Use clear tape instead of floral tape. Give each child a pair of scissors, a straw, and a copy of the leaves. Instruct: "Cut out your leaves. We'll wrap and tape our leaves in the correct order around the straws." Assist children as necessary. Wrap the florist tape around the straw and secure the leaves. Read the verse together. Say: "The people cut branches to put on the road and were happy when they saw Jesus." 15aMake Application (2 minutes) Ask: "When and how can we thank God for Jesus?" Encourage the children to name when and how they can thank God. Prompt children with suggestions like bedtime, breakfast, in the car, at school (for when) and pray, sing a song, talk about Jesus, and invite people to church (for how). 16aGo to Application Activities or Wrap-Up Week of April 1, 2012 Page 3 of 20
Week of April 1, 2012 Wrap-Up (Large Group Only Format) 17 Sing "Thank, Thank, Thank You God" (DVD, 2 minutes) 18 Review the Bible Verse (2 minutes) Bible verse branches from step 14 Say the Bible verse several times with the children, clapping your hands for each syllable. Comment: "Matthew 21:11 is the Bible verse reference. We can find the verse in our Bibles in Matthew 21, verse 11." Repeat the verse, waving the branches. 19 Play a Game (6 minutes) Giant Game Floor Mat*, 20 sheets of colored paper, beanbag, "Teaching Picture 5 People Welcomed" from step 9 Place a sheet of colored paper in each mat pocket. Hide the picture behind one of the papers. Teacher Tip Print "Mini Bible Story Pictures" (CD), cut apart, and use today's picture. Say: "Let's take turns tossing the beanbag on the mat. A picture is hidden under one of the papers. If your beanbag lands on a pocket without the picture, do a motion I tell you to do or name what I ask you to name. If the beanbag lands on the pocket with the picture, show the picture and tell us about the Bible story." Invite kids to take turns tossing the beanbag, checking for the picture, and responding. Help children to name other active directions. Suggestions Repeat suggestions as needed. Jump 3 times. Wave your arms. Clap your hands 3 times. Turn around. Wiggle your body. Wink. Snap your fingers. Bark like a dog. Name a book in the Bible. Name a person in the Bible. 20 Dismiss Children to Parents Wrap-Up (Application Activities Format) 17aSing "Thank, Thank, Thank You God" (DVD, 2 minutes) 18aHighlight Application Activities (2 minutes) Invite several children to tell what they did in their Application Activities. ddarts and Crafts Paint Robes and Branches dddramatic Play Spin and Tell ddgames Race Through the T-H-A-N-K-S Relay ddexploration and Discovery Explore Types of Transportation Apply: "Our activities helped us know we can thank God for Jesus." 19aLearn the Bible Verse (2 minutes) Paper, marker Print Matthew 21:11 from your preferred translation. Teacher Tip Print page 1 of "Matthew 21:11 Paraphrase" (CD). Display and read aloud the verse. Lead children to say the Bible verse several times, clapping their hands for each syllable. Comment: "The people shouted these words to the people who asked about the man riding the donkeys." 20aMake Application (3 minutes) Worship Guide Call attention to the Bible story sequence pictures on the Worship Guide. Review the Bible story. Ask: "What did we learn today?" Invite responses. Conclude: "We learned we can thank God for Jesus. When you pray, thank God for Jesus." 21aDismiss Children to Parents * Giant Game Floor Mat (001114564) may be ordered through LifeWay Christian Resources Customer Service Center at 1.800.458.2772 or online at www.lifeway.com. Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Page 4 of 20
Application Activities Select from the following choices. Each choice is designed for 20 minutes of small group time. Painting smocks, construction paper, paints (various colors), paint containers, paintbrushes, scissors Print "Robes" (CD) and cut apart (1 robe per child). Put paint in containers. Cut construction paper into halves (2 halves per child). Teacher Tips Provide small artificial palm branches for children to dip into paint and press on paper. Cover tables with newspaper or plastic table covers for easy cleanup. Worship Through Arts and Crafts Paint Robes and Branches Assist children with putting on painting smocks. Ask: "What two things did the people put on the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem? The people used their robes and branches to praise Jesus. Let's paint robes and branches. The robes are drawn for us. We can design our own branches." Distribute "Robes," brushes, and paint. Encourage children to paint their robes. Read aloud the sentence below the robes as children paint. Collect each finished robe and place it on a construction paper half to dry. Give each child a construction paper half upon which to paint his branch. Talk about the Bible story as children paint. Offer additional paper for children to paint other scenes from the Bible story. Lead children to clean the area, wash hands, and remove smocks. Comment: "We can thank God for Jesus. Thanking God is another way of praising. The people praised Jesus as He entered Jerusalem." State the Bible verse (Matthew 21:11). Pray. Scissors, brads, heavyweight paper, glue Print 1 per child of "Blank Spinner" (CD) on heavyweight paper. Print 1 per child of "Welcome Jesus Pictures" (CD). Teacher Tips Cut apart "Welcome Jesus Pictures." Make this activity more interactive by allowing children to play out the picture chosen on the spinner. Allow kids to glue "Welcome Jesus Pictures" directly on top of "Blank Spinner" without cutting pictures apart. Worship Through Dramatic Play Spin and Tell Ask: "Can you name the different things or people from our Bible story?" (donkey, palm leaf, robe, disciples, group of people, Jesus, Jerusalem, "Hosanna," group of children) Say: "These are important parts of our story. Let's make spinners to help us remember these people, places, and things so we can tell our family and friends the Bible story." Distribute the materials. Instruct: "Cut apart your pictures. Glue each picture to a different wedge [point] on your blank spinner. Then cut along the dotted line above the spinner. Cut out the arrow. We'll help you put the spinner together." Help the children cut, glue, and assemble the spinner. Guide each child to select a partner. Allow children to spin the spinners and tell partners about the pictures. Gather everyone together. Say: "In our Bible story, we learned people praised Jesus when He entered Jerusalem riding on donkeys. We can thank God for Jesus." Pray. Week of April 1, 2012 Page 5 of 20
Stick horses, masking tape, obstacles (blocks, chairs, boxes, etc.) Print "Thanks" (CD). Print 1 set per lane. Make lanes (1 per team) with masking tape on the floor. Place 1 set of letters randomly throughout each lane. Add obstacles to each lane. Teacher Tips Use broomsticks or long dowels for horses. Put different obstacles in each lane. Invite teams to rotate lanes and run the relays. Worship Through Games Race through the T-H-A-N-K-S Relay Create teams of two or three children. Say: "We'll use stick horses to run our races. Teammates will take turns riding stick horses through the obstacle courses. While riding a horse, each person will pick up the letters T-H-A-N-K-S, which spell thanks. Pick up one letter each time you go through the obstacle course. When your team gathers all the letters, stand together at your starting line." Guide each team to stand one behind another at the start line. Give the first person on each team a stick horse and begin the relay. Encourage children to find the letters and cheer teammates as they run. Remark: "Each team worked together to gather all of the letters. Let's review our Bible verse. [Say Matthew 21:11.] We learned we can thank God for Jesus." Invite the children to put the letters back on the obstacle courses and rearrange the courses. Run the relay again. Lead children to gather materials. Conclude: "Many people welcomed Jesus. Others asked who He was. 'This is Jesus' is what the crowd said. People thanked God for Jesus. We can thank God for Jesus also." Pray. Types of transportation (toy cars, boats, trains, motorcycles, bicycles, canoes, donkeys, camels, horses, etc.), scissors, small lunch bags, screen (box, construction paper, chair covered with towel or sheet) Place individual items in separate bags. Place bags behind the screen. Print "Transportation" (CD) and cut apart strips. Teacher Tip Provide masking tape for kids to make roads, lakes, and areas for the animals. Worship Through Exploration and Discovery Explore Types of Transportation Ask: "How did you get to church today? Did you walk, ride in a car, or in a bus?" Accept all responses. Say: "Jesus couldn't travel by car or jet when He lived on the earth. He traveled by donkeys in our Bible story. Let's play out some types of transportation. I'll invite a volunteer to stand behind the screen, choose a bag, and look inside. The volunteer will play out how to ride in or on that type of transportation. We'll guess what transportation type it is." Invite children to take turns playing out the items. Display a "Transportation" slip. Quiz: "What do you see on my strip? Can we use these items for transportation? Raise your hand if you have been in/on a [name item]." Lead children to name similarities and differences between the items. Continue the same questioning for each strip. Allow children to play with the transportation items. Collect all items. Conclude: "Many people welcomed Jesus. Others asked who He was. 'This is Jesus' is what the crowd said. People thanked God for Jesus. We can thank God for Jesus also." Pray. Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. OK to copy. Page 6 of 20
Cheri Bladholm 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in the USA. People Welcomed Jesus Matthew 21:1-11,14-16 Page 7 of 20
Matthew Matthew 9 Page 8 of 20
Mark Mark 10 Page 9 of 20
Luke Luke 11 Page 10 of 20
ohn John 12 Page 11 of 20
Hosanna Welcome Jesus Pictures (April 1) Page 12 of 20
Transportation (April 1) Page 13 of 20
T H A N K S T H A N K S T H A N K S T H A N K S T H A N K S T H A N K S Thanks (April 1) Page 14 of 20
I can thank God for Jesus. I can thank God for Jesus. Robes (April 1) Page 15 of 20
This is Jesus. Matthew 21:11 Matthew 21:11 Paraphrase (April 1) Page 16 of 20
This Jesus. is Matthew 21:11 This Jesus. is Matthew 21:11 Matthew 21:11 Paraphrase (April 1) Page 17 of 20
How would you feel if your daddy brought home a new puppy? How would you feel if your teacher was sick and someone you did not know was teaching your class? How would you feel if you fell off your bike and broke your leg? How would you feel if your grandma and grandpa were coming to visit your family? How would you feel if your family was going on a picnic in a park? How would you feel if your family did not have any food or money to buy food? How would you feel if you were going to get to meet someone famous? How would you feel if you broke your best friend's new toy? How would you feel if your mom was really sick and no one was home to take care of her but you? How would you feel if it was bedtime and Mom was reading your Bible to you and praying with you? How Would You Feel? (April 1) Page 18 of 20
Cut across the dotted line below, separating spinner and arrow. Cut out arrow. Punch a hole through the center of the spinner and the blunt end of the arrow. Place a brad through the arrow and spinner holes. Spread open the brad. Spin or turn the arrow. Blank Spinner (April 1) Page 19 of 20
People Welcomed Jesus Jesus Is Alive Two Men Saw Jesus Jesus Helped His Disciples Mini Bible Story Pictures (April 1, 8, 15, 22) Page 20 of 20