Curriculum

Praise Parade

Praise Parade Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

There was great cause for people to celebrate Jesus. He was the Messiah, their Savior. His ministry and His life were coming to an end, and people were praising Him.

Scripture Summary

Jesus and His disciples were traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem in Jesus’ last week of ministry. Bethany and Bethphage were villages on the way. Jesus stayed in Bethany that last week before entering Jerusalem, just a few miles away.

While His disciples were still struggling with understanding and accepting what was to come, Jesus mentioned the end of His ministry and death many times throughout His ministry. Jesus knew what was to come. He was not only preparing emotionally for His death, He was also taking care of the logistical details.

The disciples didn’t even need to consider or plan a mode of transportation for Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. Jesus knew of a donkey that would be available. His disciples only needed to say, “The Lord needs it,” and its owners didn’t think twice about the disciples taking the donkey.

There were great crowds in Jerusalem as the Jewish people were gathering for the Passover feast. And word of Jesus had spread throughout the region. People had seen His miracles and listened to His preaching. As emotions toward Jesus were largely positive, many people lined the streets—waving palm branches and shouting their praises. Those praising Jesus, however, expected a strong, political leader, and not the message Jesus preached. It wouldn’t be long before they would turn on Jesus before His death.

The religious leaders disagreed with the crowd’s shouts—calling them blasphemous. The Pharisees wanted to retain control and viewed Jesus and His teachings as a threat. When the religious leaders asked Jesus to keep His followers quiet, Jesus responded that even the rocks would cry out if people remained quiet. All will celebrate God’s truth of eternal salvation and deliverance.

Why Is This Important

Celebrating Jesus’ life and ministry was all part of God’s plan. Here at the end of His ministry, it was fitting for people to honor the Lamb, who would be sacrificed, as part of the Passover feast.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“‘I tell you,’ He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)

I remember when collapsible sun shades for windshields were gaining popularity. And I got it; the idea made sense. Here was a lightweight fabric, with a firm-yet-bendable frame, that could be both super- compact or large to cover the windshield. All I needed to do was learn how to fold it back into its compact size.

Time after time, the firm frame won against my attempts to fold and control it. As soon as I thought I had it folded into its super-compact size, it would pop open to its full size (often bopping me in the head in the process).

Each time I practiced and each time someone showed me how to fold the shade, I thought I was the last person to master this new easy- folding trick. I’m not exaggerating when I share that I stored the full- size sun shade in my back seat for months because I couldn’t get it to fold smaller.

As I read Jesus’ words, I realize Jesus was saying there would be no holding back of praises to God. If people couldn’t cry out, then inanimate stones would shout all the louder. There was no “easy- folding trick” that would contain the praises.

And that’s how God’s truth, God’s ways, and God’s love all operate. There’s no containing them. How has God impacted your life this week? In what ways has God shown you His greatness? Take a moment to shout (literally, if possible) your praises to God right now.

Prayer

Dear God, I praise You because of who You are. You are love. You are true. I thank You for how You display Your love and Your greatness in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bible, “Praise Palms” handouts

Get Ready: Before class, print three “Praise Palms” handouts. Cut out the palm branches and create a set for each group.

“When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’”

(Luke 19:37-38)

Lead kids in these steps to learn today’s Bible memory verse:

  • Open your Bible to Luke 19:37-38.
  • Read the Bible memory verse several times and invite kids to repeat after you.
  • Form three groups, and give each group a set of “Praise Palms” palm branches.
  • Invite groups to place all of the palm branches facedown.
  • When you say “Go,” group members will take turns flipping over one palm branch at a time and putting the verse in order.
  • The first team to arrange the Bible verse in order wins.
  • Play several rounds as time allows. Try adding in hurdles, like removing palm branches or setting a time limit.

SAY: Great job putting your palm branches in order! The people in Jerusalem were so excited for Jesus’ arrival that they couldn’t help but praise Him. Let’s learn more about that now.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bible, Palm branches

  • Open your Bible to Luke 19:28-40.
  • Invite kids to form two lines that face each other along the center of the room.
  • Give each child a palm branch, and invite kids to listen very carefully as you read the Bible passage.
  • As you read, walk up and down between the two lines.
  • When you get to verse 37, invite kids to respond by waving their palm branches and praising.
  • Have all the children sit down, then continue reading.

SAY: The people understood that Jesus was King as He rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. They placed their coats on the ground before Him and shouted joyful praise. We can still praise Jesus today for who He is. He is the Son of God, and He came so that we could spend eternity with Him in His heavenly kingdom.

ASK:

  • Tell about some ways you can praise Jesus every day.
  • What do you think it would have been like to see Jesus riding into the city on Palm Sunday?

Snack

Palm Sundaes

You’ll Need: Disposable tablecloths, Paper bowls, Napkins, Spoons, Ice cream, Chocolate syrup, Sprinkles, Whipped cream

Get Ready: Before the snack, cover tables with disposable tablecloths. Have kids clean their hands.

Follow these steps for the “Palm Sundaes” snacks:

  • Give each child a paper bowl, a napkin, a spoon, and a scoop of ice cream.
  • Remind kids that in today’s Bible passage, the people of Jerusalem gathered in the streets and praised Jesus as He rode into the city. We celebrate that on Palm Sunday.

SAY: Before we celebrate Jesus with ice cream sundaes, let’s give Him praise for who He is.

  • Have kids each share one thing they’re grateful to Jesus for.
  • Invite kids to top their scoops of ice cream with chocolate syrup, sprin- kles, and whipped cream.
  • Enjoy.

ASK:

  • Why do you think the people laid coats and palm branches on the ground in front of Jesus?
  • If you knew Jesus would be coming to town, what would you do to celebrate?

Game

Pin Jesus on the Donkey

You’ll Need: Gray butcher paper or poster board, “Jesus Rides In” handouts, Blindfold, Markers, Scissors, Tape

Get Ready: Before the activity, draw a large donkey on a large sheet of butcher paper or poster board and hang it at the front of the class. Print the “Jesus Rides In” handout, one for each child.

To play the “Pin Jesus on the Donkey” game, have kids follow these steps:

  • Give each child a “Jesus Rides In” handout, and set out markers and scissors for kids to share.
  • Invite kids to color the Jesus figure and cut it out. Ensure each child’s name is visible on the figure.
  • Have kids line up, and give each child a piece of tape for their Jesus figure.
  • Blindfold the first child in line, and have that child spin around three times. Then invite that that child to walk toward the donkey and tape their Jesus on top.
  • Play until every child has pinned their Jesus figure.
  • The child whose Jesus is closest to the top-center of the donkey wins.

ASK:

  • What do you think the people were feeling when they saw Jesus ride in on the donkey?

SAY: Jesus deserves all our praise! He came to Earth, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross so we would be forgiven of our sins. Let’s give Him honor and praise today and every day.

Craft

Praise Palms

You’ll Need: Green construction paper, Pens, Child-safe scissors, Glue or tape, Jumbo craft sticks

Have kids follow these steps to make the “Praise Palms” craft:

  • Give each child a piece of green construction paper and a pen.
  • Help kids fold the construction paper in half one time, then in half again.
  • Have kids trace their hand on the folded paper.
  • Help kids use scissors to cut out their hand shape, keeping the paper folded. (The folded paper will give each child four hands when they’ve finished.)
  • Give each child a jumbo craft stick and set out glue or tape to share.
  • Invite kids to glue or tape their hand shapes to the jumbo craft stick to look like a palm frond.
  • Allow time to dry, if necessary.
  • Invite kids to write praises on the palms.

SAY: When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people were so full of joy! The King had come, Jesus the Messiah was here, and He was going to save them. Only days later, the same people who praised Jesus on Palm Sunday were shouting for Him to be killed. They didn’t understand what kind of king He was. Take these palms home as a reminder to praise Jesus every day!

Prayer

Palm Prayers

You’ll Need: “Praise Palms” crafts

Follow these steps to lead kids in prayer.

  • Invite kids to spread out around the room with their “Praise Palms” crafts.

SAY: In today’s Bible passage, the people of Jerusalem praised Jesus in the streets. Let’s use our Praise Palms to praise Jesus today.

  • Invite kids to hold up their “Praise Palms” crafts, and invite them one by one to offer up a praise to Jesus.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus so we could spend eternity with You in Heaven. We give you praise and honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.