Main point: We celebrate Jesus because He is special.
Bible story: Palm Sunday ● Matthew 21:1-11, 15-16

As a family, watch this week’s video and then discuss a few questions together. 

• Today’s Bible story was about a very special day that we’re celebrating today. What is it called? (Palm Sunday)
• Who was our Bible story about? (Jesus, Jesus’ friends, the people who celebrated Jesus)
• What happened in the Bible story? (Jesus rode on a donkey into a town called Jerusalem. Many people celebrated Jesus by cutting branches and laying them on the road along with coats. They also shouted praises to Jesus.)
• What did the people wave in the air to celebrate Jesus? (palm branches)
• Can you celebrate Jesus too? (yes)

Family Activity: Palm Sunday Pop-Up

WHAT YOU NEED: activity page, scissors, crayons, glue stick

WHAT YOU DO: 

• Before the Activity: Print off the activity pages. Cut out one picture of Jesus riding the donkey and set it aside. Then cut along the dashed lines on the other activity page.
• During the Activity: Give your child the activity page and the picture of Jesus riding the donkey. Encourage them to color their pictures. Then show your child where to glue their picture of Jesus riding the donkey and fold their paper to make it pop up.

WHAT YOU SAY: 

• Before the Activity: “Friends, it’s Palm Sunday! What a great day to celebrate Jesus! Let’s make a picture of our story.”
• During the Activity: “You have two pictures: a big picture of the people beside the special path of coats and palm branches and a smaller picture of Jesus riding a donkey. Color both pictures. (Pause.) These look great, but I have something to make your picture really neat. Rub some glue on this part. (Point to the area marked ‘Glue here.’) Put the picture of Jesus here. (Help your child line up their pictures.) Now for the neat part. (Fold their paper so Jesus on the donkey pops ups.) Wow! So neat!”
• After the Activity: “In our Bible story, we heard how Jesus was coming to the town of Jerusalem and everyone was so excited! They took off their coats and laid them on the ground with palm branches so Jesus would have a special path. Some people held palm branches and waved them in the air. They were all ready to celebrate. Jesus was riding a donkey on the path. When the people saw Him, they waved their branches and said, ‘Hosanna! Hosanna! YAY, JESUS!’ The people were so excited to celebrate Jesus because Jesus is so special! We can celebrate Jesus, too, because Jesus is so special and He is alive. Who is alive?” (Jesus is alive.)