Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 min–3 mins)

Hello, everyone! Guess what . . . today is a special day. Does anybody know what it’s called? Children respond. Palm Sunday! Today we will learn why it’s called Palm Sunday and what’s so special that we’re celebrating.

So let’s start with our first video. I should let you know that Chris Quantum is acting. . . pretty weird. And so are some of the Pharisees. Take a look and see if you agree!

PLAY VIDEO: Palm Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma(3 mins)

Palm Sunday: Chris and Joy’s Dilemma

Discussion and SuperVerse

Discussion & Explanation(5 mins)

Wait a second—does Chris really think he’s a king?! Here’s another question: if his whole band got selected to audition for the TV show, why does Chris think he’s better than the rest of the band?

What do you think? Take a couple of questions and answers without going too deep.

In the video, Chris and Jesus were both being called kings, weren’t they? But Chris was just calling himself king. Jesus had other people who called Him king as well.

You see, people started to guess that Jesus was the One they had been waiting for—the One that prophets told about: the Messiah, or God’s chosen One. And when people heard that Jesus had brought a man named Lazarus back to life, many of them were pretty sure that Jesus actually was the Messiah, who would be king forever.

So they went out and gave Him a king’s welcome when He rode into the city of Jerusalem for Passover. People lined up on both sides of the road for Jesus and shouted blessings to Him.

Play Video: Palm Sunday: SuperVerse

Palm Sunday: SuperVerse

Graphic loops one minute without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

SuperVerse Discussion:

Let’s read our Superverse together.

Group Activity: A King's Welcome

Here’s what Jesus’ welcome to Jerusalem looked like. It was kind of like they rolled out the red carpet, but instead of a red carpet . . . Pick up a sweater. . . . people threw their cloaks—their outer clothing—down in the road for Him to ride over on His donkey. Toss the sweater on the floor and pick up a palm branch. People also cut palm branches and threw them in the road for Jesus to ride over. Toss the palm branch and pick up another branch. Some people may have even waved palm branches at Him like this. Demonstrate.

And they said, “Hosannah!” which means, “Save us!” or even “Yay, we’re saved!” And they quoted scripture saying, “Bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”

So let’s do that!

Arrange students into two groups, creating a wide lane between them to walk through. Then have a helper supply everyone with a palm branch, sweater, or jacket to put down in the lane or wave accordingly. Randomly select a student and have him or her walk the path while everyone cheers and shouts “Hosannah!” After this, the rest of the students will take turns, starting from the back of the room and traveling forward.

How did that feel, getting a king’s welcome?

Pretty good, right? Well, here is something the disciples and the people of Jerusalem didn’t know: only five days later, the King they welcomed would be called a criminal and hung on a cross—and some of the same people who welcomed Him would be calling for Him to be crucified. They had no idea what kind of King they were welcoming!

If you can stand it, leave the clothes and palm branch "lane" on the floor for the rest of the time as a reminder of Palm Sunday.

Bible Story

Bible Story

Now let’s watch the rest of the story. Jesus was a different kind of King than the people were expecting, and as Chris learns, He came to do something completely different than what anyone expected a king to do. See if you can figure out what that is as we watch.

PLAY VIDEO: Palm Sunday: Bible Story(20 mins)

Palm Sunday: Bible Story

Wrap up and Prayer

WRAP UP(2 mins)

Did you see how Chris had it all backward?

Jesus wasn’t trying to get everyone to serve Him because He was King, was He? No, He came to serve others and show them how to treat each other. God’s people, Israel, had it all backward, too. Most of them thought the Messiah would be a conquering king who rode in on a snorting horse with his sword held high that would save them by conquering the Romans and the Philistines and whoever else opposed them.

But did Jesus ride in on a white horse while holding a sword? No, Jesus rode in on a donkey. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Zechariah said He would do it this way:

Read the verse from your Bible or screens:

You see, Jesus didn’t come to save the nation of Israel from the Romans two thousand years ago. He didn’t come to be their King. He is the King of everything, and He came to save everybody in the world—for all time—from a life without knowing God’s love. Let’s pray.

PRAYER(1 min)

Father in Heaven, thank you for sending Jesus to be our King. Help us understand what it means that He came to serve others, not to be served. As we head toward Easter, let us understand Your love with help from Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

DISMISSAL(1 min)

Next Sunday is Easter Sunday when we’ll celebrate Jesus coming back to life after being killed on the cross. You’ll probably get chocolate or candy or other great stuff at some point during the day, and overall, I think we are all very excited about the whole event. So have fun, and we will see you then!