Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

(This children’s talk is based on Luke 19: 37, 38.)

Theme:

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Objective:

1. To teach that miracles are seen when keeping your eyes on Jesus.

2. To teach that comfort and joy can come from keeping your eyes on Jesus.

Focus Phrase:

1. Keep your eyes on the ball.

2. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Materials:

1. A table tennis bat and ball (or something similar).

2. A football (small and soft would be preferable).

3. A Bible (book mark at verse Luke 19: 37, 38).

4. A picture book showing some of the miracles of Jesus, (pictures should include Jesus riding on the donkey).

5. A carry bag to put all the items into it.

Preparation:

Expect the church to be decorated with palm leaves for the Palm Sunday service.

Drama Points:

1. When the children are in place start as soon as possible, it helps settle them and gain their attention.

“Good morning everyone, as you can see, today is Palm Sunday. As part of today’s celebration I have something amazing to show you.”

2. Take out from the bag the table tennis bat and ball. Begin to hit the ball up and down on the bat.

“Look at this. This is amazing. I can do this because I keep my eyes on the ball. It is important to keep your eyes on the ball otherwise you can miss it and then the ball will bounce away.” (Just for fun miss the ball and allow it to bounce away.)

3. Next, take out the football. Demonstrate throwing the ball up and then catching it.

“Look at this. This is amazing. I can do this because I keep my eyes on the ball. It is important to keep your eyes on the ball otherwise you can miss it and then the ball will bounce away.” (Again, just for fun miss the ball and allow it to bounce away.)

4. “What has keeping your eyes on the ball got to do with Palm Sunday? Well, more than you think. Let’s hear what the disciples had to say on Palm Sunday.”

5. Read the Bible text, Luke 19: 37, 38. Repeat and emphasise how the disciples were joyful because of all the miracles they had seen. “The disciples saw the miracles because they kept their eyes on Jesus. If they hadn’t kept their eyes on Jesus they would have missed the miracles and we would not know about them today.”

6. Take out the picture book and quickly show the children some of the miracles of Jesus. Introduce each picture with the phrase, “Because the disciples kept their eyes on Jesus they saw Jesus calm the storm, or turn water into wine, or………”

7. Show the picture of Jesus riding the donkey towards Jerusalem. “The disciples are keeping their eyes on Jesus because they expect to see a wonderful miracle in Jerusalem.”

8. “A few days later, something terrible happened to Jesus. It was totally unexpected. Soldiers came and took Jesus away. The disciples were very sad. Some of them ran away, some went home, some cried, and others did not know what to do. In all, they were very sad.”

9. “Sometimes, we too can have days like that where everything goes wrong and we become sad. You may be sad and miserable because you have had a bad day at school, or at home.”

10. “When we are sad, that is the time to remember Palm Sunday. That is the time to remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.”

11. “When you keep your eyes on Jesus, then you will see the miracle that Jesus has for you. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, then you will see Jesus bring comfort and joy back into your life.”

12. Let us finish with prayer.

“Dear Jesus, thank you for Palm Sunday where you remind us to keep our eyes on you so that we may see the miracles that you work every day. Amen.”