This weekend as we get ready to go into Passion Week we taught the children about Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We also helped the children discover ways to praise God for Jesus. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Passion Week Jesus’ last week of earthly ministry. The story of Palm Sunday is found in all four Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19). Few stories rank high enough in the life of Jesus to be told in all four Gospels. At the beginning of the story, Jesus told his disciples to go take a donkey colt and bring it for him to ride as he entered the city. When rulers entered a city, they would ride a white stallion as a sign of their power and victory over others. When rulers rode on donkeys, it symbolized that they came in peace and submission. By taking and riding the donkey, Jesus entered Jerusalem as one with the right to assert authority over the people, but who chose to come in an attitude of peace and submission.

The people welcomed Jesus as a Savior. They threw blankets and cloaks on the road, and covered his pathway with branches torn from the trees so the feet of his colt wouldn’t touch the ground. They called out to God, “Hosanna in the highest,” and called out to Jesus with the chorus from Psalm 118:26, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.” The people responded to Jesus’ arrival by proclaiming him to be the promised one sent by God. Who knows what they expected Jesus would do to save them? Perhaps most expected Jesus to emerge to be a great leader or king, like David, and lead the people out from under the oppression of the Romans. Whatever they expected, it is fairly certain none of them foresaw the revelation of the week to come, a crucified Messiah resurrected three days later to proclaim victory over sin and death.

While this week lesson focuses mostly on Palm Sunday, your children are encouraged to honor Passion Week with a daily activity page and information about what occurred in this most special week of the Christian year. Determine how much of the Passion Week events you want to share with your children. Encourage them to be involved in the church’s Passion Week activities. Be involved yourself, immersing yourself in the events and emotions of this challenging time, and being a role model for your children.

Jesus’ final journey began with a triumphant ride on the back of a young donkey. As you remember this day with the children, get caught up in the excitement of the story. Celebrate and rejoice with the crowds of people who have raised their voices together year after year for two thousand years, and shout the good news to God. Jesus is God’s Son, the Savior of us all, and Jesus is alive! Allow the spirit of Palm Sunday and the joy of the Messiah to fill your family with rejoicing and celebrating throughout the week.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. John 3:16

This weekend we continued teaching the kids about Jesus’ last week of earthly ministry, we focused on the biblical account of Peter’s denial of Jesus. We helped the children recognize that Jesus loves and accepts them, even when they make mistakes. Peter is among the oldest and most seasoned of the disciples. His loyalty is shown time and again throughout the Gospels. Peter’s faith in Jesus is so profound that he alone, among all the disciples, gets out of the boat and walks on water to go out and meet Jesus (Matthew 14:28-29). To say that Peter was one of Jesus’ most trusted disciples would not be overstating the issue. For this reason, it seems all the more tragic that it is Peter who so intensely denies knowing Jesus. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus warned that all the disciples would desert him. Peter passionately denied that he would ever abandon Jesus. Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny knowing Jesus three times before the morning came. Peter remained convinced that no matter what the night might bring, he would never abandon Jesus.

When Jesus was arrested, Peter followed, perhaps in the hopes of discovering what would become of Jesus. While Jesus was being tried by the high priest, Peter waited in the courtyard. The other disciples are not mentioned as being there with Peter, so the story begins with us once again seeing Peter acting as a devoted disciple. However, as soon as a servant girl noticed Peter and began to question him about being friends with Jesus, Peter cracked. Peter gave in to the fear of the moment and denied ever knowing Jesus. Then a second servant said that Peter had to have been with Jesus. Peter once again denied it. Finally, a group of bystanders commented on Peter’s accent and insisted that, of course Peter had to be a follower of Jesus from Galilee. At this point, Peter really lost it. He cursed himself and Jesus, and then swore an oath that he did not know Jesus at all. Then the cock crowed and announced the coming of morning. Peter realized what he had done, ran away in shame, and cried.

Our story this weekend from the Book of Matthew ends with Peter’s denial. There is no resolution no forgiveness from Jesus at least, not accounted here. The story of forgiveness for Peter’s denial is found in John’s Gospel. Does this mean the writer of Matthew believes Peter was not forgiven? Certainly not! But the writer makes a point that no one, not even Peter, the most loyal of disciples, could live up to the call of Christ. We all sin and fail God. Peter shows us that without Jesus, it would be impossible for any of us to be good enough, to be faithful enough to make God’s great love known to the world. Jesus’ life and death alone are what made it possible for us to know God’s great love. No one human, no matter how amazing he or she might be, could ever have taken the place of the Messiah, the Son of God. This week as you interact with your children, remind them that we are not perfect and that we and they will make mistakes, also remind them that Jesus can and will forgive them if they come to him and ask for forgiveness.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” John 3:16

As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection, we are teaching the children accounts relating to Jesus’ last day of ministry. This weekend we taught the children the story of the Last Supper. We helped the children remember Jesus and his great love for them.

In this story, we see how Jesus showed his love to his disciples during his final evening with them. When the time came for the meal to begin, Jesus told the disciples how happy he was and how eager he had been to share this meal with them before leaving to face his suffering. Then Jesus gave the disciples a concrete way to remember him when he was gone. He took some bread and gave thanks to God. He broke the bread and shared it with the disciples. He said, “This is my body broken for you. Whenever you are together, eat this bread as a way to remember me.”

The Bible says the disciples and Jesus then shared the Passover meal. As a part of the meal, the bread and wine would have been passed around the table several times, remembering different parts of the Exodus story. Jesus used bread before the meal as a way for the disciples to remember him because they would understand the use of food to remember something special. After the meal, Jesus decided to give the disciples another way to remember him. Jesus waited until the last cup of Passover wine had been shared. He then took the extra cup of wine and said, “This is my blood poured out for all. When you drink this wine, remember the new promise of love God has made with you through me.” By giving them bread and wine, Jesus gave the disciples a way to remember his love for them, even after he was gone.

At the end of the story, we see the true depths of Jesus’ love. Jesus had known there was a betrayer at the table during the whole meal. But Judas was offered a way to remember God’s great love for him as well, and he was included in that love. The story of the Last Supper tells us that Jesus wanted his followers to have a concrete way to remember God’s love for them. Today we still remember God’s love this way when we have Communion. At Communion, we share bread and wine or juice as a reminder of God’s covenant of love and forgiveness.

This week as you interact with your children, think about your experiences with Communion. How does Communion help you remember God’s love? Think of ways to help your children remember God’s love for them. This week concentrate on having a spirit of happiness and thankfulness, eager to remember the good news Jesus shared about God’s love for us and the children.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. John 3:16

This weekend we continued helping the children discover ways they can love and honor Jesus. How would you show love to Jesus, the one who showed God’s great love to us? This weekend we learned how Mary of Bethany honored Jesus for his great love with an extreme act of big love.

Our Bible story this weekend occurs one week before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and stopped in Bethany at the house of his friends, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. When Jesus arrived at their house the week before Passover, the siblings served a feast in Jesus’ honor. Martha served the food while Lazarus sat with Jesus. During the meal, Mary took a jar filled with perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet. The smell of so much perfume must have been overwhelming in the small house. The perfume, made from spikenard imported from India, was very expensive. Judas said it cost at least three hundred silver coins or denarii. A field worker earned one denarii for a day’s work, so the perfume cost almost a year’s salary. One denarii would buy a large dinner or twelve loaves of bread. Imagine how much 300 denarii bought. By today’s prices, that’s 10,000 to 15,000 dollars. Talk about
an elaborate display of love and affection!

While Judas objected to Mary’s act, Jesus welcomed it. Mary honored Jesus and showed her great love for him in ways that showed that Mary understood who Jesus was and what he had to do. First, she anointed Jesus the way a prophet anointed a chosen king. Second, she used perfume often used to prepare a body for burial. It was almost as if Mary understood that Jesus would soon die and wanted to help prepare and strengthen Jesus for what was to come. Mary’s actions showed that she understood our B.I.G. Idea for the month: Jesus wants us to remember how much he loves us. Mary accepted God’s love for her. She responded to it by showing Jesus her great love for him. By Jesus’ response (John 12:7-8), we see that Mary helped prepare Jesus for the events to come. If we were given the chance Mary had to do one final thing for Jesus before he died, what would we do? Faithful discipleship is measured by how we embrace the love Jesus offers and by the acts of love that we offer in response. In this way, Mary was certainly a faithful disciple of Jesus. Will we be faithful disciples and respond to Jesus with the same deep devotion and love?

Jesus’ life and death proclaim that God loves us and show how much Jesus is willing to give for our sakes. Think about God’s great love for you as shown by Jesus. This week as you interact with your children, ask yourself: What are some ways I can be bold like Mary and show Jesus just how much he means to me? Share God’s love with your children as you encourage them to be bold like Mary and show their love for Jesus in big ways.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. John 3:16

This weekend we helped the children recognize the power of love over all things and that love is God’s greatest gift to us.

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This quotation is an ideal one sentence summary of 1 Corinthians 13. This passage emphasizes how knowledge and intelligence, spiritual gifts, and faith are completely useless without love. According to Paul, it doesn’t matter how much you know even if you have all the knowledge and can solve all of the world’s mysteries such knowledge is empty and vain without love. What good is it if a person has such profound knowledge, but does not show care or concern for others?

Love is such an exhausted word in our society. It is used to describe our affections for people, objects, animals, places, and almost everything. In some ways, the power of the word love has lost its meaning. To say you love something or someone doesn’t quite have the impact that it used to. But love is an incredible thing. And God’s love is beyond comprehension. According to Paul’s letter, some characteristics of love are being patient, kind, and rejoicing in truth. These are big words! To always be patient, to always be kind these are goals that we would all like to meet, but seldom do. Some descriptions that are not characteristic of love include being envious, boastful, arrogant, rude, irritable, and resentful. How many of these actions come so easily to us much easier than kindness and patience!

The part of Paul’s letter found in 1 Corinthians 13, like the word love itself, is very common in our culture. We encounter it so often that we respond with a complacent affirmation to its truth if we even respond at all. But the message of this chapter is radical, life changing, earth shattering no matter how hard it is, God’s call to us is to love and to love unconditionally. And it requires an active response. As your children encounter Paul’s letter maybe again, maybe for the first time help them see how this letter is a personal calling for them individually. As you teach your children, point out ways they are showing characteristics of love. When you give the children affirmations, point out that their action is what this weekend lesson was about.

Affirm yourself, also, as a parent. You can show your children how to be kind and patient, not envious and boastful. Ask for God’s help. Allow God to use you as an example of what love truly is. Remember, the children don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God.” 1 John 4:7

This weekend we taught the kids how to be real true friends. We did it with the help of the biblical account of the four friends who brought their paralytic friend to Jesus.

“I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” These are the well-known words from the book, The Little Engine That Could. In this story, the Little Engine pulls a long train over a very high mountain. Throughout the journey, the Little Engine encourages himself by repeating, “I think I can.” This determination and confidence helps the Little Engine succeed. He does not give up. The story of the four friends in Mark 2 could be aptly titled, “The Friends Who Would Not Give Up.” Seeing the crowd and realizing that there is no way to reach Jesus, the four friends could have said, “We tried our best to get to Jesus, but we couldn’t. So we might as well go home.” They do not. Instead, they find another way to enter the house “they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay” (Mark 2:4).

Why are the four friends so determined to reach Jesus? There is no dialogue between the friends and their ill friend, so we do not know what words they exchanged. Yet their determination is evident. Perhaps they exchanged words of faith, believing that somehow, Jesus will heal their friend. Since they are close friends, perhaps they are consumed with compassion for their sick friend and desperately want him well. They may have seen him suffer day and night, and now see Jesus as the only hope to an end to their friend’s pain. The four friends would not give up. Even more, perhaps the four friends feel they cannot give up. They feel they cannot give up because, if they did, they would be giving up hope for their friend. They are loving examples of true friends.

This weekend we helped the children identify what it means to be a friend. This week as you interact with your children, think about someone whom you consider to be a true friend. Why is this person your friend? What characteristics does this person have that qualifies him or her as a true friend? Do any of these words come to mind when you think of your friend: caring, trustworthy, helpful, considerate, fun, faithful? Once you answer the questions, help your children identify characteristics of a friend. Also, help your children to think about acts of kindness that they can do to show what kind of friend they truly are.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God. 1 John 4:7

This weekend we taught the children about the good Samaritan. We also helped the children recognize what a neighbor is and what it means to love others and to love God.

An elementary-school counselor was standing outside her school one day as one of her students, a third-grade girl, and her mother approached. The little girl greeted the counselor with a hug and cheerfully told her mother while pointing to the counselor, “She’s the one who makes us happy.” What a wonderful compliment for the counselor to be characterized as someone who consoles others, especially young children!

In this weekend’s lesson, the children heard the biblical story of someone in the Bible, the good Samaritan, who consoled another person. The good Samaritan was like a counselor to the man who was attacked and robbed. First, the good Samaritan was filled with compassion: “he was moved with pity” (Luke 10:33). Second, the good Samaritan placed bandages on the man’s wounds (Luke 10:34). Third, the good Samaritan became the injured man’s caretaker: “Then [the good Samaritan] put [the man] on [the good Samaritan’s] own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:34). Fourth, the good Samaritan solicited the aid of others to help care for the man: “The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said ‘Take care of him’” (Luke 10:35a). Last and most importantly, the good Samaritan made preparations for a follow-up visit to check on the status of the man: “When I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend” (Luke 10:35b).

As a parent, you are also a good Samaritan/ counselor to your children. You show the children compassion, and in ways you may not be aware, you provide healing—physical and spiritual—for their young hearts. You are also a caretaker for your children. As a parent you must pray for God’s guidance, and wisdom as you care for your children. This week as you interact with your children, help them recognize what it means to love others and to love God, know that you are indeed also a good Samaritan!

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God”. 1 John 4:7

This weekend we introduced the children to Ruth. We also taught the children what it means to be a family of faith and show love to others.

“Don’t ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the LORD’s worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you!” (Ruth 1:16-17, GNT). Ruth’s words to Naomi are potent. They are immortalized as the epitome of commitment because they demonstrate loyalty and loving concern in relationships. Ruth does not only request, “Let me go with you,” but she goes a step further to describe the extent of her commitment in going with Naomi. The Good News Translation uses one word that encompasses Ruth’s sincerity, and that word is wherever. Wherever means in any place and in any situation. So in going with Naomi, Ruth is saying this: “Naomi, I am with you in the good times and the bad. I am with you among your relatives. I am with you wherever you worship. I am with you even to death.” Ruth is assuring Naomi that she is not merely taking a temporary journey beside Naomi, then departing at a later date. (It would have been normal, and in fact expected, for Ruth to return to her own family since she was a widow.) Ruth’s “with you” means support for a lifetime. In going with Naomi, Ruth demonstrates what it means to be a part of a family, even a chosen family, and how family members should be committed to one another.

And so this weekend we taught the children the biblical story of Ruth. We taught them what it means to be a family of faith and to show love to others. As you interact with your children this week, talk about ways they can help and care for family members, friends, and others, but don’t stop there, express your care and concern for them, when you do, you are demonstrating that you are with them; you support them. They can count on you for support and compassion. And teach them to give thanks to God who supports you and them and is always with you.

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God”. 1 John 4:7

This weekend we taught the children the biblical story of Jesus in the synagogue. We encouraged the children to live as Jesus taught by caring for all God’s people.

A kindergarten teacher tells this story about a little boy in her class with a kind and sensitive heart. During story time, the teacher would gather the children in a circle to listen to a story. While reading, if something bad would happen to one of the characters, the little boy would raise his hand. When the teacher would acknowledge the little boy’s hand, with all the sincerity and concern he could muster he would say, “Well, I’ll pray for them.” It did not matter if the character was good or bad. Every time misfortune would befall a character, the little boy never failed to offer prayer. This little kindergartner is a perfect example of Jesus’ care.

This weekend we helped the children connect with the biblical story of Jesus in the synagogue. While in the synagogue, Jesus proclaims that his purpose is to bring good news, heal the sick, and set the captives free. In other words, this day in the synagogue Jesus declares that because of the work that God has called him to do, life for others will never be the same. Their lives will only be better because of Jesus’ love and concern for everyone.

What is troubling about this story is that the people of Jesus’ hometown those to whom he was speaking got angry at the Old Testament stories that Jesus referenced. Why? The two stories Jesus referenced were about prophets whose ministries were not accepted in their own homes. Jesus was telling his family and friends that they would not understand him or accept him. Jesus himself was beginning to see the path laid before him, as he narrowly escaped being thrown off a cliff by his neighbors. But Jesus’ message was clear: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news” (Luke 4:18).

During the lesson, we helped the children identify ways to live as Jesus lived and calls us to live. We are to bring good news to the world, the good news that Jesus is love. The activities we did helped teach the children ways they can show love and concern for others. As you interact with your children this week, think about ways you care for others. Also, think about ways that others have shown care and concern for you. Was care shown to you through a visit, a telephone call, an inspirational or humorous greeting card? Or perhaps it was prayer that others offered on your behalf? Let the children know that among their acts of care and kindness, they can always pray for others.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor”. Luke 2:52

This weekend we taught the children the biblical story of Jesus in the desert. We helped the children children recognize that Jesus faced choices about whether or not to obey God. And we taught the children to ask for God’s help when faced with important choices.

In today’s society children face bullies, guns, and the pressure to have sex and take drugs. No school systems are immune. These problems happen in public and private schools, inner city and suburban or rural schools, and in Christian and secular schools. And children of increasingly younger ages are experiencing these pressures. Children, just as adults, have to make choices between good and evil.

In this weekend’s lessons, we taught the children the biblical story of Jesus in the wilderness. We told them that Jesus faced choices about whether or not to obey God. This lesson is a very important one in teaching children that they, like Jesus, can ask for God’s help when faced with difficult choices. Children want to make good choices because they want to please their parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Even older children, whose focus is often on impressing and pleasing their peers, still desire and need the affirmation of their parents and other adults.
Think about a time when you made a poor choice, either when you were younger or as an adult. What led you to make the poor decision? Was it not having sufficient information, peer pressure, lack of confidence or low self-esteem, eagerness to please others, to avoid conflict, or perhaps another reason? As you consider your reason, more likely than not your children have made poor decisions because of similar reasons. Now think about any mercy shown from God and others in the midst of your poor choice. God is always gracious and willing to forgive. God forgives, and you have to forgive yourself as well. Sometimes we have a difficult time forgiving ourselves. Now think about the times when you made good choices. What helped you to make the right choice?
This week as you interact with your children provide opportunities to encourage and affirm them. Let the children know God will give them the strength to do what is right. Also, let them know that God offers forgiveness when they make poor choices. Help the children learn that God is a source of unending love, as well as a source of guidance and strength.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor”. Luke 2:52