Note to the Teacher

The key idea in this scripture for this lesson is “excitement vs. expectations.” The icebreaker invites youth to prepare the way for the Lord. The discussion encourages students to think about the exciting and challenging experiences of being a disciple. The activity allows youth to take a look at themselves and offer support to the group. Times are based on a fifty-five-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Palm Branch Pit Stop (15 minutes)

Divide the youth into two teams. Provide each team with green construction paper, tape/glue, and scissors. Challenge each team to create a set of at least twelve "palm branches" out of the construction paper within a 5-minute timeframe. Once the palm branches are created, invite each team to set up a short obstacle racecourse for the other team. The course should include a minimum of 3-5 small obstacles (playground balls, cones, etc.) that can be cleared, a “disposal bin” (a box or basket to hold the obstacles after they are cleared) located at the start line, and a wall or easel at the finish line, to which participants will tape their “palms.” Once the two courses are set up, the teams line themselves up at the start line. The first person runs to the first obstacle, retrieves it, and brings it back to the disposal bin and goes to the back of the line for their team. The process repeats until there are no obstacle remaining on the course. Once all obstacles are clear, the teams can, one at a time, run and tape up their palms in the display area. The first team to clear all obstacle, tape up all palms, and return to the start line and sit down are the winners.

*Connection point – A semi-famous song from the musical Godspell is “Prepare ye the Way of the Lord” if your space has audio/video capabilities, consider playing that song (or any version of it) or the video version available on video services like YouTube. The action of the game mimics the excitement and desire to “clear the way” for Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem for Passover.

Read Scripture (5 minutes)

Our scripture reading today looks at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

Read Psalm 118:19-29 and John 12:12-16

Discussion (15 minutes)

What symbols are mentioned in these passages that are significant to Palm Sunday? (Focus on the palm branches (boughs) animals, or other signs of humbleness or respect.) What symbols does our church use as we celebrate Palm Sunday? Anything in addition to palm branches?
Why do you think the crowd was so enthusiastic in welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem? Do you think the crowd would have known the Psalm we just read and linked it to Jesus? Or do you think that happened later?
How do we try and show our enthusiasm about following Jesus? What makes that easy and what makes that difficult?
Imagine you were a witness to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, with the same kind of faith you have today. What would you do if you were there? If something like this happened today, would people still be waving palm branches? Would everyone have their phones out to livestream or record? Can you think of any modern-day equivalents for this kind of celebration, where someone arrives and a whole crowd of people has a lot of expectations on that arriving person to deliver something great or new or some kind of change?

Activity and Discussion (20 minutes)

Take the palm fronds from the end of the obstacle race and ensure that each youth has at least 2-3 of them. Distribute markers or other supplies so that youth can write on the palms. Have each youth label one side of the construction-paper frond “supporting” and the other side “challenging.” Then, invite the youth to decorate, draw on, and write on their papers with something like the following prompt. “On the supporting side of your palms, write or draw things that help you feel supported as you grow in faith and try to live like Jesus. On the challenging side, write or draw things that challenge your beliefs or make it difficult to act in a Christ-like way.”

After 10 minutes of writing and drawing time, invite your group to share their observations and discuss.

End the activity by arranging the palms into a palm-tree like pattern and pray together for chances to be able to support each other as you continue to grow in faith.

TOTAL TIME: 55 minutes