Sunday 28 March

Key Question

The Story

Use this guide to help your family learn how
God can help us to be patient.

First, watch this video
Then, follow up with the fun activities below!

Bible Story

Palm Sunday
Matthew 21:1-22

Activity – Wait-and-See

What you need

Several sheets of paper, large book or pad to support the paper, writing utensil, several cookie cutters (or objects with a defined shape), bowl

What You Do

Place all of the cookie cutters in the bowl. Give your child a piece of paper and something to draw with. Then, put the bowl in your lap and sit back-to-back with your child.
Say, “I’m going to close my eyes and pull out a cookie cutter. Neither one of us will be able to look at it, but I’ll try to describe its shape to you while keeping my eyes closed. Based on my description, you’ll draw it on the sheet of paper.”
Complete the first round. (Remember, even if you know what the shape is, don’t tell your child exactly what it is!) Compare the cookie cutter to the actual drawing. How close or far off were the two of you?
Now, switch roles so that you’re the one drawing and your child is the one describing. (Remind them not to peek at the cookie cutter!)
Continue back and forth until you’ve described and drawn all the shapes of the cookie cutters.
After the game is over, ask, “When was it hardest to wait in the game we just played—when you were drawing and waiting to see if you were right? Or when you were describing and waiting to see what I had drawn?”

Talk about the Bible Story

For hundreds of years, God’s people had been waiting for the Messiah to come. What’s the longest you’ve had to wait for something?
Why is it good to find something to celebrate while you’re waiting and trying to be patient?
Name three things you can celebrate every day, no matter what.
When you’re feeling impatient, the LAST thing you’re probably thinking about is what you can celebrate or be grateful for. How could we change that and make it the FIRST thing we think about?
Parent: Talk about a time when you were able to celebrate while waiting. Talk about how much better the result was, because you were able to celebrate and be thankful for something while you had to wait.

Prayer

Use this prayer as a guide, either after your discussion or right before bed tonight:

“Dear God, waiting is not always fun. While we’re waiting, being thankful is often the LAST thing on our minds. Help us to remember that there are always reasons to celebrate—even if we don’t have what we want right now. Thank You for being patient with us. We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Extra

God Time Cards:
are devotionals kids can do that will reinforce the content in the weekly video presentations.