What is God Like?

JESUS
AIM: God shows us His character through Jesus

13.God is KING(Y3 T2 U4a)
Teaching Idea: Through Jesus, God shows us He is the KING who can save, and that
He comes to bring peace and make us His friends.
Learning Tool: Bead with ‘KING’ written on it for bracelet
Bible Verse: “…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

Kings & Queens

Show flashcard pictures of donkey and crown and ask:
Which of these reminds you of a king?
Why does a crown remind you of a king?
Why does a donkey not remind you of a king?
Put the picture of the crown on one side, leave the picture of the donkey clearly visible.

Today’s story is about a king who did not wear a crown, but who did ride a donkey.

Show flashcard pictures of flag and palm branches and ask:
If you were going to be in a large crowd, and the king or queen was going to come past, and you wanted to wave and cheer for her, which one of these would you choose to wave with?
Put the picture of the flag to one side, leave the picture of the palm branches clearly visible.

The crowd who waved and cheered for the king who rode on a donkey used palm branches – not flags.

Worksheet

Draw attention to the first question “What are you doing with my donkey?”

Read Mark 11:1-10

“As they approached Jerusalem, near the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, they came to the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his disciples on ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you. As soon as you get there, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. And if someone asks you why you are doing that, tell him that the Master needs it and will send it back at once.”

So they went and found a colt out in the street, tied to the door of a house. As they were untying it some of the bystanders asked them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered just as Jesus had told them, and the men let them go. They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the animal, and Jesus got on.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches in the field and spread them on the road. The people who were in front and those who followed behind began to shout, “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the coming kingdom of King David, our father! Praise be to God!”

Read, discuss and fill in the gaps on the worksheet.
Do not give a complete run-down on the crucifixion and its meaning in answer to the question, “How did He make peace between people and God?” Allow children to answer that question, not the leader. The next devotion will teach the details of that.
EXTRA FOR EXPERTS can be done at home.

Offer to talk with any child who wants to know how they can be peaceful friends with God (See Counselling Sheet ‘How Jesus has made peace between us and God’ – Do not use it in a group situation).

Through Jesus, God shows us He is the KING who can save, and that He comes to bring peace and make us His friends.
Romans 5:1 “… we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Prayer