A Journey of Praise

• Ask a member to prepare to read out Matthew 21:1-11 

• Organise your meeting space with a pathway from the village of Bethphage to Jerusalem 

• Print out the Bible questions on A4 sheets

• Create signposts or use the Signposts handout 

• Find a large cross and some Bibles 

• Prepare to play some music, eg the suggested songs below or reflective music eg Relaxing Hymns of Piano ‘Palm Sunday’ by Tim Janis (2:04:19)

• Cut out large palm leaf shapes from different-coloured green card and rip up some light-coloured cloth 

• Find thick pens that can write on card and cloth

• Provide percussion instruments or make some home-made versions

• Source plain cupcakes and cake decorating resources including, perhaps, green, gold and brown icing and edible eyes decorations 

Additional resource

• Bible questions

• Signposts

Please be aware of allergies.

Palm Sunday: a day of celebration, a paradox, and a day of deep spiritual meaning. 

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds shouted, ‘Hosanna!’, believing that their King had arrived to destroy the occupying Roman power and establish a new kingdom. But within days, some of those same voices would cry, ‘Crucify him!’ What does this story reveal about our hearts, our expectations and our faith?

SET-UP

Invite group members to help create a Palm Sunday environment. Set up your meeting space with a pathway from the village of Bethphage to Jerusalem. Be as creative as you want to be! Maybe make signposts for the two towns and create a road for the group to walk along. Place a large cross at the end of the path and leave Bibles open at Matthew 21 along the way. Prepare to play some reflective music.

JOURNEY

Ask a member to read out Matthew 21:1-11 to the group. Then invite members to journey along the path to the cross. Place along the path the Bible questions, to reflect on alone or to discuss with someone else.

Bible questions

• What stands out to you in this passage? (Matthew 21:1-11)
• What emotions do you imagine were present in the crowd?
• Where would you be in this scenario?
• What does it mean to you that Jesus chose humility over grandeur?
• How do we welcome Jesus into our lives, not just as a Saviour, but as a humble King?
• Have you ever expected Jesus to act in a certain way, only to be surprised by his plan?
• How do we respond when God’s way doesn’t match our expectations?
• What does it mean for me to welcome Jesus as King today?
• When have I shouted ‘Hosanna!’ and later struggled with doubt?
• What expectations do I need to surrender to trust God’s plan?

WRITE

Using the thick pens, invite members to write praises to God on the palm leaves. On the ripped cloths, members might like to write anything they want to lay before the cross, to hand over to Jesus.

DECORATE

Enjoy decorating plain cupcakes with Palm Sunday symbols, using icing and other decorations. For example: palm leaves, crowns, crosses – or even a donkey using the edible eyes! Don’t forget to spend time eating them together too!

PRAISE 

Do a praise parade! Provide percussion instruments for everyone to join in with. If you don’t have instruments, make some simple shakers or use a spoon to bang a pan! Alternatively, schedule this activity as a closing reflection of your time together.

MATTHEW 21:1-11

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a journey that starts with praise and ends in sacrifice.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is both royal and humble. He fulfils the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9:

‘See, your king comes to you,

    righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’

The crowds greet him as the promised Messiah, yet they do not fully understand the journey he is on. Their praise is loud, but soon it will be replaced with loud calls for his crucifixion.

What is our own journey of praise? Do we welcome Jesus only when he fits our expectations? Are our ‘Hosannas’ rooted in faith, or in hopes that he will fulfil our personal desires? True praise acknowledges Jesus as King, not just of our circumstances, but of our hearts, even when his ways challenge us.

So let us journey with Jesus, not just in moments of triumph, but through every season, trusting his purpose and surrendering our expectations. Let our praise flow from hearts willing to journey towards him, and to follow him – wherever he leads.

REFLECT

You may wish to finish your time together with the Praise Parade, singing the suggested songs, playing the percussion instruments and waving palm leaves and cloths. At the end, invite members to lay down their palm leaves on the path and their cloths at the cross, and to pray.

• SASB 231       ‘Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessèd Redeemer!’   

  • Brass instrumental lyric video by Pendleton Corps (2:47)

  • Lyric video feat Lifeway Contemporary by Christ in Hymn (3:23)

  • Lyric video feat Tommy Walker by Babe Damulag (3:25)

• SASB 362       ‘Give me joy in my heart …’

  • Brass instrumental lyric video by Kelston Stanford (1:48)

  • Congregational lyric video by Frodsham Methodist Church (2:00)

• SASB 366       ‘Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest’

  • Lyric video feat footage from the 2018 Palm Sunday procession from Bethphage to Jerusalem by Chet Valley Churches (2:54)

  • Brass instrumental lyric video by Stotfold Salvation Army (1:09)

• ‘Hosanna [I see the King of Glory]’

  • Official lyric video by Hillsong Worship (7:06)

  • Live video (press cc for lyrics) by Hillsong Worship (6:17)