HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONAL

HOLY WEEK FAMILY DEVOTIONAL & ACTIVITY GUIDE

WHAT IS SOAP?

S O A P

SCRIPTURE: Read and write down the scripture you are studying. If the passage is long, you can pick out 1-2 verses to focus on.

OBSERVATION: What do you hear in the verse(s) you are reading? Who is A 7talking DAY FAMILY DEVOTIONAL ACTIVITY GUIDE and who are& they talking to? Are there any words repeated in the verses? What made you say, “oh wow!”

APPLICATION: Making what you read personal! What is God saying to you today? How does this scripture apply to your life? How will you live differently after reading this?

PRAYER: Pray and ask God to help you be more like Jesus to others and apply the verse(s) to your life.

Thank God for His goodness in your life.

WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR SOAP? AGE APPROPRIATE BIBLE (nirv translation recommended)

PEN/PENCIL/HIGHLIGHTER OPTIONAL: WORSHIP MUSIC

CHECK OUT OUR EKIDS SPOTIFY PLAYLIST AND PARENT RESOURCES

DAY 1: PALM SUNDAY - JESUS’ ENTRY

S O A P

READ MATTHEW 21:1-11

WHY WERE SO MANY PEOPLE EXCITED TO SEE JESUS?

WHY SHOULD YOU PRAISE JESUS? WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN PRAISE JESUS FOR?

PRAY AND GIVE GOD PRAISE FOR HIS LOVE FOR US AND FOR HIS SON JESUS.

DAYpalm 1 ACTIVITY leaf praise WHAT YOU NEED: JUMBO POPSICLE STICK GREEN CONSTRUCTION PAPER SCISSORS MARKERS/CRAYONS/COLORED PENCILS TAPE/GLUE

WHAT YOU DO: take GREEN CONSTRUCTION PAPER AND CUT OUT A PALM LEAF. DECORATE THE LEAF WITH DRAWINGS AND WORDS TO DESCRIBE JESUS. TAPE OR GLUE THE POPSICLE STICK TO THE BACK OF THE LEAF TO CREATE A PALM LEAF FAN. OPTIONAL: YOU CAN SING, PLAY INSTRUMENTS, AND HAVE A WORSHIP DANCE PARTY TOGETHER TO THANK JESUS FOR HIS LOVE FOR US! (FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, YOU CAN USE A PALM LEAF TEMPLATE FOUND ONLINE.)

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO PRAISE GOD? IF YOU WERE THERE WHEN JESUS ENTERED JERUSALEM, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE OR SAID? HOW DO YOU THINK JESUS FELT WHEN EVERYONE WAS PRAISING HIM?

DAY 2: JESUS WASHES HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET

S O A P

Read JOHN 13:3-17

What do you think Jesus was trying to teach his disciples by washing their feet?

How can we show love, kindness AND SERVE others like Jesus did?

ASK GOD TO REVEAL TO YOU WHO AND HOW YOU CAN SERVE OTHERS THIS WEEK.

DAYSERVING 2 ACTIVITY OTHERS WHAT YOU NEED: WATER HAND TOWEL & BATH TOWEL LARGE BOWL/BASIN SOAP

WHAT YOU DO: PLACE A LARGE BATH TOWEL ON THE GROUND. FILL UP A BOWL WITH WATER AND PLACE IT ON TOP OF A TOWEL. CHOSE WHO WILL GO FIRST TO GET THEIR FEET WASHED. HAVE SOMEONE WASH THE FEET OF THE PERSON. SAY A PRAYER OVER THE PERSON WHOSE FEET YOU ARE WASHING. SWITCH PLACES AND DO THE SAME THING UNTIL EVERYONE HAS HAD THEIR FEET WASHED AND WASHED SOMEONE ELSE‘S FEET. IF CHILD IS YOUNGER, YOU CAN WASH A TOY INSTEAD.

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: How do you feel when someone does something kind for you?

How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus, humbled himself to wash their feet?

What are some ways Your family can serve others and show THE love and kindnesS OF JESUS?

DAY 3: THE LAST SUPPER

S O A P

Read Matthew 26:17-30

WHAT DID THE BREAD AND WINE REPRESENT AT THIS MEAL?

How would you feel if you were one of Jesus' disciples at the Last Supper?

ASK GOD TO HELP YOU REMEMBER HIS SON, JESUS EVERY DAY!

DAY 3 ACTIVITY FAMILY COMMUNION WHAT YOU NEED: GRAPE JUICE (OR ANY LIQUID TO REPRESENT THE BLOOD OF JESUS) BREAD (OR ANY SOLID FOOD TO REPRESENT THE BODY OF CHRIST)

WHAT YOU DO: GATHER YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER AND GRAB THE ELEMENTS FOR COMMUNION. READ MATTHEW 26:26 ALOUD AND TAKE THE ELEMENT OF JESUS‘ BODY (BREAD) TOGETHER. READ MATTHEW 26:27-28 ALOUD AND TAKE THE ELEMENT OF JESUS‘ BLOOD (JUICE) TOGETHER. TAKE TURNS AND SHARE WHAT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT JESUS. PRAY TOGETHERAS A FAMILY AND THANK GOD FOR HIS SON AND HIS SACRIFICE.

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: If You were at the Last Supper, what question would you ask Jesus?

How do you think the disciples felt when Jesus told them he would be leaving them soon TO DIE ON A CROSS? What do you think Jesus wants us to remember from the Last Supper?

DAY 4: JUDAS’ BETRAYAL

S O A P

Read Matthew 27:14-16 & Matthew 27:47-50

what did judas betray Jesus for? how did jesus respond to being betrayed by one of his friends?

sometimes we choose things over Jesus. what are some things that get in the way of choosing Jesus first?

ask god to help you choose jesus first and above everything else!

DAYjudas’ 4 ACTIVITY coin bag WHAT YOU NEED: Felt or cloth string or yarn hole puncher aluminum foil scissors cardboard/card stock

WHAT YOU DO: coin bag: cut a circle out using felt or cloth. use a hole puncher to make holes going around the lining of the circle. thread the string through the holes and tie the two ends together to make a coin bag. coins: cut circles out of cardboard or card stock. wrap pieces of aluminum foil around the coin to make silver coins. put the coins in the middle of the coin bag. optional: make 30 coins to represent the amount that judas received in exchange for Jesus.

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: how do you think judas felt after betraying Jesus? do you think he regretted betraying Jesus? why or why not? what do you think jesus would say to judas today? jesus forgives and loves judas even when he betrayed him. who is someone is your life that you need to forgive?

DAY 5:

JESUS prays & gets arrested

S O A P

Read Matthew 26:36-56

what did jesus do before he was arrested? who was he with? what did he pray for?

what are some ways you can find comfort when you’re feeling scared or upset?

thank god that we can go to him with everything! confess anything that you might be hiding from him.

DAYactivity 5 ACTIVITY name WHAT YOU NEED: markers pen index cards or paper tape optional: cork board

WHAT YOU DO: Jesus always made prayer his first priority! he prayed for himself, his friends and family, and for strangers! draw or write down prayer requests on index cards.

These prayers can be about yourself, your family, or for others. you can hang these in a place where you can be reminded to pray for the things you wrote down. end with praying for each other in your family. every person should get an opportunity to pray for someone else and be prayed over.

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: share a time when you prayed for something and god answered it! why do you think jesus prayed to god before he knew he was going to be arrested? how can we as a family make prayer a regular part of our daily routine?

DAY 6: THE CRUCIFIXION

S O A P

Read Matthew 27:27-54

HOW DID PEOPLE RESPOND TO JESUS IN THESE VERSES? WHAT DID THEY DO AND SAY?

HOW does iIT MAKE YOU FEEL to know that God loves you so much that he allowed Jesus to die for you?

THANK GOD FOR JESUS AND FOR ALL THAT HE SUFFERED IN ORDER TO SAVE US!

DAYCROWN 6 ACTIVITY OF THORNS WHAT YOU NEED: PLAYDOH (PREFERABLY BROWN) YOU CAN MIX PLAYDOH COLORS TOGETHER TO MAKE BROWN

TOOTHPICKS OPTIONAL: PAPER PLATE (IN PLACE OF PLAYDOH)

WHAT YOU DO: take THE PLAYDOH AND ROLL IT INTO TWO THIN SNAKES. TWIST BOTH PIECES AROUND ONE ANOTHER. FORM INTO A CIRCLE AND CONNECT THE TWO ENDS TOGETHER TO MAKE A CROWN. GIVE EACH PERSON SOME TOOTHPICKS AND TAKE TURNS PUTTING A TOOTHPICK (THORN) INTO THE CROWN. AS YOU ADD YOUR “THORN” NAME A SIN. TALK ABOUT HOW JESUS TOOK ON ALL OF THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND WHEN HE DIED HE FORGAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR SINS.

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: How do you think Jesus' friends and family felt when they saw him being BEATED, MISTREATED, AND crucified?

What do you think Jesus wantS us to remember most about his crucifixion?

WHY IS GOOD FRIDAY GOOD? What questions do you have about Jesus' crucifixion that we AS A FAMILY can explore together?

DAY 7: Jesus’ burial

S O A P

Read Matthew 27:57-66

who took care of Jesus’ body and what was Jesus’ body wrapped in?

Have you ever lost someone or something that you loved? how did you feel?

thank god that death is not the end of the story for jesus and for anyone who believers in him!

DAY 7FAMILY ACTIVITY TREE WHAT YOU NEED: paper plate scissors stapler gray construction paper (or color paper gray) brad fastener markers

WHAT YOU DO: take your paper plate and cut it in half. cut out an arch at the bottom of one of the halves of the plate representing a tomb. decorate the paper plate with grass and flowers around the arch. staple the two halves of the paper plate together with the bottom of the plates facing the outside. cut out a circle out of gray construction paper to make the boulder that is big enough to cover the arch. punch a hole in the boulder and secure it to the top of the arch on the paper plate.

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: is there someone in your life that you can comfort that is going through something hard? what can you do for them as a family? what emotions do you think Jesus‘ friends and family felt as they buried his body? why do you think the disciples had faith even when jesus was buried?

DAY 8: JESUS IS ALIVE!

S O A P

READ MATTHEW 28:1-10

WHO FOUND JESUS’ EMPTY TOMB? HOW DID THEY KNOW THAT JESUS WAS NO LONGER THERE?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THAT JESUS IS ALIVE? HOW CAN YOU SHARE THIS GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS?

pray to god and ask for the courage to share this good news with others.

DAY 8 ACTIVITY RESURRECTION ROLLS WHAT YOU NEED: 1 (10OZ) CAN REFRIGERATED CRESCENT DINNER ROLLS 8 LARGE MARSHMALLOWS 1/4 CUP OF MELTED BUTTER 2 TBSP OF GROUND CINNAMON 2 TBSP OF WHITE SUGAR (MAKES 8 RESURRECTION ROLLS)

WHAT YOU DO: 1. PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 400 DEGREES 2. LIGHTLY GREASE A BAKING SHEET 3. SEPARATE CRESCENT ROLLS INTO INDIVIDIUAL TRIANGLES (IF YOU CAN FIND THE BIG & FLAKY ONES, THE MARSHALLOWS WILL FIT BETTER)

4. IN A SMALL BOWL, MIX TOGETHER THE CINNAMON & SUGAR 5. DIP A MARSHMALLOW INTO THE MELTED BUTTER, THEN ROLL IN THE CINNAMON SUGAR MIXTURE. PLACE MARSHMALLOW INTO THE CENTER OF THE DOUGH TRIANGLE. CAREFULLY WRAP THE DOUGH AROUND THE MARSHMALLOW. TIGHTLY PINCH THE SEAM TOGETHER TO SEAL THE MARSHMALLOW OR CUT IT TO FIT. PLACE ON A BAKING SHEET AND REPEAT FOR ALL. 6.BAKE IN A PREHEATED OVEN UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN, ABOUT 15 MINUTES

TALK ABOUT IT TOGETHER: DOES YOUR FAMILY HAVE ANY EASTER TRADITIONS? IF SO, WHAT ARE THEY AND WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE? Can you tell the story of Easter in your own words?

What does Easter mean to you?

SCAN FOR PARENT RESOURCES

@emmanuelkidsmn www.emmanuelcc.org/kids