Jesus' Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem
March
Matthew 21:1-11
Jesus sends two disciples to prepare for his coming to Jerusalem. When the crowds see him, they greet him as though he were a king. But at the end of the week, Jesus is killed and buried in a tomb. This time two disciples discover that Jesus has risen from the dead. They return and share the good news.
The Gospel Story Through Gameplay
Children begin this game on a road near Jerusalem searching for Jesus and his disciples. Upon finding them, kids watch a cinema of Matthew 21:1-3. Jesus tells his disciples to go into a nearby village and bring back an ass and a colt.

Children find their way to the small village where they find two donkeys tied to a tree. They watch a cinema of Matthew 21:4-6. Kids return to Jesus and watch a cinema of Matthew 21:7. Children see the disciples throw their cloaks onto the colt's back before Jesus sits on it.

Children are then instructed to go to the city of Jerusalem. Upon nearing the city, children are told to find ten palm branches and give them to people. Children find these palm branches located on wagons around the area, and then pass them out to men and women standing along the road into Jerusalem.

Once children have passed out all the palm branches, they must find a Bible to hear the conclusion of the story. Children watch a cinema of Matthew 21:8-9 and see some people waving their palm branches and others spreading them on the ground as Jesus nears. Kids watch as Jesus rides the young donkey into Jerusalem. They see the people celebrating and hear the people shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

Children must then find the Faith Focus before entering into the Bonus Round outside the city of Jerusalem and in the village nearby.

As kids traverse along the road to Jerusalem, they encounter two children who have misplaced their toys. A young girl has lost her doll and a young boy's toy boat is stuck in the top of a tree. Kids gain additional points by helping the children retrieve their toys.
THE GAME IN 30 SECONDS

Find Jesus along the road with his disciples and watch a cinema of Matthew 21:1-3.

Find a colt in a nearby village and watch a cinema of Matthew 21:1-3.

Return to Jesus and watch a cinema of Matthew 21:4-6.

Go to the city of Jerusalem.

Find ten palm branches and give to the people along the road to Jerusalem.

Find the Bible near the entrance to the city and watch a cinema of Matthew 21:8-9.

Find the Faith Focus.

Collect bonus tokens; then find the cross to end the game.
LIGHT THE FIRE

This month, children must collect palm branches for the people along the road to Jerusalem. Children will watch a cinema of Matthew 21:8-9, where they will see some people wave their palm branches and some spread them on the ground as Jesus rides by on a donkey.

Discuss with the kids: You will be asked to collect palm branches and give them to people. What do you think the people will do with the palm branches?

(Each month, “Light The Fire” will contain some fun gameplay activities related to the Gospel story. Use it to start a discussion with your children about this month’s Bible story game.)
PASTOR'S COMMENTS

In this month’s Gospel Champions game, children collect palm branches and give them to people. They then hear the people shout, "Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" as Jesus rides by. What kinds of things would you say if Jesus came into our town?

(The “Pastor’s Comment” can be used after the Gospel reading to get the kids excited about the lesson and the related game.)

 
Saint Joseph
Children find this special token near the entrance to Jerusalem.

Kids learn that St. Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Jesus' earthly father. He is the patron saint of fathers and the universal church.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH
If someone asked you who Jesus is, how would you answer?
     
 
Give clothing to the poor

Children find poor people and give robes and sandals to them.
  
     
In Matthew 21:1-3, Jesus tells two fo his disciples to go into the village to bring him an ass and a colt.
In Matthew 21:4-6, the disciples find the two donkeys.
In Matthew 21:8-9, people spread their cloaks and palm branches on the road as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.
CLOSE WINDOW
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