MARCH 24
PALM SUNDAY
Too often in our faith journey, we have the right king, but the wrong kingdom in mind.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Do you have any Easter day/ week traditions? If so, what are they? If not, what could you choose to do differently this week?
- Read Luke 19:28-44.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about humanity?
- What do you learn about God?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
3. In the Scriptures the idea of “obedience” means trusting God and acting on what He says, even when it is counter cultural, or the “why” isn’t clear. What does obedience to Jesus look like in your life?
4. In the message we heard, “Jesus will hear our expectations, as he did with the crowd but giving into them is a whole other ball game. Having the wrong kingdom will just lead to frustration.”Do you have right expectations in your relationship with Jesus, or do you find yourself falling into the belief that Jesus “works for you”? Give examples of why you answer that way.
5. Read Matthew 6:10. As Christ-followers we are a part of building the Kingdom of God here on earth. How are you helping advance God’s Kingdom (the movement of his goodness and authority) in your life at work, in your neighborhood/apartment, family, and school?
KEY SCRIPTURE
Luke 19:28-44 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord has need of it.” They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
PRAYER
Take time this week to sit in confession.
- Where have you rejected God’s will and ways and not lived in obedience to what He is saying?
- Where have you treated God like he “works for you” and therefore put wrong expectations on Him?
- In what ways have you been a poor representative of God’s goodness and love (His Kingdom) in your circles of influence?
Take time to name what comes to mind from the questions above and confess them to God. 1 John says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8–9).
This isn’t a time for condemnation or shame, it is a time to be honest and come away clean and free.
TAKE A NEXT STEP
Join us on Good Friday (March 29th) at North Campus for immersive experiences, the Stations of the Cross, and a Good Friday service. There is something for all ages. This is a great way to start your Easter Weekend and prepare your heart for the realities of what Easter means.
FOR THE PARENTS
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK
This week we will be learning about how Jesus wants us to remember His sacrifice for us.
THE BIBLE: “he is not here; he is risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:6)
THE MESSAGE: Today‘s story is sad, because Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. But it has a happy ending, because God used Jesus‘ death to save us! Jesus didn‘t want to die, but He did because of His great love for us. Because of Jesus‘ sacrifice, we can have a relationship with God both now and forever, which is definitely something to be happy about.
THE BIG IDEA: The Good News Is For Everyone!
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation-starter that isn’t,
“So . . . how was church?”
- What is the most difficult thing for you to understand about Jesus’ death?
- Who can you share this Good News with this Easter?
REMEMBER THIS
When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed like something really bad had happened. But God had something really good in mind when He allowed this to happen—something better than ANYONE could ever imagine! Because God is perfect and we are not, there is separation between us and Him. God doesn’t want to be far from us, so God did something amazing: He sent Jesus, His one and only Son, to die on the cross to pay for ALL of our sins so that we can live forever with Him!
It’s okay if you don’t understand all of this yet. But if you have any questions, you can talk to your parents, me, or any of the other leaders here at church. We’ll be very happy to help you understand as much as you can!
NEXT WEEK
Next week we learn that Jesus is alive!