Today is a brand new day at the onset of Holy Week. No matter what last week looked like for you, praise Jesus that His mercies are new every morning!
Now more than ever, it is a tremendous blessing to gather in worship. If you missed our Palm Sunday worship experience, you can worship along today by clicking here.
Personal Devotional
Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. As we prepare our hearts for Easter, let’s take a look at Jesus’ triumphal entry, found in Matthew 21:1-17.
Read Matthew 21:1-5
- How was Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and a sign that He was the true Messiah? (See Zechariah 9:9)
- In biblical times, entering a city on a donkey—as opposed to a horse—was symbolic of a peaceful arrival. How fitting for the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Where do you need to experience the supernatural peace of Christ today? List these areas on a sheet of paper and take a moment to surrender each one to Him.
Read Matthew 21:6-11
- The word “Hosanna!” literally means “Come save us now!” We are desperately in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. List some ways you have witnessed your own brokenness in the past week.
- Pause and confess your great need for Jesus. Thank Him for coming to save you.
Read Matthew 21:12-13
- What does Jesus do immediately after His triumphal entry? Imagine the people’s surprise when the humble Prince of Peace starts flipping over tables and driving money makers out of the temple! In a single day Jesus demonstrates both humility and authority.
- What does Jesus say His house will be called? Why is prayer crucial for a Christian’s spiritual health? How could you commit to prayer in this season?
Read Matthew 21:14-17
- After driving out blasphemers, what three types of people does Jesus invite into the temple? These people were all considered lowly in their society. Yesterday Pastor Mike challenged us to serve others by considering the lowly in our world—the impoverished in third world countries, the persecuted church, the sick and needy. How could you use your time and talents to serve others today?
- Notice the children in the temple once again cry “hosanna,” but they add something to it. What do they call Jesus? Read Jeremiah 23:5-6. By calling Jesus the Son of David, who are the children declaring Him to be?
- The worldly businessmen see an opportunity to make money, and the humble children see the Messiah of the world. Do you tend to approach Jesus as someone who serves your interests, or do you approach Him as your Savior and King?
- Jesus didn’t just invite the lowly into His presence; He also healed them. Take a moment today and tell Jesus where you need healing—perhaps from fear, idolatry, doubt, or habitual sin. Find a notecard and copy down the children’s cry, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Place it somewhere in your home. Throughout Holy Week, remind yourself that He has come to save us!
If you didn’t have a chance to give yesterday, you can do that here today. As believers, we give generously because God is a generous God and we want to be like Him.
Grace Communities: Sermon Discussion Questions
- Show of hands…who (like Pastor Mike) over-salts their food? Just as salt is pointless if it loses its saltiness, so the church is irrelevant if we lose sight of our purpose. What is the ultimate mission of the church?
- At Grace, we’ve been prioritizing four biblical imperatives: pray, serve, gather, give. How do each of these actions help us remain focused on the mission?
- Yesterday, we talked about how our purpose flows out of our identity. Pastor Mike said, “My job is not to create myself; it’s to discover who I am in Christ.” Before knowing Christ, what are some of the ways you tried to “create yourself”? How have you come to identify yourself in Christ alone?
- Of course, none of us are perfect! We will battle sin until the day we see Jesus face to face. Pastor Mike reminded us that by telling Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God wasn’t restricting Adam’s freedom; He was ensuring it. How have you seen sin bring slavery, sorrow, and death into your life? Is there a particular area of temptation where you need extra prayer during this season?
- At the close of our service, we were issued the challenge to fix our minds on things above (Philippians 4:8-9). What are some practical ways we can fill our minds with things that are beautiful and lovely? What’s been working (or not working) for you?
GraceStudents 5th/6th Grade
Word of the Week—Immutable
Let’s play a little game! Guess what the word “immutable” means? No peeking! Does it mean:
- Very old
- Valuable
- Unchanging
- When the TV is broken and it cannot be muted
If you guessed “c,” you’re correct! Immutable means unchanging. Our lives are not immutable; they change all the time. In fact, a lot has changed in the last few weeks, hasn’t it? What are some things that have changed in your life?
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” You know what that means? Jesus is immutable! He will never change, which means we can always count on Him. When life gets crazy, cling to the One Person who never changes
—Jesus, our Immutable God.
GraceStudents (7-12 Grades)
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Also, get seven days of devotionals for students here.
