Sermon Notes:
BACKGROUND
IT WAS PASSOVER TIME
1. THE COURAGE OF JESUS.
THERE IS THE COURAGE OF SOMEONE WHO SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING IS CONFRONTED WITH SOME EMERGENCY OR CRISIS.
THERE IS THE COURAGE OF SOMEONE WHO SEES THE DANGEROUS SITUATION LOOMING AHEAD.
2. THE CLAIM OF JESUS.
JESUS WAS OBVIOUSLY MAKING A STATEMENT
3. THE CAUSE OF JESUS.
JESUS WAS RIDING ON A ROAD TO KINGSHIP
4. THE CULMINATION FOR JESUS.
JESUS STOPS AND SUDDENLY BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.
5. THE CHALLENGE FOR US.
I) DOES JESUS WEEP OVER OUR NATION, CITY AND COMMUNITY?
II) DOES JESUS WEEP OVER THE STATE OF HIS CHURCH?
III) DOES JESUS WEEP OVER YOU AND ME?
Digging Deeper:
ICE BREAKER: What do you like most about the pageantry of bands and parades? What do you like least?
1. Read Zechariah 9 -10. Discuss what you think is so significant about this prophecy and why.
2. Read Matthew 21:1-11. How did Jesus know where the colt would be? Did He exercise His omniscience, or did He prearrange this? On what basis did you answer? Can you give any other examples in the Gospels where Jesus prearranged an event?
3. Why do you think Jesus allowed this public kind of worship of Him now when He had stopped it many times before? (eg. Matt 9:27 -31; John 7:30; 12:23).
4. Discuss in what ways being caught up in a crowd can be dangerous.
5. Read Revelation 2: 1-3. Would Jesus be able to say the same about your Christian life today? Discuss how you would keep the passion and enthusiasm alive in your life for following Jesus.
6. Read Revelation 3:15-16. Do you like “lukewarm” food or drink? Why not? Why did Jesus speak so strongly against lukewarm faith?
Concluding Question:
7. Discuss what steps you can take to prevent complacency and lukewarmness happening in your life? How can you use the challenge of Palm Sunday to prepare you for Easter?
Prayer: Close your group with prayer asking God to help us to stay focused with passion for following our Lord no matter what.
SCRIPTURES – NIV
MATT 21:1-11
MARK 11:1-3
LUKE 9:51
MATT 26:4-5
MATT 16: 21
ZECH 9:9
MATT 21:9
MARK 11:10
LUKE 19:38
JOHN 12:13
LUKE 19:39
LUKE 19:10
JOHN 3:16-17
JOHN 14:27
MATT 11:28
LUKE 19:41-44
PSALM 95:8
REVELATION 2:4
REVELATION 3:15-16
PSALM 139:23-34