Welcome Jesus as your king!

Topics:

I. Disciples prepare for his coming!

* True disciples prepare for Jesus Christ's coming as King!

1. Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them" (Matthew 21:1b-3; see also 21:10-13).
2. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13).

II. Scripture predicts his coming!

* The accuracy of prophecies inspires us to welcome Jesus as King!

1. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler?s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine" (Genesis 49:10, 11a).
2. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).
3. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks . . . Then after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off (Daniel 9:25, 26a).

III. People choose to praise his coming!

* The choice to praise Jesus overflows from hearts where He is King!

1. [Large crowd] took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel" (John 12:13).
2. See Revelation 7:9-12.

Palm Sunday sermon by Pastor Rod Akins March 24^th, 2024

Life group flow and discussion questions

"Welcome Jesus as your king!"

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Helping one another keep Jesus enthroned as king of our lives is central to our spiritual maturity. How does Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 express Jesus reigning in our hearts and models for us an example of how we can pray for one another (especially in our Life Groups)?

Getting Started:

1. What is involved in preparing our hearts for Jesus to reign as King?
2. How is the Jewish custom of "Bedikath Chametz" (Exodus 12:15) the cleansing of leaven from their houses for a week before Passover illustrated by Jesus in His cleansing the Temple of sinful hypocrisy (Matthew 21:12-16)?

Discussing Truths:

1. How can you take familiar Bible stories and study them so that you can gain fresh insights for your life?
2. Have you welcomed the "King of glory" into your life, into your mindset, into your attitude, into your decisions and into your emotions (Psalm 24:7-10)?
3. What are some of your favorite Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus' first advent?
4. What are some of your favorite biblical prophecies concerning Jesus' second advent when He returns to establish His kingdom?
5. Why did many in the crowd turn from praising Jesus as their King into an ugly mob crying out "Away with Him! Crucify Him!"?

Now What? Application:

1. Take time to read all four gospel accounts of "The Triumphal Entry" and list the distinctions of each (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19)
2. Choose to praise Jesus as your King and allow Him to reign as Lord in your heart everyday!