Palm Sunday
Message: Expectations | Josiah Anthony
1. Have you ever wondered, how the same group of people could go from worshipping Jesus as He enters Jerusalem… to cheering on his torture and execution… just 5 days later? Both events: Palm Sunday AND The Crucifixion were both fueled by EXPECTATION. The worship of Palm Sunday was fueled by the celebration of an optimistic expectation. The Good Friday suffering was fueled by the frustration of an unmet expectation. Their expectations were driven by their view of who God was and the role of the promised Messiah.
a) How do see the power expectations driving you?
b) Is there a difference between expectations and hope?
2. What do I expect from God? It’s important for our expectations of God to align with who He is (His character) and what he does…because if you have an expectation of God that isn’t true to who he is and what he does, then you will inevitably lose trust in God.
a) If you ever found yourself with expectations for God that didn’t align with truth; how did it impact your relationship with God?
b) How can we best develop and grow a healthy set of expectations for our relationship with God?
c) What are some of those healthy, truth-based expectations we can hold on to in relationship with God?
3. How we view God drives our expectations of Him. Many see God as an impersonal, distant force, similar to the ‘Force’ in Star Wars, when God is in fact not only personal, but more personal than we could ever imagine. He came to set the captives free…..individually, one at a time. God is a personal GOD and Jesus came for your life, your heart, and your future. He cares about your passions, fears, problems, family, your day!
a) What does it mean to embrace a personal God?
b) How does that change the way I live my life and expectations for my relationship with God?
c) How do I break free from the comparison trap and embrace God’s plan and purpose for me?
d) No personal relationship is ever one way. What can I do this week to make my relationship with God personal and grow in intimacy?
Matthew 21:1-9 (NLT) As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Jerusalem, Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.”
The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!”