Devotionals

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Daily Devotionals

Week of March 26th 2026

Sunday Devotional

Based on John 12:12-16

Opening Prayer (2-3 minutes)

Begin your group time by asking God to open your hearts to understand what it truly means that Jesus came as the Prince of Peace, not as the warrior king many expected.

Icebreaker (5-10 minutes)

Share a time when you planned or experienced a surprise that didn't go as expected. How did people react when their expectations weren't met?

Sermon Recap (5 minutes)

Palm Sunday marks Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem—but it was a surprise to everyone. The people expected a military messiah who would overthrow Roman rule. Instead, Jesus rode in on a donkey, symbolizing peace and humility. The crowds shouted "Hosanna!" (Save us!), but within days, they would shout "Crucify him!" Jesus came to save us from sin, not from Rome—and that required tremendous courage and love.

Key Takeaways

  1. Jesus defied expectations - He came as the Prince of Peace, not a warrior king
  2. Symbols matter - The donkey represented humility and peace; palm branches represented victory
  3. "Hosanna" means "Save us" - The people's cry was answered, just not how they expected
  4. Even the disciples didn't fully understand - Until after the resurrection
  5. Bandwagon faith is dangerous - From "Hosanna" to "Crucify him" in four days
  6. Jesus's entry required supreme courage - He walked knowingly toward the cross

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text (10-15 minutes)

  1. What were the Israelites expecting from their Messiah after 1,600 years of waiting? Why were these expectations so strong?

  2. What did Jesus's choice to ride a donkey instead of a horse communicate? How does this contrast with typical "triumphal entries" we see today (like the Olympic athletes returning home)?

  3. The sermon mentions that "even the disciples did not understand all this" until after Jesus was glorified. What does this tell us about following Jesus when we don't have all the answers?

Personal Reflection (15-20 minutes)

  1. In what ways have you placed your own expectations on Jesus—expecting Him to act in certain ways or answer prayers in specific ways? How have you responded when Jesus "surprised" you?

  2. The crowd went from shouting "Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!" in just four days. Have you ever experienced a time when your enthusiasm for Jesus wavered when circumstances got difficult? What caused that shift?

  3. The sermon mentioned that "being a Christian and following Jesus means not making a comment on the post, and making sacrifices for our faith." What does it look like to resist "bandwagon faith" in your daily life? Where do you feel pressure to conform rather than follow Jesus?

  4. William Barclay called Jesus's entry "an act of the most superlative courage" and "love's last appeal before the end." How does viewing Palm Sunday through the lens of Jesus's courage and love change how you understand this story?

Application (15-20 minutes)

  1. Jesus came to bring peace, not political revolution. In what areas of your life do you need Jesus's peace right now? How can you actively receive that peace this week?

  2. The people wanted Jesus to save them from Rome, but He came to save them from sin. What are you asking Jesus to save you from? Is it the right thing, or are you focused on temporary relief rather than eternal transformation?

  3. Jesus knew the cross was coming but still entered Jerusalem. What is God calling you to do that requires courage, even though you know it might be costly? How can this group support you?

  4. As we enter Holy Week, how can we prepare our hearts to truly understand what Jesus accomplished? What practices (prayer, fasting, silence, service) might help you move from "Hosanna" faith to resurrection faith?

Practical Applications

Choose one or more of these to commit to this week:

  • Daily Reflection: Read through the daily Holy Week scriptures provided by the church. Spend 5-10 minutes each day journaling about what Jesus's journey to the cross means for you personally.

  • Examine Expectations: Write down your current expectations of Jesus. Are they focused on comfort and convenience, or on transformation and holiness? Pray through this list.

  • Practice Peace: Identify one area of conflict or anxiety in your life. Instead of seeking to "conquer" it, ask Jesus to bring His peace into that situation. Practice surrendering control.

  • Resist the Bandwagon: Identify one area where you're tempted to follow the crowd rather than follow Jesus. Make a specific plan to stand firm this week.

  • Attend Holy Week Services: Commit to attending the Good Friday service (7 PM) and Easter services (sunrise at 6:30 AM or regular services). Experience the full journey from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday.

  • Share Your Story: Tell someone this week about a time when Jesus surprised you by not meeting your expectations, but met your actual need instead.

Weekday Devotional

The season of lent is the six weeks leading up to Easter. There is a longstanding Christian tradition to focus on repentance and reflection. Often people will choose to give something up as a way of self-denial. A practice of pausing or fasting, from different things and choosing to do something more spiritually beneficial with that time. This lent you're invited to take up the practice of scripture reading and prayer. Our whole church is studying the book of John as a spiritual journey to Easter.

 
As you study scripture, we invite you to prayerfully consider
the following categories and questions:
 
Inspire: What inspired you, or was meaningful to you?
Inquire: What raised curiosity? What didn’t you understand?
Irk: What frustrated or bothered you?
Require: What might cause you to make a change?


Mar 30, 2026 John 19:1–7
Mar 31, 2026 John 19:8-16
Apr 1, 2026 John 19:17-23
Apr 2, 2026 John 19:24-30
Apr 3, 2026 John 19:31-42
Apr 4, 2026 John 20