Embracing Jesus: The Call to True Discipleship
Summary
In my recent sermon, I discussed the profound significance of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, and its implications for our lives today. I emphasized the importance of recognizing Jesus not merely as a historical figure or a religious symbol, but as the living King who calls us to follow Him wholeheartedly. I reflected on the tendency of religious people, like the Pharisees, to reject Jesus because He challenged their power and control. Yet, the common people embraced Him, recognizing in Him the hope and salvation they longed for.
I shared my personal journey, including my health challenges and the time I took to recuperate, which led to a renewed conviction to preach with greater fervor. I encouraged the congregation to see the Bible not as a decorative book but as a guide for living, and to see Jesus as someone to follow with every ounce of energy in our lives.
I also delved into the historical context of Jesus' entry, riding on a donkey, which symbolized peace rather than war. This was a stark contrast to the expectations of a Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman rule through military might. Instead, Jesus was concerned with spiritual salvation over political power.
Furthermore, I addressed the issue of secularization within the church, likening it to the distractions in the temple that Jesus cleansed. I challenged the congregation to examine whether our lives reflect a secularized version of Christianity or if we truly magnify God's glory through our actions and lifestyle.
Lastly, I spoke about the importance of acknowledging our brokenness to truly know Jesus. I pointed out that only when we recognize our need for a Savior can we surrender to His lordship and experience the transformative power of the gospel in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey was a powerful symbol of peace, challenging our expectations of a conquering hero and inviting us to find true liberation in spiritual salvation. This peace is not of this world but is a peace that surpasses understanding and calls us to a higher purpose. [11:56]
- The cleansing of the temple by Jesus is a metaphor for the purification that needs to happen within our own lives. We must be vigilant against allowing secular values to distract us from our mission to be a beacon of hope and a reflection of God's love in the world. [37:06]
- Recognizing our brokenness is essential to truly knowing Jesus. It is not our outward successes or moral standing that bring us closer to Him, but our acknowledgment of our need for His grace and healing. This humility opens the door to a genuine relationship with Christ. [25:35]
- Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of the gospel. If we are indistinguishable from the world in our actions and priorities, we must question whether we have truly allowed the gospel to change us. Our distinctiveness as Christians should be evident in our compassion, hope, and purpose. [41:42]
- Following Jesus requires a willingness to embrace hardship for the sake of the gospel. Just as Jesus knowingly entered Jerusalem despite the suffering that awaited Him, we too must be prepared to face difficulties in our witness for Christ, trusting that our sacrifices will bring glory to God. [29:25]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Zechariah 9:9
2. Matthew 21:1-11
3. Luke 19:41-44
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Zechariah 9:9 prophesy about the coming king, and how does this prophecy contrast with the expectations of a conquering hero?
2. In Matthew 21:1-11, how do the people react to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and what actions do they take to honor Him?
3. According to Luke 19:41-44, what is Jesus' emotional response as He approaches Jerusalem, and what does He predict will happen to the city?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey significant, and what message does it convey about His mission and kingship? ([10:42])
2. How does the reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem reflect their concerns about power and control? ([18:21])
3. What does Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-44 reveal about His compassion and understanding of the people's spiritual state? ([27:01])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, how can we embrace the peace He offers in our daily lives, especially in times of conflict or stress? ([10:42])
2. The sermon mentioned the tendency of religious people to reject Jesus because He challenged their control. Are there areas in your life where you resist Jesus' lordship because it challenges your own control? How can you surrender these areas to Him? ([18:21])
3. Jesus cleansed the temple to restore its purpose as a house of prayer. Are there "distractions" or "secular values" in your life that hinder your spiritual growth? What steps can you take to cleanse these distractions? ([32:36])
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing our brokenness to truly know Jesus. Can you identify a moment in your life when acknowledging your brokenness led to a deeper relationship with Christ? How can you maintain this humility? ([24:58])
5. How can your life be a testament to the transformative power of the gospel? Identify one specific action you can take this week to reflect Christ's compassion, hope, and purpose to those around you. ([41:42])
6. Following Jesus requires a willingness to embrace hardship for the sake of the gospel. What is one hardship you are currently facing, and how can you trust that your sacrifice will bring glory to God? ([29:25])
7. The sermon challenged us to see the Bible not as a decorative book but as a guide for living. What practical steps can you take to integrate daily Bible reading and application into your routine? ([07:01])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Peace of Christ
The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey was a deliberate act, symbolizing a kingdom of peace rather than one of military might. This peaceful entry defied the expectations of those who anticipated a warrior Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule. Instead, Jesus presented a different kind of liberation—one that was spiritual, offering a peace that transcends human understanding. This peace calls individuals to a higher purpose beyond the conflicts and struggles of this world. It invites believers to reflect on the nature of Christ's kingdom and how it contrasts with worldly power and expectations. [11:56]
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." - Zechariah 9:9 ESV
Reflection: How can you embody the peace of Christ in a situation of conflict or tension in your life today?
Day 2: Purifying Our Lives from Secular Influence
When Jesus cleansed the temple, He was making a statement against the secularization and distractions that had infiltrated a place of worship. This act serves as a metaphor for the purification needed within the lives of believers. It is a call to vigilance against the encroachment of secular values that can distract from the mission to be a beacon of hope and a reflection of God's love. Believers are challenged to examine their lives and consider whether they reflect a secularized version of Christianity or if they truly magnify God's glory through their actions and lifestyle. [37:06]
"And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons." - Matthew 21:12 ESV
Reflection: What is one secular value or practice you can remove from your life to better reflect God's love and glory?
Day 3: Acknowledging Our Need for Jesus
Recognizing one's own brokenness is a crucial step in truly knowing Jesus. It is not through outward successes or moral standing that one draws closer to Him, but through the acknowledgment of the need for His grace and healing. This humility is what opens the door to a genuine relationship with Christ. It is in the recognition of personal brokenness and insufficiency that individuals can surrender to His lordship and experience the transformative power of the gospel. [25:35]
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:17 ESV
Reflection: In what ways do you need to acknowledge your brokenness before God, and how can this acknowledgment transform your relationship with Him?
Day 4: Living a Transformed Life
The transformative power of the gospel should be evident in the life of a believer. If one's actions and priorities are indistinguishable from those of the world, it is necessary to question whether the gospel has truly enacted change. The distinctiveness of a Christian should be evident in their compassion, hope, and purpose. This distinctiveness is not for its own sake but to serve as a testament to the power of the gospel and the reality of God's kingdom. [41:42]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Reflection: What is one tangible way you can demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in your community or workplace today?
Day 5: Embracing Hardship for the Gospel
Following Jesus requires a willingness to embrace hardship for the sake of the gospel. Just as Jesus knowingly entered Jerusalem despite the suffering that awaited Him, believers too must be prepared to face difficulties in their witness for Christ. This commitment to endure hardship is not without purpose; it is done with the trust that such sacrifices will bring glory to God and further His kingdom. [29:25]
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." - Philippians 1:29 ESV
Reflection: What hardship are you facing for the sake of the gospel, and how can you persevere through it with a focus on glorifying God?
Quotes
"Jesus says if you believe in me then you will look like me or walk like me depending on where you read it. That's pretty serious when I consider how Jesus lived his life. We may not say it outright that this is how we live out our faith, but our actions speak louder than our words and what it really reveals is that most likely when we live our lives so faithfully to ourselves and unfaithfully to him, we're genuinely not really committed to following Jesus in the first place." [23:41]
"Only people who acknowledge their Brokenness can actually surrender to Jesus's King. Brokenness isn't defined by the extreme cases we often think of; it may just be that I'm a great dad that coaches a baseball team, has a good job, and typically doesn't speed. Every single one of us are broken whether you recognize it or not. Until we acknowledge that, you don't know him, you can't know him." [25:35]
"Jesus fully knew what awaited him but he embraced it out of love and compassion for Humanity. We're supposed to walk like Jesus and yet we don't embrace hardship when it means the gospel will be glorified. My cancer was for his glory, so was my struggle with addiction, so is my struggle growing up without a dad. It's all for his glory, but do we embrace opportunities that might lead us into hardship to take the gospel to the nations the way that Jesus did?" [29:25]
"Jesus came in and he cleaned house in this place because the purpose of the house of God had been marred by the distractions of secularization and he came in to restore it as a place of hope. But what about you and me? Have we become so secularized in our purpose that it's blurred? Does the world see the church as a people of Hope, compassion, and purpose?" [37:06]
"We try so hard to look like everybody else around us so that we can just blend in, but Jesus never intended for that to be our story. We want to look so much like the world and fit in with so many people around us that we've lost our ability to reach them for the gospel. We worry about being popular, accepted, and all these other areas, but we won't take the passion of Christ to our neighbors or across the street." [39:43]
"Jesus didn't come into the temple because they were selling pigeons and get mad because there was a pigeon in the court. He came in and he sees all these people that are doing all these things that look so much like the flea market just outside the wall. Are we offering the same things that the world under a price tag that says 'yeah Jesus too'? If we don't look any different than the world outside of these walls, then we are not living our faith outrightly." [40:56]
"If Jesus isn't magnified in your life, if he is not the primary focus in your life, then we have room to repent. He did not sign up for second place. I know I'm guilty of that, of putting Jesus in a second position in my life at any given point because none of us are perfect. There are moments where I need to go back to the feet of Jesus and just say, 'God forgive me, I put you second today.'" [42:19]
"When we live for his glory, lives will be transformed. Don't worry about what it cost you. If we're honest, it'll probably cost us everything. It did Jesus, and he saw it coming, he knew the cost, and he embraced it the entire way. Society needs hope, not just empty religious practices. As followers of Christ, we must be the ones that offer that hope, and there is no greater hope than Jesus, the King of Kings." [45:11]
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