Preparing the Way: Palm Sunday Triumphal Entry Worship

Mar 29, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: God's goodness is constant and endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord, for God's character is unchanging and God's love is steadfast. Even when circumstances are difficult and the future is unclear, this foundational truth remains. God's goodness is not dependent on our situation but is an eternal reality. We can anchor our hearts in this promise, especially as we journey through this Holy Week. [14:16]

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1-2 (ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your current life is it most challenging to believe that "God is good, all the time"? What would it look like to choose to give thanks for God's steadfast love in the midst of that specific situation?

Day 2: God makes a way where there seems to be no way.

The love of God is always active, moving, and transforming our understanding. It opens gates that appear shut and prepares a path through seemingly impossible circumstances. This was true on the first Palm Sunday as love paraded into Jerusalem, and it is true for us today. We are invited to trust that God is busy making a way forward for us. [13:46]

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.
Psalm 118:19-20 (ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you currently facing a closed gate or an impassable road? How might God be inviting you to trust that a way is being prepared, even if you cannot yet see it?

Day 3: Jesus comes to us in humility, not worldly power.

Our King did not arrive on a war stallion but on a borrowed donkey colt, an animal of peace and labor. In this act, Jesus demonstrates that he comes not to frighten, crush, or dominate, but to help us and carry our burdens. He willingly flings aside dignity to love everybody, revealing a kingdom that inverts the world's expectations of power. [44:12]

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 does the image of a humble king on a donkey challenge your own desires for recognition or control? In what practical way can you embrace Christ's model of humble service this week?

Day 4: "Hosanna" is a cry for help, not just a cheer.

The shouts of the crowd were more than celebration; they were a profound prayer meaning "save us, we pray." This cry acknowledges our deep need for God's intervention and rescue. It is a raw and honest plea that recognizes the world's brokenness and our inability to fix it ourselves, placing our hope fully in the one who comes in the Lord's name. [46:20]

Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.
Psalm 118:25-26 (ESV)

Reflection: What is the "save us" cry of your heart right now? How can you offer that specific need to God as a sincere prayer of "Hosanna"?

Day 5: We are invited to see Jesus for who he truly is.

People see Jesus in many ways: as a threat, a good luck charm, a demanding lord, or a mystical prophet. The journey of faith involves moving beyond our own expectations and terms to encounter the real Jesus—the Son of God, a friend and companion, a savior and lord worthy of a lifetime of commitment. This requires surrendering our preconceived notions. [53:35]

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 20:7 (ESV)

Reflection: Which of the many views of Jesus do you find yourself most tempted to hold onto instead of embracing him as Lord and friend? What is one step you can take this week to know him more truly?

Sermon Summary

Palm Sunday opens with an interactive call to worship that frames the day around God's steadfast love and the image of gates opening. Worshipers rehearse responses—“God is good,” “prepare the way,” and musical shouts for Jerusalem—while celebrating a love that makes a way into the city of fear and division. The Triumphal Entry unfolds as a scene both joyful and strange: a king arriving not on a warhorse but on a borrowed colt, cheered by a hopeful, mixed crowd that cries “Hosanna” as both praise and plea. That cry functions as a prayer for rescue, not mere acclaim, and the text highlights the irony that celebration already edges toward betrayal and suffering.

The account places Jesus’ humility at the center of power: riding a donkey signals a kingdom defined by service, not force. The narrative contrasts that meek procession with the presence of occupying troops, showing how the kingdom’s logic subverts worldly expectations. A sharp spiritual diagnostic follows: fear corrodes faith, causing betrayal, silence, and the making of God to fit personal desires. Judas, the religious leaders, and the crowd each exhibit different failures—seeking a Messiah on their own terms, defending comfort and status, or hoping for a savior who confirms existing power.

The Passion story emerges as a drama where only one figure understands the plot’s arc; every other actor responds out of fear, pride, or convenience. The text calls for a posture that resists these tendencies: choose faithfulness over fear, allow God’s kingdom to shape expectations rather than shaping God to fit them, and live into the radical demands of love that cost dignity and control. Practical life of faith appears in communal practices—offering, prayer, the Lord’s Prayer—and in a benediction that sends people into the unknown with courage, reminding that love will carry them. The season’s liturgy and Holy Week services provide places to enter this mystery more deeply, inviting sustained attention to the unfolding paradox of triumph that leads through suffering to resurrection.

Key Takeaways

1. God's love opens closed gates God’s love does not wait for convenient conditions; it breaches barriers and invites entry into places of fear and division. This movement redefines safety: salvation arrives by opening pathways, not by fortifying walls. The faithful respond by creating hospitable spaces for that love to dwell and act. [13:46]
2. Triumph rooted in humble power True kingship appears in vulnerability rather than spectacle; arriving on a colt claims a kingdom whose authority heals and bears burdens. This inversion challenges instincts to equate power with dominance and invites imitation of servant-leadership in daily choices. Humble action disarms violence and reorients communal life toward service. [44:12]
3. Fear betrays faithful commitment Fear drives the most devastating denials—abandoning conviction to preserve comfort or reputation undermines vocation and witness. Recognition of fear exposes where trust needs tending and repentance must take root. Courage grows when fidelity to God outweighs fear of human judgment. [48:59]
4. Choose Christ beyond personal terms Expectations that insist on a domesticated Messiah distort the gospel into a mirror of private needs. Faithful discipleship submits personal agendas to the surprising shape of God’s kingdom and accepts costly transformation. True following asks for surrender to a love that reorders life. [50:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:30] - Interactive Call to Worship
[13:01] - Palm Responses & Hosanna
[15:16] - Gathering Prayer
[18:30] - Announcements & Holy Week
[19:51] - Holy Week Services Overview
[22:35] - Special Music: Hosanna
[30:20] - Kids: Triumphal Entry Video
[32:14] - Scripture: Psalm 118 (Responsive)
[40:34] - Gospel: Mark 11:1-11 Reading
[41:51] - Reflection: The Humble King
[48:06] - The Passion and Choices Ahead
[54:03] - Offering & One Great Hour of Sharing
[58:40] - Confession and Silent Prayer
[1:04:31] - Benediction & Sending

Bible Study Guide

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
Mark 11:1-11 (ESV)
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street. And they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Zechariah 9:9 (ESV)
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.

Observation questions

According to the account in Mark 11, what specific instructions did Jesus give his disciples to procure his transportation into Jerusalem?
What was the crowd’s reaction to Jesus’s entry, and what were the specific words they shouted?
The sermon described the scene as a "perpetual clash of good and evil." [44:32] What two contrasting processions into Jerusalem were happening around the same time?
What does the word "Hosanna" actually mean, according to the reflection? [46:20]

Interpretation questions

Why is the specific detail of Jesus riding a young donkey (a colt) instead of a warhorse so significant? How does Zechariah 9:9 help us understand the kind of king Jesus was claiming to be?
The crowd shouted "Hosanna," which is a cry for help meaning "save us now." [46:20] What do you think the crowd was hoping to be saved from, and how might that have differed from the salvation Jesus actually came to bring?
The reflection suggests that "fear is our greatest enemy" and that it robs us of the power God brings to our life. [49:18] How did fear operate in the characters of the Passion story (like Peter or the religious leaders), and what did it cause them to do?
What does it mean to only accept God on our own terms, as Judas and the religious leaders did? [50:36] [50:52] How can expecting God to meet our criteria actually prevent us from truly knowing Him?

Application questions

God's love is described as opening closed gates and breaching barriers to enter places of fear and division. [13:46] What is a "closed gate" or a fortified wall in your own life or community where you need to trust that God's love can make a way?
True kingship appears in vulnerability rather than spectacle. [44:12] In your daily life—at work, at home, or in your community—what is one practical way you can imitate this servant-leadership instead of seeking power through dominance or control?
Fear can drive us to betray our convictions to preserve our comfort or reputation. [48:59] Can you identify a recent situation where fear of what others might think caused you to stay silent about something you believe or to avoid a act of kindness? What would courage rooted in faith have looked like in that moment?
The religious leaders wanted a Messiah who believed as they did and fit their mold of the law. [51:14] In what ways do we sometimes try to shape God to fit our personal needs, political views, or comfort, rather than allowing His kingdom to surprise and transform us?
The benediction sends us out with the assurance, "Do not be afraid. Love will carry us." [01:05:20] As you look at the week ahead, what unknown or challenging situation can you face with this courage, trusting that God's love will carry you through?

Sermon Clips

56s

#HumbleKing

“What foolish person would draw attention in such a meek, easily mocked way? It's a bit of mystery afoot there. As we begin to understand that Jesus never protects his own dignity, but is ready to fling it aside to love anybody, everybody. And why are we on that road shouting, hosanna? After all, we are there. We are probably among that crowd. We know that before this week ends, the palm branches will be drying on the roadside. The joyful crowd will become an angry mob, and Jesus will replace the robes of victory with a crown of thorns.”

54s

#HosannaPrayer

“For Palm Sunday, we feel the jubilation and yet the painful ironies, the dawning realization on them and on us of impending doom and what's at stake. It's actually really important to understand this. The shout of hosanna isn't, yay, cheering in church, but rather it is a prayer. It is a cry for help, meaning save us now. Mark alludes to the obscure Zechariah who had given up on human rulers, and he had prophesied that on that day, the Lord God will save them. Low, your king comes humble and riding on a donkey.”

56s

#FaithOrFear

“It is a drama in which you might find yourself. The question is, which character are you? Well, there are those who deny their faith because of fear. Peter thought that he would never betray Jesus, but he discounted his own fear. His actions betrayed his true belief. Peter feared judgment by the Sanhedrin or the Romans more than judgment by God. Fear is our greatest enemy. It keeps us from sharing fully of what we have. We are afraid that we will not have enough if we give some away, or we are afraid that someone, some friend or acquaintance will turn away from us.”

46s

#PowerVsPeace

“Well, doing all of that is pretty courageous, especially since Pilate had just marched his legions from Caesarea on the coast to Jerusalem to intimidate and to secure this overcrowded city at Passover. His stomping regiments with arms clattering and banners wide right. Excuse me. Banners waving high heading east into the city could not have found a greater contrast than Jesus. Donkey hooves clomping on the stone, children holding leafy branches in the air heading west into the city. The perpetual clash of good and evil is coming to its climax.”

45s

#ServantKing

“I wonder what was moving through the mind of the master as he jogged along on the back of that faithful donkey. The ones following him that day weren't armed. They weren't rich. They weren't influential. They were dreamers. Most likely, even the recently hill healed Bartimaeus was probably he was in the crowd. Martin Luther noticed that Jesus rode on an animal of peace fit for only burden and labor. He indicates by this that he has not come to frighten anyone nor to drive or crush anyone, but to help him and carry his burdens. Quite a piece of insight, that.”

60s

#MessiahOnOurTerms

“Judas had other expectations of Jesus. Judas' frustration and disappointment led him to betray the one for whom he had been waiting. Judas wanted the Messiah to come on his, Judas', own terms. Most of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and those of the Sanhedrin the Sanhedrin, in case you weren't sure, that that's like the Jewish council. Most of those people looked for a messiah who believed as they did. They wanted to make their own messiah. They expected God to meet their criteria instead of the other way around. God's kingdom needed to fit their mold of what was law. Though convinced that they were right, they actually decided to prudently wait until after the festival to make their move.”

50s

#PassionDrama

“The gospel text of Jesus' passion, which we will explore a bit today as well as in our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, is a moving narrative with all of the elements of a powerful drama. After all, Jesus is the object of a sinister plot involving betrayal and murder. The woman who later anoints him at Bethany demonstrates the devotion of his disciples. Jesus transforms the traditional Passover meal into the sacred mystery of the Lord's Supper. Christ is the only character in this drama who fully understands the plot and has already anticipated the ending.”

59s

#JesusMisunderstood

“Some people saw Jesus as a threat to established religion, a manipulator of men and women, a purveyor of trickery. They shouted, crucify him. Today, some people see Jesus the way they see the church, with skepticism. Some folks wonder if Jesus can really do anything to save them from injustice, poverty, or a lifestyle of unhappiness. Some people, they see Jesus as a good luck charm. Christ is a Saint Christopher medal, which not only protects but saves us from sin. Some people see Jesus as a demanding lord whose expectations are great and whose love we must earn. The notion of grace is foreign to these folks.”

43s

#KingdomNotOurTerms

“there are those unwilling to accept the radical nature of the kingdom of God. Here's the thing. Christianity can never be faith on our own terms. It is not about building the church as we like it, but it is about building the kingdom, the realm, the kingdom that God desires. When we insist on being in control, we are unable to give God the control. Some people saw Jesus as someone to save them from tyranny and oppression. For them, he was a miracle worker and a mystical prophet. He awed them, and they shouted, hosanna.”

36s

#UnexpectedKing

“Palm Sunday is such a joyful occasion. The decorations are festive, and we eagerly look forward to the coming Easter celebration. You know, we've made Jesus' entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday admirable, joyous, and cute. Yeah. Cute. Missing how laughable and even ridiculous it is it had to have been at the time. I mean, a king on a little donkey, not even a full grown donkey, a colt, not a war stallion like Bucephalus Alexander the Great's mount.”

28s

#WhichJesusAreYou

“But some people some people see Jesus as the son of God, a friend and a companion, a savior, and a lord who is worthy of a lifetime of commitment. The question is, which one are you? Amen. Amen.”

52s

#FaithOverFear

“Fear robs us of the power God brings to our life. When we live by faith, we can do all things through Christ. When we live in fear, our timidity robs us and others of the blessing of faithful living. Then there are those who will only accept God on their terms. Fear is involved here as well. Fear of change, fear of God acting in new and different ways, fear of things not being the way they've always been, fear of life not being predictable, fear of being challenged to grow and to mature, fear of being moved outside of our comfort zones.”

22s

#LoveCarriesUs

“The nights ahead will be long. It will not be easy, and we may fear that nothing will ever change. We go now together into the unknown. Do not be afraid. Love will carry us. We go to offer and to live God's love and peace to all. Go in peace. Amen.”

31s

#ProclaimDiscipleship

“We go now in joy, love, and peace. Remember the day of celebration when Jesus boldly and humbly rode into the city of fear and anger. May we have courage as we move into the unknown that awaits us. We do not go alone. Do not fear. Love will carry us. We go ready to proclaim with our lives that we are disciples, that Jesus is Lord and savior.”

50s

#JourneyOfSacrifice

“And not only was it a colt, it was a borrowed donkey. He didn't even have his own donkey, crying out loud. Anyway, I wonder what was at work in the mind of Jesus of Nazareth as he jogged along the back of that faithful donkey. Perhaps his mind was far away, the scenes of his childhood feeling sawdust between his toes and his father's shop. He might have been remembering the high holy days in the synagogue with his whole body quickened by the echo of the ram's horn, or perhaps he was thinking of his mother, how deeply he loved her and how he wished that there had not been laid upon him this great necessity that sent him out onto the open road to proclaim the truth, leaving her side forever.”

44s

#RebelliousPraise

“You know, I can even understand the Pharisees who urged Jesus to quiet the chants of the people crowding the way that Sunday as he came down the Mount Of Olives riding on a donkey. Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. This was fiery stuff, the sort of thing that rebellions are made of. You know, it's it's actually pretty hard to beat the wisdom inside Jesus Christ superstars. Hosanna, haze, and a zanas, and a ho. You know, the crowd's escalating appeals to Jesus. Hey, JC. JC, won't you smile for me? Santa, Santa, hey, superstar.”

16s

#GodSpeaksAlways

“God opens your ears. God speaks when you are silent. God approaches you in the parade and at table, in your denial, and in your praise to be your help. Now and always, amen. Amen.”

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