Our culture tells us to pursue instant gratification and ensures us that we deserve all the things we want. As a result, it can be easy to be drawn to faith primarily for how it can quickly meet our needs and wants, but when that doesn’t happen many of us find our faith being put on the back burner or abandoned altogether. And it’s not just us. Even in the Bible, we see crowds of people celebrating Jesus as the one to immediately fix their oppression, yet quickly turning on Him when they realized he wouldn’t cater to their political hopes. In this week’s video, we take an honest look at why we follow God—is it to get what we want or because we trust Jesus to transform us into the people we were meant to be?

MESSAGE NOTES

[Matthew 21:1-3]

1 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. 2 “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. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

 

1) The people’s mission didn’t align with Jesus’ mission

 

[2 Corinthians 10:1a, 3-5]

1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ…

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

 

[Matthew 21:4-5]

4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

5 “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.’”

 

2) The people’s expectations didn’t align with God’s expectations

 

[Matthew 21:6-11]

6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

8 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!”

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

3) The people didn’t actually know Jesus

 

Challenge yourself this week:

1) Discover the Real Jesus:

2) Explore the Truth in Scripture:

3) Experience Genuine Worship:

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?