Palm Sunday:
The Cross and empty Tomb are incredibly significant insights into the identity of Jesus and understanding what He has done for us, but some of the events leading up to the cross are amazing, insightful and important as well.
On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheers and shouts of “Hosanna”, but that would soon change as the crowd turned against Him. When Jesus chose to take the path toward the cross He showed us a path that we can choose as well.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT: Easter is upon us-this coming weekend! We will have 4 identical services with kids programming (Sat. April 19 at 5:00pm, Sun. April 20 at 8:15am, 9:45am, and 11:15am). Who will you invite?
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What was your first job? What do you remember most about it?
- Talk about a time when you were given power and responsibility.
- What do you know about the historical event of Palm Sunday?
READ: John 19:1-18.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- What does this passage tell me about who Jesus is?
READ: Matthew 27:24 and John 13:2-5, 12-17.
- Doug talked about how Pilate used his power and took a basin of water and a towel and washed his hands of responsibility of the execution of Jesus (Matthew 27:24). Doug then compared it to how Jesus took a basin of water and a towel and used His power to serve His disciples by washing their feet (John 13:2-17). What stands out to you in that difference in how these two people used their power?
- Why do you think power is such a difficult thing to manage and use for good and use for God?
READ: Mark 10:35-45.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- What does this passage tell me about who Jesus is?
- What does this passage tell us about who we should be?
- What do you think it looks like for you to make your purpose in LIFE to be a SERVANT of all and to GIVE YOUR LIFE to reach as many as possible?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- What are some ways you can take time this week to reflect on Jesus and what this week represents?
- Who can you invite to Easter services at Live Oak?
APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step?Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
Matthew 21:6-9; John 19:1-18; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 27:24; John 13:1-17; Mark 10:35-45