Study Guide AWS
Study Guide March 29, 2015
Prep Time
Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11
P
reparation is a part of life. If you have a presentation to give at work, you need some “prep time.” If you’re going to have a big Easter lunch with family and friends, you need some “prep time.” How do you prepare for Easter? Even more, how should you prepare to handle life? Luke chapter 19 and Matthew chapter 21 tell how Jesus’ disciples prepared for His final week leading up to the cross. When Jesus approached Jerusalem with His disciples, He made a grand entrance with crowds of people shouting and celebrating His triumphal arrival. Read 2 Samuel 7:12, 13. • How do you think such Scriptures shaped the expectation of the Jews about the coming Messiah? • By the time of Jesus, people were looking for someone from the line of David who would be a political Messiah and re-establish David’s kingdom forever. Read John 6:14, 15. What does this text reveal about the Jewish expectations of the Messiah? How did Jesus react to the crowd’s demands? Read Luke 19:28-44 and Matthew 21:1-11. • What do these Scriptures tell us about how to prepare our hearts for Easter and beyond?
1. Do what Jesus says (Luke 19:28-35). According to Pastor Rick, “The issue of faith is not clarity. The issue of faith is obedience in the midst of obscurity.”
by David Faust
• Do you find it difficult to exercise faith? • In what area of life right now do you wish the Lord’s directions communicated more clarity? Pastor Rick says there are two reasons we resist obedience: “Number 1: we don’t like to be told what to do. Number 2: we especially don’t want to obey if we don’t know the ‘why.’” • What makes you resist obeying God? • Have you ever obeyed God even when you didn’t understand the “why”? What was the result?
2. Feel what Jesus feels (Luke 19:41-44). • Why do you think Jesus wept so earnestly for the people of Jerusalem? • As you prepare for Easter, do you feel a deep compassion for others who are hurting and are far from God?
3. Tell who Jesus is (Matthew 21:10-11). • What do you think it means when Matthew reports that the city was “stirred” (v. 10)? • Is there anyone who lives or works near you who is sincerely wondering about Jesus? Do you know someone who may be looking for the Messiah? How will you use this coming week to prepare your heart for Easter?
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
Prep Time
Luke 19:28-44, Matthew 21:1-11
P
reparation is a part of life. If you have a presentation to give at work, you need some “prep time.” If you’re going to have a big Easter lunch with family and friends, you need some “prep time.” How do you prepare for Easter? Even more, how should you prepare to handle life? Luke chapter 19 and Matthew chapter 21 tell how Jesus’ disciples prepared for His final week leading up to the cross. When Jesus approached Jerusalem with His disciples, He made a grand entrance with crowds of people shouting and celebrating His triumphal arrival. Read 2 Samuel 7:12, 13. • How do you think such Scriptures shaped the expectation of the Jews about the coming Messiah? • By the time of Jesus, people were looking for someone from the line of David who would be a political Messiah and re-establish David’s kingdom forever. Read John 6:14, 15. What does this text reveal about the Jewish expectations of the Messiah? How did Jesus react to the crowd’s demands? Read Luke 19:28-44 and Matthew 21:1-11. • What do these Scriptures tell us about how to prepare our hearts for Easter and beyond?
1. Do what Jesus says (Luke 19:28-35). According to Pastor Rick, “The issue of faith is not clarity. The issue of faith is obedience in the midst of obscurity.”
by David Faust
• Do you find it difficult to exercise faith? • In what area of life right now do you wish the Lord’s directions communicated more clarity? Pastor Rick says there are two reasons we resist obedience: “Number 1: we don’t like to be told what to do. Number 2: we especially don’t want to obey if we don’t know the ‘why.’” • What makes you resist obeying God? • Have you ever obeyed God even when you didn’t understand the “why”? What was the result?
2. Feel what Jesus feels (Luke 19:41-44). • Why do you think Jesus wept so earnestly for the people of Jerusalem? • As you prepare for Easter, do you feel a deep compassion for others who are hurting and are far from God?
3. Tell who Jesus is (Matthew 21:10-11). • What do you think it means when Matthew reports that the city was “stirred” (v. 10)? • Is there anyone who lives or works near you who is sincerely wondering about Jesus? Do you know someone who may be looking for the Messiah? How will you use this coming week to prepare your heart for Easter?
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
