"Breaking Chains" - Discipleship Guide - Week 6
- Sean Stanfield
- Apr 13
- 3 min read
Week Six (Palm/Passion Sunday): Choosing the Cross -Discipleship Guide
Rev. Monica Mowdy
Theme:
As the crowd shouted “Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.” they were drawn into the excitement of the moment, the hope for peace, “only to later cry, “Crucify him!” Lent calls us to look beyond the noise within us and make the conscious decision to follow Jesus, and choose the Peace God within us released through the Kingdom Christ offers through reconciliation found on the cross .
Scripture Focus: Luke 19:28-40
28 After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As Jesus came to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he gave two disciples a task. 30 He said, “Go into the village over there. When you enter it, you will find tied up there a colt that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘Its master needs it.’”32 Those who had been sent found it exactly as he had said. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “Its master needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their clothes on the colt, and lifted Jesus onto it. 36 As Jesus rode along, they spread their clothes on the road. 37 As Jesus approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole throng of his disciples began rejoicing. They praised God with a loud voice because of all the mighty things they had seen. 38 They said,
“Blessings on the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens.” 39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout.”
1. The sermon talks about how many people are searching for peace in a world that often offers chaos. What are some of the ways we try to create or force peace in our lives, and how can we distinguish between false peace and true peace?
2. The sermon mentions that Jesus came to bring peace, but it wasn't the kind of peace the Jewish people expected. How does the peace Jesus offers differ from the peace that the world offers? What does "divine peace" mean to you?
3. The sermon describes how the true components of peace can be hidden from our eyes by the things of the world. In your life, what are some things that might be hindering you from fully experiencing the peace of God? How can we remove these distractions?
4. Jesus entered Jerusalem not on a war horse but on a colt, symbolizing humility. How does this humble approach to peace challenge our understanding of power and authority in today’s world? What might this teach us about how to approach conflict or difficulties in our own lives?
5. The sermon notes that many of the followers who shouted "Hosanna" would later turn away from Jesus. What does this say about the nature of true discipleship? What does it mean to follow Jesus in times of peace and in times of hardship?
6. The sermon emphasizes the arrival of God's Kingdom and the peace that Jesus brings. How can we live into that Kingdom of peace today? What practical steps can we take to live as people of peace, both in our own hearts and in our communities?
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