SUMMARY: Jesus shares some incredibly encouraging thoughts in his last week as the cross approaches, affirmed by the Father himself in an amazing moment of divine fellowship.

APPLICATION: In all things while on earth, the Son affirmed the Father while the Father affirmed the Son. It is a wonderful relationship from which we greatly benefit. We’ll look at those benefits today.

SUMMARY: Jesus cleanses the temple of the sellers of animals and the moneychangers — for the second time in his ministry.

APPLICATION: Jesus was angered at an inappropriate behavior in a house of worship. What is inappropriate and appropriate in today’s houses of worship? We’ll answer that question today.

SUMMARY: Jesus causes a fig tree to wither, creating a living parable and message for the nation of Israel.

APPLICATION: Appearances can be deceiving. Are we living for appearances only, or do we practice what we preach? We’ll look at this challenging, and sometimes uncomfortable, question today.

SUMMARY: The ultimate worship experience is our focus today as we celebrate Palm Sunday, commemorating the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

APPLICATION: As Christ acknowledges the worship of the crowds that day, how do we define worship today? There is some sobering considerations that all Christians need to understand.

SUMMARY: We’ve talked about the necessary changes that we have to undergo in the sight of God, all of which were provided for by Christ’s death on the cross. But what about Christ? What changes did he go through by coming to earth on God’s mission of salvation? How did that mission impact him? We’ll talk about that today.

APPLICATION: By seeing what Christ went through for us, it should impact us to worship him even more, serve him even more, and love him so much more.

SUMMARY: Jesus came into Jerusalem for the last time with incredible determination to fulfill his mission. One of his reasons for that determination? To save us from an eternity in hell. Exactly what is hell? We’ll talk about that today.

APPLICATION: The world today reflects a very casual attitude toward hell. The Bible does not. Christ did not. We’ll see how the Bible’s pictures of hell should impact us today in our daily walk with Christ and with our witness to those around us.

SUMMARY: Jesus came into Jerusalem for the last time with incredible determination to fulfill his mission. Why was he so determined? Simply put, we needed rescuing because there was a standard for pleasing God that was impossible for us to reach. He was here to give us a means of meeting that standard; as Jesus’ life said, “Be Me.”

APPLICATION: If God has a standard we have no hope on our own to reach, we need to find a way that makes the impossible possible. That’s what Jesus offers us. That’s what Easter offers us — the ultimate change. We’ll look at that concept today.

SUMMARY: As we enter the Easter season, we begin a series that will be looking at each step in the journey that ultimately brought Christ to the cross, the grave, and the resurrection. Today, we set out the plan as Christ begins that journey: What is he hoping to accomplish? What is he hoping to change? What will we know when it’s been completed?

APPLICATION: Easter was not a chance happening but a specifically formulated plan to bring redemption and forgiveness to the world. That journey began with a single step. We’ll trace that step and look at what it means for us today.

SUMMARY: We will be looking at three questions, concerning (1) genocide relating to God’s destruction of entire nations, particularly during the Israelites’ invasion and conquering of the land of Canaan; (2) heaven relating to Revelation’s referring to 144,000 people, whether that all that is the entire population of heaven, are whether this is referring to something else; and (3) prayer relating to whether we are to pray only for the “big things” and take care of the “little things” ourselves.

APPLICATION: God gave us his word to apply to our lives and our situations. Even with questions as widespread as these, there are implications for our lives, particularly in how we relate our Christian witness to those around us.

SUMMARY: In two separate but related instances, Christ reveals himself to two very different, but very needy, individuals..

APPLICATION: Salvation can often come in unexpected ways to unexpected people. We need to constantly be ready to minister whenever the opportunity to lead someone to salvation arises. Are we willing to drop anything and everything for the sake of the gospel? We’ll consider that today.