Encounter Along The Way
March 29, 2026
On Palm Sunday, the crowds welcomed Jesus with joy, but many didn’t yet understand the kind of King He would be. As we walk with Him, we begin to see that following Jesus means more than celebration. It means joining Jesus in a way of love, humility, and courage. Along the way, God meets us in how we live, serve, and respond to others.
READ
Matthew 21:1–11
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Jesus and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
REFLECT
1. Where are you celebrating Jesus with your words, but hesitating to follow Him with your life?
2. How is Jesus inviting you to move beyond comfort into a deeper, more active faith?
3. Where do you see Jesus walking into the brokenness of the world and will you go there too?
RESPOND
1. The crowd used their voices to praise but following Jesus means using your voice with purpose. Speak up when someone is ignored, stereotyped, or spoken over. Name the value and dignity of that person in the moment.
2. Move from charity to relationship by not only doing something for someone in need by stepping toward knowing them personally, their name, their story, their perspective.
3. The same crowd that praised Jesus would later turn away. Intentionally choose acts of love that reflect Jesus’ way of love even if it’s misunderstood, inconvenient, and unnoticed.