People all over the world today are remembering how Jesus came into Jerusalem, the day that we

call Palm Sunday. It’s humbling to me to think that on every continent of our world, billions of

people are waving Palms just like you and me. You and I are part of something special today.

This is the beginning of the most important week of the year for our faith. The world will go on

this week as if nothing special is happening. I want to encourage each of us to find ways to

celebrate this last week of Jesus’ life. One of the ways you can do this is by using a devotion

that I wrote for you. It’s in this brochure that is in the bulletin. I wrote for you a devotion on the

last week of Jesus’ life. I encourage you to use it. Read the Bible story and then the devotion. It

has a prayer. This would take you probably five minutes to do. I think it will help enrich your

week.

Before we get to our main speakers I want to address very briefly two questions today.

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem in the way he did for the last week of his life?

How does this story have anything to do with helping homeless teens in Anoka County?

Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem in the way he did for the last week of his life

Symbols

1. Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem on a donkey

He could have done it in a different way

He could have walked

He could have done it without a parade

Donkey

A few hundred years ago a man predicted and wrote down that a king would come into

Jerusalem, triumphant and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey

2. Jesus wanted to show to his followers that he was this king

People were expecting a king who would overthrow the Romans—who would bring the

nation of Israel back to the glory days of King David. He would be the Messiah.

We know that Jesus wasn’t a military hero.

He was the suffering servant.

3. Palm branches

A tradition to welcome a Victorius king into Jersualem with palm branches.

4. Hosanna.

Comes from a Hebrew word that says save us.

The crowds wanted Jesus to save them

You and I know that Jesus does save us. He offers us salvation.

He promises us that we will live eternally with him. We do not need to fear death. God’s

love is always with us.

This salvation is not only intended for what happens after our death. It is meant for us here on

earth.

Jesus entered Jerusalem to start a movement—the movement is called the Kingdom of God

It’s where you and I grow as individuals to be the people God wants us to be, as disciples

or followers of Jesus

And it’s a movement where the values of love and justice are at the foundation of our

world

Our congregation, Chain of Lakes Church, exists to be part of this movement called the

Kingdom of God. Look at our Purpose Statement and Core Values and you can get a sense of

how the creation of the Kingdom of God on earth is part of who we are.

Which leads me to the second question—how does Jesus entrance into Jerusalem have anything

to do with helping homeless teens in Anoka County

Our work to help homeless teens is part of the movement of the Kingdom of God

Some people might say—“you’re trying to do good in helping out teens.” We are trying to do

good. But we’re trying to do much more than that.

Our faith in Jesus compels us to end homelessness

How would God feel that we’ve created a School Distrcit where 750 teens have been identified

as homeless. 20% of those—150 are unaccompanied, which means they aren’t accompanied by

a parent or guardian.

Jesus says whatever you do to the least of these my brethren you do to me. When we are helping

we aren’t doing good. We are the hands and feet of Jesus helping out those who are struggling in

our area.

If you want to be part of a church that sees takes personal faith and social faith seriously, who

wants everyone to experience salvation after death because of a relationship to Jesus Christ and

who sees salvation as emoboding the values of Christ in the world then Chain of Lakes might be

your church.

If you are interested in ending homelessness among teens, then join our efforts

To do this we need to understand this issue.

Two ways

1. We are going to hear the story of Jerry Streich

2. We are going to have an interview with Robin Burge-Ross about