Intr<\/strong> \u2013 <\/strong>The theme for my sermon for Palm Sunday is \u201cPsalm Sunday\u201d. I\u2019m using \u201cpsalm\u201d here as synonym for hymns, songs, music. The reason for my choice is that we see hymns all over our Bible lessons today. Psalm 118 is a hymn sung by the crowds on Palm Sunday \u201cBlessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord\u201d; in Deuteronomy 32 we find words that Moses \u201csaid\u201d, but the Hebrew word is likely to mean singing. Then, as Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on a donkey music is all around Him. Finally, the epistle for today, Philippians 2:6-11 is written as a hymn in the Greek original, one of the most ancient Christian hymns.<\/p>\n Somewhere else in the Bible Paul would say: \u201csinging psalms and hymns and <\/em>spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God\u201d (Col 3:16). It would be fair to think here about them as the Past (Psalms), the Present (Hymns) and the Future (Spiritual, new songs). It points to variety, different ways, different styles, and all pointing to the same One who comes in the Name of the Lord – Jesus. Singing is something very familiar to the people of God since most ancient times. Therefore, today we will sing for the most part of the Sermon. It will be a Psalm Sunday<\/em> message.<\/p>\n First, the story of Palm Sunday. We have one of our hymns that tells an abridged version of what happened that day:<\/strong>(Hymn #443 Hosanna, loud Hosanna)<\/em> 2 From Olivet they followed Mid an exultant crowd, 3 “Hosanna in the highest!”That ancient song we sing; Looking into today\u2019s Psalm, Ps118 we find one of the hymns people were singing as Jesus was entering Jerusalem according to the prophets. Jesus is the “Blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord.” No one wrote down the notation, so we don\u2019t know the exact tune to those lyrics. But we will do an exercise of imagination about how it might have sounded that day. We will sing two verses of Psalm 118 in Hebrew, the original language of the OT:(Bah-rook hah-bah beh-shem Ah-doh-nai,)<\/em><\/p>\n Bah-rook hah-bah beh-shem Ah-doh-nai, Hoh-doo Lah-doh-nai kee Tohv, 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! In Deuteronomy 32, like I said before, we see Moses saying words to the people, but the Hebrew word is likely to mean singing. It is a sort of a swan song – the prophet who knows he will die sings his last song. He sings about the Goodness of God toward His People, the restoration He Provides, His incomprehensible love.\u00a0 HE says: \u201cSee now that I, even I, am he\u2026 I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal.\u201d (32:39). God is always in control<\/em> \u2013 just as He was in control of the whole Narrative of Palm Sunday and the following days. Everything happened according to His will and His purpose. Jesus did not stumble into suffering; He walked into it willingly, fulfilling the Father\u2019s will. From the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday to the cross and empty tomb, everything unfolded according to God\u2019s redemptive purpose. This is why we sing: (Our God<\/em>)<\/p>\n Our God is greater, our God is stronger Into the darkness You shine Our God is greater, our God is stronger Such immense and Great Love. He called us by His Holy Spirit to believe in Him, the One who comes in the name of the Lord to die for us, to save us. This is why we give unceasing thanks and praise Him constantly, for example with the words of the hymn: (Praise to the Lord the Almighty, 3 verses)<\/em><\/p>\n 1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! 2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining. 5 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in us adore him! That Palm Sunday in Jerusalem was a in a sense Psalm Sunday. We hear shouts of joy and adoration. But Jesus knew that soon shouts of joy would become shouts of rage and hate. Nonetheless, our Saviour is willing to enter Jerusalem and endure all things until the end \u2013 because He loved us. He loved the world. On the hymn we have in the epistle, Paul describes this humbleness, this willingness in a beautiful hymn. We don\u2019t have the original tune, so we could make, as mentioned before, a “spiritual song”, a new song to the Lord. (ABOVE EVERY NAME – Philippians 2:6-11)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Though he was in the form of God, ::Jesus Christ is Lord,<\/strong><\/em> Therefore God has highly exalted him Palm Sunday shows in word and verse a profound love; an incomprehensible one.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n This love is for you. This love is for us. This is incomprehensible to the ears of the world, that\u2019s why many don\u2019t believe it.[5]<\/a> \u00a0It’s because a God like that is out of boundaries for the human ability. But Yahweh<\/em> says in Dt: “I am he.” I am God. I am in control. [6]<\/a><\/p>\n Jesus was obedient to the point of death\u2014even death on a cross\u2014and is now highly exalted, we know that we have forgiveness, peace, and new life. We know that we live under the grace and love of the One who is the Blessed One coming in the name of the Lord.<\/p>\n This is not just a \u201cchurch thing.\u201d This isn\u2019t just for Sunday mornings. This is for Tuesday afternoons when your heart is heavy. For Friday mornings when the pressure heightens. For Saturday evenings when regrets accost your mind. This message\u2014this Christ\u2014this cross\u2014is for your everyday life.<\/p>\n It shapes your identity. On this Palm Sunday\u2014on this Psalm Sunday\u2014we remember His unfailing love. We rejoice in His great work of salvation. We respond, not with mere words, but with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to Him who died, rose again, and is coming again. We thank Jesus for entering Jerusalem; and then for walling our of it to His Cross, for us. For, w<\/em>here would I be (without the Cross)?<\/em><\/p>\n 1 – I was broken, with no peace, 2 – You are spotless, unlike me, Where would I be without the cross? 3 You were crushed and torn for me, By Your power, I am free, Cc – <\/strong>Jesus rode into Jerusalem because of you and me, to rescue, forgive and save us. We can keep singing, believing and living in Him. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. <\/strong>Hosanna in the highest. Amen.<\/p>\n ______________________<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc51<\/strong> Children\u2019s Lesson: \u201cThe Real Royal Match\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Theme:<\/strong> Jesus is the King who gives us real life and real time \u201cHave you ever played a game where you match things? Like Royal Match<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a game where there\u2019s a king, and you match pieces to win levels. But the king? He doesn\u2019t do much. He just stands there while you play. He doesn\u2019t save you. He doesn\u2019t fight. He doesn\u2019t even give you more time!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut we<\/em> have a real King\u2014Jesus! On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem\u2014not on a big white horse\u2014but on a donkey. He came not to kill time\u2026 but to kill death<\/em>. \u00a0<\/em>Worse of all: In the game, you<\/em> have to save the King<\/strong><\/p>\n And now He gives us the best prize ever: forever life with Him!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Prayer: Dear Jesus, You are the best King. You didn\u2019t just play games\u2014You came to save us.<\/em> _________________________________\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Psalm 118: 26, 29 Text: Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 118, Dt 32 and John 12:12-19 Theme: \u201cPsalm Sunday\u201d ___________________________ Intr \u2013 The theme for my sermon for Palm Sunday is \u201cPsalm Sunday\u201d. I\u2019m using \u201cpsalm\u201d here as synonym for hymns, songs, music. The reason for my choice is that we see hymns all over our Bible lessons today. Psalm 118 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3939,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>1 Hosanna, loud hosanna,The little children sang;
\nThrough pillared court and temple The lovely anthem rang.
\nTo Jesus, who had blessed them,Close folded to His breast,
\nThe children sang their praises,The simplest and the best.<\/p>\n
\nThe victor palm branch waving And chanting clear and loud.
\nThe Lord of earth and heaven Rode on in lowly state
\nNor scorned that little children Should on His bidding wait.<\/p>\n
\nFor Christ is our Redeemer, The Lord of heav’n our King.
\nOh, may we ever praise Him With heart and life and voice
\nAnd in His blissful presence Eternally rejoice!<\/p>\n
\nBeh-rahk-noo-chem mee-bate Ah-doh-nai.<\/p>\n
\nKee leh-oh-lahm chahs-doh.<\/p>\n
\nWe bless you from the house of the Lord.
\nGive thanks to the Lord for He is good,
\n<\/em>\u2003\u2003for his steadfast love endures forever![1]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\nGod, You are higher than any other
\nOur God is healer, awesome in power
\nOur God, our God<\/p>\n
\nOut of the ashes we rise
\nThere’s no one like You
\nNone like You<\/p>\n
\nGod, You are higher than any other
\nOur God is healer, awesome in power
\nOur God, our God
\n<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nO my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
\nLet all who hear Now to His temple draw near,
\nJoining in glad adoration!<\/p>\n
\nHave you not seen All that is needful has been
\nSent by His gracious ordaining?<\/p>\n
\nAll that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him! Let the Amen Sound from His people again;
\nGladly forever adore him![2]<\/a><\/p>\n
\nHe did not count equality with God
\na thing to be grasped,
\nbut emptied himself, becoming a servant,
\nbeing born in the likeness of men.
\nbeing found in human form,
\nhe humbled himself
\nn\u2019 was obedient to the point of death,
\neven death on a cross.<\/p>\n
\nto the glory of God the Father.::<\/strong><\/em>
\nto the glory of the Father,<\/strong><\/em>
\nJesus is Lord!::<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nand bestowed on him the name
\nthat is above every name,
\nso that at His name every knee should bow,
\nin heaven and on earth and under the earth,
\nand every tongue confess that: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 [chorus<\/em>][3]<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIt restores your heart.
\nIt renews your hope.<\/p>\n
\nLost and guilty, in need of mercy.
\nI saw no hope beyond a grave\u2014
\nThe cost for sin I deserved to pay.<\/p>\n
\nHoly on Your throne of glory.
\nYou saw my soul\u2019s depravity,
\nBut Jesus, still, You rescued me.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>Amazing love poured out for us!
\n<\/em><\/strong>You took the wrath, You paid the cost\u2014
\n<\/em><\/strong>Where would I be without the cross?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAs You carried that cross of suffering.
\nYou died my death, laid in my grave\u2014
\nBut praise God, that\u2019s not where You stayed!<\/p>\n
\nI now live to tell this story.
\nMy heart\u2019s transformed for all to see\u2014
\nBecause, Jesus, You rescued me.
\nOh, such love, how can it be?[7]<\/a><\/p>\n
\nText:<\/strong> Matthew 21:1\u201311, Philippians 2:5\u201311<\/p>\n
\nHe didn\u2019t just stand around. He came to match<\/em> exactly what we needed.
\nHe came at just the right time<\/em> to save us from something way worse than losing a game\u2014He came to defeat sin and death.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nPeople shouted, \u201cHosanna!\u201d which means, \u201cSave us now!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNot to give us 5 more minutes\u2026 but eternal life!<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In real life, the King saves us!<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThank You for giving us more than just time to play\u2014 You gave us time forever with You. Hosanna! Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n[2]<\/a> LSB 790
\n[3]<\/a> \u201cAbove every name\u201d (Lucas Andre Albrecht)
\n[4]<\/a> , We see it in the OT reading; as we contemplate it on Psalm 118. We feel it as we see Jesus riding resolutely into Jerusalem to accomplish His work. We see it in a profound way as we read Philippians and hear about the Son of God who humbles Himself to do the will of the Father
\n[5]<\/a> Perhaps that\u2019s why I saw a poll some time ago – as much as you can trust polls – showing that atheism has just edged out Christianity to become the largest religion in America. “God Help Us: Atheism Becomes Largest Religion In U.S.” https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/nxsjrdca<\/a> The article adds: \u201cAs religiosity has declined, social ills have abounded. Nearly one in five American adults suffers from anxiety disorders, which now constitute the most common mental illness in the country. One in six Americans takes antidepressant drugs, a 65% surge over just 15 years. The problem is particularly acute among younger Americans. While depression diagnoses have increased 33% since 2013, that number is up 47% among Millennials and 63% among teenagers. Coincidentally, suicide rates among American teenagers have increased by 70% since 2006.\u201d
\n[6]<\/a> This is why we look to Palm Sunday as a show of His Steadfastness in His promises \u2013 there see Him in the control of everything so they would happen in the exact time and place He designed them to happen.
\n[7]<\/a> \u201cWhere would I be (without the cross)?\u201d Hope Alive Music Written by Josh Ninaber, Andrea Nicholls, Sam Hart and Matthew Zigenis. Available at:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=hrsVY-h-zJk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"