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Sermon Discussion Guide - 03/22/2026
Published March 21, 2026
Kings and Kingdoms:
The King God Desired
Sermon Recap
In Luke 19, Jesus enters Jerusalem as king - but not as the kind of king people expected. Riding on a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah 9, he reveals that God’s desired king comes in peace, compassion, and sacrifice rather than force and takeover. The sermon presses us to lay down our script for Jesus, receive the peace that comes from being made right with God, and let Christ’s compassion shape the way we see others.
Ice Breakers
- If you had to make a grand entrance somewhere, what would you ride in on: limo, monster truck, horse, scooter, or something else?
- What is the most unexpected thing you’ve ever seen someone do in a big moment?
- What’s one small, ordinary thing that makes a bigger statement than people realize?
Discussion Questions
1. When was a time something turned out very differently than you expected, but ended up teaching you something important?
- Context: The crowd expected Jesus to move into Jerusalem like the kind of king the nations would want - strong, immediate, and politically powerful. But Jesus intentionally rode in on a donkey, showing that he was a different kind of king, one who came in peace rather than conflict.
- Application: Where might you be expecting Jesus to work on your terms instead of receiving him for who he actually is?
2. Have you ever been fully on board with something until it stopped going the way you hoped?
- Context: The people laid down their cloaks for Jesus as an act of honor and praise, but their surrender was tied to their expectations of what kind of king he would be. The sermon highlighted how it is often easier to offer outward praise than to surrender our will when Jesus leads in ways we did not want or plan for.
- Application: What does real surrender look like for you right now - not just in worship, but in obedience, patience, or trust?
3. Who is easiest for you to become impatient, critical, or cynical toward?
- Context: Instead of using his authority to crush opposition, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Even knowing what is coming, he is not numb or detached. His kingship makes room for compassion, and the sermon challenged us to let his heart shape the way we see our city and the people around us.
- Application: Where might Jesus be inviting you to replace cynicism with compassion this week?
4. What do you usually look to for peace when life feels unsettled?
- Context: Jesus says Jerusalem missed “the things that make for peace,” not because they lacked political security, but because they missed him. The sermon made clear that biblical peace is not merely the absence of conflict or a good set of circumstances; it is reconciliation with God, spiritual wholeness, and living under Christ’s rule.
- Application: How would your week look different if you pursued peace as right standing with God instead of just relief from stress?
5. Have you ever realized you were holding onto a specific script for how God should show up in your life?
- Context: Near the end of the sermon, the invitation was: lay down your script. The crowd had expectations for what Jesus would do as king, but peace begins when we stop trying to control him and instead follow him. Jesus made peace through the cross and resurrection, and we respond by trusting him rather than leveraging him for our own agenda.
- Application: What is one expectation, outcome, or demand you may need to place before Jesus and release to him?
Prayer
- Make sure to spend time in prayer as a group when you meet.
- Have group members share prayer requests, and pray for them.
- You could have one person pray for all the requests, or each member pray for one person.
- Keep a record of those requests and ask about them on a weekly basis.
Leader Tip
Try counting in your head for 8 seconds of silence before you jump in to speak. Some of the best moments in group happen a few seconds after a question is asked. If the room gets quiet, resist the urge to rescue it too quickly. Give people space to think, and you’ll often get more honest, meaningful responses.