March 29th, 2026
Palm Sunday 2026
"You Are Born to Worship"
John 12
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
March 29, 2026
Opening Verse:
“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt."
Zechariah 9:9 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to The River of Faith Church! Today is Palm Sunday! This marks the official start of the “Holy Week” or what we also call as the “Passion Week of Christ!”.
Palm Sunday marks one week before the Resurrection or Easter. The triumphal entry is very important because it was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 about the coming Messiah. Here we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem where His followers gathered palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road as Jesus entered the city riding a donkey.
Main Pointers:
“After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
Luke 19:28-38 NLT
1. Not all who comes to worship do it with the right purpose.
A. The triumphal entry was the fulfillment of the prophecy about a humble king who enters His kingdom riding a donkey. The garments placed upon the road and palm branches are a sign of praise being lavished on Him.
B. Unfortunately many in the crowds came with a different motive. Many welcomed Him hoping that He was their messianic deliverer who will free them from the Romans. Some came just because of the miracles they've heard.
C. “Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign."
John 12:17-18 NLT
2. Worship without true transformation is just about the experience.
“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
Luke 19:41-44 NLT
A. Many of the ones who hailed Him king and shouted "Hosanna's" have quickly turned against him and shouted "Crucify Him" in just a matter of days. The very same city that hailed Him king has abandoned Him.
B. Worship without true transformation will always be inconsistent and weak.
C. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
James 3:9-12 NIV
3. You are born to worship, so if it's not Jesus, it's something else.
“But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Luke 19:39-40 NLT
A. The pharisees tried to silence the crowd for they were furious that they were hailing Jesus as king. Jesusspoke the truth by recognizing that if people don't praise Him something else has got to do it because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
B. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-15 NIV
Conclusion:
As we get ready for “Holy Week” let’s ask ourselves, have I missed the point? Do I come for You? Am I trusting in you alone? Are you Jesus my Lord and Savior? Let’s take advantage of this time to recognize Jesus for who He is.
"You Are Born to Worship"
John 12
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
March 29, 2026
Opening Verse:
“Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt."
Zechariah 9:9 NLT
Introduction:
Welcome to The River of Faith Church! Today is Palm Sunday! This marks the official start of the “Holy Week” or what we also call as the “Passion Week of Christ!”.
Palm Sunday marks one week before the Resurrection or Easter. The triumphal entry is very important because it was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 about the coming Messiah. Here we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem where His followers gathered palm branches and spread their cloaks on the road as Jesus entered the city riding a donkey.
Main Pointers:
“After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
Luke 19:28-38 NLT
1. Not all who comes to worship do it with the right purpose.
A. The triumphal entry was the fulfillment of the prophecy about a humble king who enters His kingdom riding a donkey. The garments placed upon the road and palm branches are a sign of praise being lavished on Him.
B. Unfortunately many in the crowds came with a different motive. Many welcomed Him hoping that He was their messianic deliverer who will free them from the Romans. Some came just because of the miracles they've heard.
C. “Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign."
John 12:17-18 NLT
2. Worship without true transformation is just about the experience.
“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
Luke 19:41-44 NLT
A. Many of the ones who hailed Him king and shouted "Hosanna's" have quickly turned against him and shouted "Crucify Him" in just a matter of days. The very same city that hailed Him king has abandoned Him.
B. Worship without true transformation will always be inconsistent and weak.
C. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
James 3:9-12 NIV
3. You are born to worship, so if it's not Jesus, it's something else.
“But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Luke 19:39-40 NLT
A. The pharisees tried to silence the crowd for they were furious that they were hailing Jesus as king. Jesusspoke the truth by recognizing that if people don't praise Him something else has got to do it because He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
B. “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:14-15 NIV
Conclusion:
As we get ready for “Holy Week” let’s ask ourselves, have I missed the point? Do I come for You? Am I trusting in you alone? Are you Jesus my Lord and Savior? Let’s take advantage of this time to recognize Jesus for who He is.
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