We celebrated Palm Sunday with a concert by our Kid's Klub ministry. Legalities prohibit us recording the concert and putting it on our website. So, we offer you the notes from our messages that were given during the worship service. We will note "The House of Prayer" and "Christ's Model Prayer."

Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-16

Jesus fulfilled Scripture by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9 was cited, but see also Psalm 118:22-26

"22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now [Hosanna], I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD."

Jesus fulfilled the Father's desire by calling for purity and sincerity in the worship and service of God.

Compare John 4:23-24

"23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Jesus fulfilled Scripture by receiving the praise of children.

Compare Matthew 19:14

"But Jesus said, Suffer / Allow little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13

For many people, religion is living in the dreadful hope and fear of meeting a God that they do not know and hoping that He accepts them and does not send them to Hell. For many others, The Gospel has given them a blessed hope in which they learn of God's love and His desire to have a relationship with them now and forever. Forgiveness is secured by the sacrificial gift that Christ provided on the cross. Christ's resurrection not only shows that God accepted the sacrifice, but that His Spirit will infuse in us the same power and life that raised Christ from the dead. When we believe and receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we begin a living and loving relationship with God right away. A real relationship is maintained by good communication. Prayer is a privilege and a responsibility for maintaining and enjoying our relationship with God. Jesus, who provided this relationship also taught us how to pray.

Prayer is for Worshipping God. We could never know what God is like, if He did not reveal Himself to us. As we learn of His greatness, power, holiness, and mercy, we soon see our need to worship Him - to love and honor Him. "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed [honored and respected] be thy name." This should reflect, not only a desire to honor God's name personally, but to also give God a good reputation, so that He is honored by others also.

Prayer is for desiring God and His will to be done in our lives and in the whole earth. Prayer is for focusing on God's will with submission and pleasure. God's will is not only inevitable, it is desirable. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven."

Prayer is for seeking God for our everyday needs - like food. "Give us this day our daily bread." Consider Matthew 6:25-34.

God also wants us to talk to him about our sins and temptations. We need to live a life in which we are seeking forgiveness and also forgiving others. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Consider Matthew 6:14-15; 5:7.

In prayer we remind ourselves of God's greatness and power, so that we are motivated to depend on Him for everything, to humbly seek His forgiveness, and to fight the good fight against sin that tempts us and that is tempting others in this world. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [the evil one]: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."

Some translations omit the last part, thinking it is a reference from I Chronicles 29:11 that was inserted by somebody else. It was not unusual for Jesus to make references to the Old Testament when teaching us. So, let's allow this portion of the Bible to encourage us about God's eternal and all-powerful kingdom as we seek to walk with God and talk with God.

The crucified, risen, and living Lord Jesus Christ calls us:

to faith & repentance; to a living & loving relationship with the Father;
to continually seek the Lord and pray to Him;
to live a life of loving worship

• humble dependence
• submission & confession
• forgiving others
• striving against all that is unholy
• looking forward, by faith, to Christ's glorious kingdom - so that one day we will see His will done in Earth as it is in heaven.

Are you ready and willing to be a part of that kingdom?