March 29, 2026 – Lent - Palm Sunday – Exalting Jesus

Exalting Jesus

Isaiah 50:4-9a - New International Version (NIV)

⁴ The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
    to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
⁵ The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
    I have not been rebellious,
    I have not turned away.
⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.
⁷ Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
    and I know I will not be put to shame.
⁸ He who vindicates me is near.
    Who then will bring charges against me?
    Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
⁹ It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
    Who will condemn me?

What does Isaiah’s “well-instructed tongue” know (verse 4)?

Who opened Isaiah’s ears (verse 5)?

Who did Isaiah offer his back to (verse 6)?

Why will Isaiah “not be disgraced” (verse 7)?

Who is near Isaiah (verse 8)?

In your opinion, “who will condemn” Isaiah (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how to approach Jesus?

 

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
²³ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
²⁷ The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

Why should we “give thanks to the Lord” (verse 1)?

What is Israel to say (verse 2)?

What will happen when the “gates of the righteous” are opened (verse 19)?

Whose gates are the “gates of the righteous” (verses 19 and 20)?

What has the Lord “become” (verse 21)?

Who rejected “the stone” (verse 22)?

Who made it “the cornerstone” (verses 22 and 23)?

How should we respond “today” (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what is the “success” we are asking to be granted (verse 25)?

Who is “blessed” (verse 26)?

What has the Lord made to “shine on us” (verse 27)?

How does the Psalmist identify who he will praise and exalt (verse 28)?

What “endures forever” (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how to approach Jesus?

In your opinion, how is the celebration of God’s enduring love in Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 an encouragement when thinking of Isaiah’s difficulties in Isaiah 50:4-9a?

Matthew 21:1-1 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

⁴ This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

⁵ “Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Where did they come to (verse 1?

What were the two disciples to bring Jesus (verse 2)?

How were the disciples to respond if anyone said anything to them (verse 3)?

What was to be said to “Daughter Zion” (verse 5)?

What did the disciples do (verse 6)?

Why were the cloaks placed on the donkey and the colt (verse 7)?

Who “spread their cloaks on the road” (verse 8)?

Who did the crowds shout was “blessed” (verse 9)?

How did the city of Jerusalem respond (verse 10)?

Who did the crowds say Jesus was (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how to approach Jesus?

In your opinion, what insight into the celebration of Matthew 21:1-11 can be found in Isaiah 50:4-9a?

In your opinion, how is Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem in Matthew 21:1-11 similar to the celebration of Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29?

Philippians 2:9-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Where did God exalt Jesus to (verse 9)?

What name did God give Jesus (verse 9)?

Who will bow “at the name of Jesus” (verse 10)?

Whose tongue will “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (verse 11)?

Who will receive glory when the tongues “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord” (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about how to approach Jesus?

In your opinion, how does Philippians 2:9-11 affirm the vindication promised in Isaiah 50:4-9a?

In your opinion, what does Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 teach the Christian believer about how to approach Jesus as He is portrayed in Philippians 2:9-11?

In your opinion, how is the celebration of Matthew 21:1-11 different from the exultation of Philippians 2:9-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Psalms, Matthew, and Philippians teach us about the exalting of Jesus?

In your opinion, how does bowing to Jesus today help us be successful in our daily challenges?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

March 22, 2026 – Lent – Come Out of the Grave

Come Out of the Grave

Ezekiel 37:1-14 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

What was the valley full of (verse 1)?

How did Ezekiel describe the bones (verse 2)?

What did the Lord ask Ezekiel (verse 3)?

Who was Ezekiel to prophesy to (verse 4)?

What will the Lord make the bones do (verse 5)?

When will the bones know that “I am the Lord” (verse 6)?

What happened when Ezekiel prophesied (verse 7)?

What were the bones missing (verse 8)?

Why were the four winds to “breathe into these slain” (verse 9)?

What happened when Ezekiel prophesied as the Lord commanded (verse 10)?

Who were the bones (verse 11)?

What is Ezekiel to prophesy to Israel (verse 12)?

When will the people of Israel know that the Lord is “the Lord” (verse 13)?

What will the Lord put into the people of Israel (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

Psalm 130 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
²     Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Where is the Psalmist crying from (verse 1)?

What does the Psalmist want the Lord’s ears to be attentive to (verse 2)?

When would no one stand (verse 3)?

Why can we serve the Lord “with reverence” (verse 4)?

Where does the Psalmist’s put his hope (verse 5)?

How does the Psalmist wait (verse 6)?

Why can Israel put their “hope in the Lord” (verse 7)?

What will the Lord redeem Israel from (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

In your opinion, how is the “redemption” of Psalm 130 related to the opening of the Israelite’s  graves in Ezekiel 37:1-14?

John 11:1-(32-45) – New International Version (NIV)

³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴ “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹ “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 

What did Mary say when she saw Jesus (verse 32)?

Why was Jesus moved in spirit and troubled (verse 33)?

What did Jesus do (verse 35)?

What did the Jews say (verse 36)?

What did other Jews say (verse 37)?

How was the tomb described (verse 38)?

Why was Martha afraid to have the stone moved (verse 39)?

What had Jesus said (verse 40)?

Who did Jesus thank for hearing Him (verse 41)?

Who did Jesus want to believe (verse 42)?

What did Jesus call “in a loud voice” (verse 43)?

How did the “dead man” come out (verse 44)?

Who believed (verse 45)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

In your opinion, how is Jesus calling Lazarus to “come out” in John 11:1-(32-45) different from the vision of dry bones coming to  life in Ezekiel 37:1-14?

In your opinion, how does the redemption promised in Psalm 130 align with Jesus’s power to raise from the dead in John 11:1-(32-45)?

Romans 8:6-11 – New International Version (NIV)

⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Which mind “is death” (verse 6)?

What is the “mind governed by the Spirit” (verse 6)?

What cannot “submit to God’s law” (verse 7)?

Who cannot “please God” (verse 8)?

Where are those in whom “the Spirit of God lives” (verse 9)?

What does the Spirit give to those who Christ is in “even though” their body is subject to death (verse 10)?

What will the “Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead” do to the mortal bodies of those He lives in (verse 11)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the life God gives?

In your opinion, how does the prophecy of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14 provide a visual expression of the transformation from spiritually dead to spiritually alive described in Romans 8:6-11?

In your opinion, how does the Lord’s forgiveness in Psalm 130 play a part in the righteousness described in Romans 8:6-11?

In your opinion, how does Jesus weeping in John 11:1-(32-45) lay the foundation for the spiritual life promised in Romans 8:6-11?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ezekiel, Psalms, John, and Romans reveal to us about contrast between the dry bones of the flesh and the life of the Spirit?

In your opinion, where do we see the glory of God today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

March 15, 2026 – Lent – Glimpses through God’s Eyes

Glimpses through God’s Eyes

1 Samuel 16:1-13 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

² But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Where was the Lord sending Samuel (verse 1)?

What did Samuel think Saul would do (verse 2)?

Who was Samuel to anoint (verse 3)?

Why did the elders of Bethlehem tremble (verse 4)?

Who did Samuel consecrate (verse 5)?

Who did Samuel think was the “Lord’s anointed” (verse 6)?

What does the Lord look at (verse 7)?

Why did Samuel ask Jesse “are these all the sons you have” (verses 8-11)?

What was Jesse’s youngest son doing (verse 11)?

How was the youngest son described (verse 12)?

How did the Spirit of the Lord come onto David (verse 13)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what God sees?

Psalm 23 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Who is David’s shepherd (verse 1)?

Where does the Lord lead David (verse 2)?

Why does the Lord guide David “along the right paths” (verse 3)?

What comforts David when he walks through “the darkest valley” (verse 4)?

How does the Lord anoint David (verse 5)?

Where will David dwell (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what God sees?

In your opinion, how does Psalm 23 help us understand how David was changed by the anointing he received in 1 Samuel 16:1-13?

John 9:1-(35-41) – New International Version (NIV)

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

³⁶ “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

³⁷ Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

³⁸ Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

³⁹ Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

⁴⁰ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

⁴¹ Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

What did Jesus ask the man who had been born blind (verse 35?

Why was the man unable to answer Jesus’s question (verse 36)?

What did the man need in order to believe (verse 36)?

In your opinion, why is Jesus’s statement you have now seen him” significant (verse 37)?

What did the man do after he said “I believe” (verse 38)?

Why had Jesus come into the world (verse 39)?

Who will “see” (verse 39)?

Who will “become blind” (verse 39)?

What did the Pharisees ask (verse 40)?

Why did Jesus say that the Pharisees “guilt remains” (verse 41)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what God sees?

In your opinion, how does Jesus’s interaction with the man born blind in John 9:1-(35-41) prove again the statement of God to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:1-13 that “the Lord does not look at the things that people look at”?

In your opinion, how might the worship of the man born blind in John 9:1-(35-41) been similar to David’s worship in Psalm 23?

Ephesians 5:8-14 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

What were God’s holy people in Ephesus “once” (verse 8)?

What does the “fruit of the light” consist in (verse 9)?

How should “fruitless deeds of darkness” be treated (verse 11)?

What is shameful (verse 12)?

How does “everything that is illuminated” change (verse 13)?

What is the sleeper to “wake up” and do (verse 14)?

What will Christ do for the sleeper who wakes up (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about what God sees?

In your opinion, how would David’s experience in being anointed in 1 Samuel 16:1-13 have been like the Christian in Ephesians 5:8-14 who Paul tells to “wake up, sleeper”?

In your opinion, how does Psalm 23 provide guidance for the Christian of Ephesians 5:8-14 who is looking for guidance in living as a child “of the light”?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion of light and darkness in Ephesians 5:8-14 help us understand Jesus’s discussion of those who are blind and those who see in John 9:1-(35-41)?

In your opinion, what do these passages from 1 Samuel, Psalms, John, and Ephesians reveal to us about dwelling “in the house of the Lord”?

In your opinion, how can we live as “children of light” today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)