Intro:

• Big News about Puerto Rico
• Next week is EASTER - Make sure you see the schedule 

Sermon Intro: The Crowd of Testimony

• This week is Palm Sunday.
• Tell the buildup 
• Luke 9 records his decision to go Jerusalem
• Some notable stories along the way
  • The blessing of the children
  • The healing of Bartimaeus 
  • The redeeming of Zacchaeus 
  • The rich young ruler
• When he gets close to Jerusalem, he is being crowded by all of those whose lives he had changed. 

Passage:

Luke 19:34–40 (NLT) — 34 And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 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. 38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Going to see the Tigers march on game day! 

Jesus’ entry was a large gathering of people whose lives were changed. 

What is a testimony?

I ONCE WAS __________, BUT NOW I’M _______________

Christianity is a crowd of testimony. It’s a group of people whose lives have been changed by one person, Jesus. 

Heaven will only be filled with people who have the testimony of what Jesus has done! 

Revelation 5:8–10 (NLT) — 8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

1. I once was LOST, but now I’m FOUND
   1. Zacchaeus was in the crowd that day. 
      1. He was a despised tax collector. He had lost his way. 
      2. Imagine him in the crowd yelling “Hosanna, hosanna.”
   2. John Newton - author of Amazing Grace
   3. Mauro Prosperi - italian ultra-marathon runner
2. I once was BOUND, but now I’m FREE
   1. I wonder if the maniac was present that day
      1. Many demons - legion
   2. I wonder if the boy that through himself in a fire was present that day
   3. Story of Roger Bower
   4. Jesus sets the captives free
3. I once was SICK, but now I’m HEALED
   1. Lepers were in the crowd that day
      1. They couldn’t go in a crowd before, but now they were cleansed.
   2. One of Jesus’ defining acts was healing. He would heal ALL
   3. Story of Christine Henderson
4. I once was PURPOSELESS, but now I’m CALLED
   1. Nathaniel was there, a man of integrity but no purpose. 
   2. Jesus gives us hope, purpose, meaning 
   3. Story of Jordan

Let’s talk about YOU

• What’s your testimony? 
  • I once was _____________, but now I’m _________________

The value of speaking out - 

• Psalm 107:2 (NLT) — 2 Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
• Psalm 105:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. 2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
• Psalm 66:16 (NLT) — 16 Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.
• Psalm 40:10 (NLT) — 10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
• 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Encouragement about Easter

Closing:

• One day in heaven, every single person will have a testimony!