1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 

2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 

3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 

4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 

5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. 

John 12:12-15

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 

13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 

14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; 

behold, your king is coming, 

sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 

Important Thought:

God is not just concerned with your response to Him… He is concerned with your remaining in Him.

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

Luke 19:41-44

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 

42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 

43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 

44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Important Thoughts:

You can be surrounded by praise… and still be burdened by reality.

• Who am I still carrying in my heart before God when I’m not around them?
• Do I have a shepherd’s heart—or do I function with a spectator’s awareness?

Crucify Him

John 19:14-16

14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 

15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 

16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

Important Thoughts:

Not all faith that starts… lasts.

• What has affliction revealed about the strength of my faith?
• Do I pursue spiritual accountability—or avoid it?

Luke 4:13

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. 

Important Thoughts:

The enemy doesn’t just oppose your faith— he tries to outlast it.

• What voices or influences may be quietly pulling me away from truth?
• Am I actively guarding my faith—or assuming it will guard itself?

2 Timothy 1:6-7

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 Timothy 4:12

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 5:23

23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

Important Thoughts:

God uses people who are faithful— not people who are fearless.

• What insecurities or weaknesses have I used as excuses to avoid being used by God?
• Am I waiting to be perfect—or willing to be faithful?

THE REAL MEASURE OF IMPACT: The Gospel has had to have some kind of impact on you that it doesn’t just motivate you when you gather at church— it is meant to go beyond a moment. 

Palm Sunday teaches us something sobering:

• You can wave branches… and still walk away.
• You can shout “Hosanna”… and still fall away.
• You can be emotionally moved… and spiritually unchanged.

Important Thoughts:

• How am I walking with God when no one is watching?
• Am I living a faith that can stand on its own?

A SHEPHERD’S HEART: THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE...

What does it look like to have a Shepherd’s heart?

You NOTICE People (Intentional Awareness)

Shepherds don’t wait for problems—they notice patterns.

You INITIATE Contact (Not Passive Faith)

Shepherds don’t just respond—they reach.

You ENCOURAGE with Scripture (Not Just Opinions)

Encouragement that isn’t rooted in truth won’t last.

You PRAY WITH People (Not Just FOR Them)

(You pray on the spot)

Shepherds don’t outsource prayer—they step into it.

You WALK WITH People Through HARD SEASONS

Presence is often more powerful than words.

You SPEAK TRUTH in LOVE (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)

Real love doesn’t avoid hard conversations—it leans into them.

You HELP PEOPLE TAKE NEXT STEPS

Shepherds don’t just care—they lead forward.

You MODEL A CONSISTENT WALK WITH GOD

People are discipled more by what you do than what you say.

You CELEBRATE GROWTH (Not Just CORRECT FAILURE)

What gets celebrated gets repeated.

You STAY CONNECTED OVER TIME (Not One-Time Care)

Shepherding isn’t a moment—it’s a commitment.

Important Thought:

Let’s not be a church that just gathers crowds— Let’s be a church that shepherds people.