Necessary Cleansing for Exuberant Praise
Sermon Notes
Mark 11:1-25
Jesus makes _____________ and then ____________ Jerusalem.
“Hosanna” is a Hebrew word which mixes ______________ praise to God with the prayer that God will _____________ his people. It means, “___________ __________!”

Reflection Question #1:

Commitment #2a – We will meet together to share in ___________ _________ worship as we ____________ God and ___________ Him for all He is doing!

The first entrance into the Temple, Jesus looks around and then _____________ (V. 11)

Cursing the fig tree and cleansing the temple is another ______________ _______________.

The Fig Tree is a ___________ parable (V. 12-14; 20-21) indicating the meaning of what Jesus was going to do in the _______________ (V. 15-17), and of the _____________destruction (13:2).

Reflection Question #2:

Reflection Question #3:

What _____________ are ____________ in order for you to offer _______________ praise to God?

Connect Group Handout – 3/17/19
Necessary Cleansing for Exuberant Praise

Main Text
1. Read Mark 11:1-25 – What are some thoughts or questions that come to mind when reading this text?
2. Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem this way?
3. Why were the crowds receiving Him, praising Him, and shouting Hosanna? What do you think they were thinking? What were they expecting?
4. What does Hosanna mean?
5. What is “exuberant” praise? How is that connected with this triumphal entry?

The Fig Tree, The Temple, and You
6. Why does Jesus initially enter the temple, look around, and then leave? (V. 11)
7. What does the fig tree have to do with the temple?
8. What would you think/feel if you were in the crowd witnessing Jesus clear the Temple out? (examples: shock, fear, panic, excitement, or what?)
9. What would you think/feel if you were working in the Temple and then were suddenly cleared out by Jesus? (examples: mad, irritated, embarrassed, or what?)
10. What do you learn about the nature of Jesus through this forceful Temple cleansing? (example: not an anger outburst but a strategic point to make, controlled strength, etc.)
11. What does Jesus mean by the short teaching on prayer? (V. 22-25). How were prayer and the Temple connected in the ancient world?

Personal Reflection
12. What does Paul say about our bodies and the Temple? (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
13. If Jesus needed to cleanse your Temple, what do you think would need to change?
14. Read Mark 7:21, 22 – what goes on inside of a person that can defile him or her?
15. How can these things prevent us from truly worshipping?
16. What does asking for forgiveness have to do with receiving forgiveness?

Pray Together as a group…

Extra Texts on the Temple:
Matthew 12:6; 21:12-17; 24:1-2; 26:61; 27:39-40; 50-52
Mark 11:12-21; 13:1-2; 14:57-59; 15:29-30; 37-38
Luke 2:22-38; 41-50; 19:45-48; 20:1-8; 21:1-4; 21:5-6; 22:53
John 2:13-22; 4:21; 7:28; 8:19-20; 58-59; 10:22-24; 11:48; 11:56-57; 18:20