06/06/2026
Have you ever felt tied up, waiting for something more? Maybe you feel like you are in one place, and you know you are meant for something else, but you aren't sure how to get there. It’s a common feeling, like being stuck in a routine or waiting for a purpose to become clear. In the Bible, we often see God using unexpected people and things to accomplish his plan. We might feel ordinary, but God has a special purpose for each of us, right where we are.
This Sunday night, June 7th, 2026, kicks off our Vacation Bible School at Holly Hill, and we're diving into the story of Moses to learn about developing faith warriors. The theme is: God chooses me, God equips me, and God uses me.
When we think about being useful, it's funny, but there are few animals in the Bible that fit the bill better than a donkey. In the ancient world, donkeys were paradoxical. They were humble work animals, but also a sign of royal status and wealth. It’s interesting, too, that a lot of donkeys have a dark cross-shaped marking on their backs, a line down the spine and another across the shoulders. Maybe it’s a coincidence, maybe not, but Jesus did tell us in Mark 8:34 to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him." Are we like donkeys?
Donkeys show up around 140 times in Scripture, often at major turning points in God’s plan. Abraham saddles his donkey on the way to offer Isaac, a turning point in which he chose faith. Balaam's life is saved by his talking donkey, turning a curse into a blessing.
This Sunday morning, we're going to look at another one of those turning points: Jesus riding a donkey's c**t into Jerusalem in Matthew 21:1-11. We’re going to notice how that little c**t was chosen and used by Jesus to accomplish God’s plan, and we'll compare ourselves to that donkey.
Jesus had a plan for that c**t, even when it was tied up. He knew exactly where it was. God has a plan for us, too. He knows exactly where we are. The c**t was set untied only by the authority and command of Jesus. The same is true for us. Jesus expected opposition when his disciples went to untie it. We should expect opposition when we are untied from the world to follow Him. The answer to the opposition was simple: "The Lord has need of them." And ultimately, the donkey's c**t was covered by Jesus, and its whole purpose was to bring glory to Him as He entered the heart of the Israelite nation, Jerusalem.
We’ll explore these lessons and more this Sunday as we ask ourselves, "How can I humble myself like this donkey's c**t and be useful to Jesus?” How can we truly live out the words, "God chooses me. God equips me. And God uses me"?
We look forward to seeing you this upcoming Sunday, June 7th for Bible class at 10 a.m. and our worship service and this lesson at 11 a.m.!
