Curated Reading for March 29 – April 4
Sermon Series: Holy Week Week 1Sermon Title: Palm Sunday delivered on March 29, 2026
View Sermon Notes →
Day 1 READ: Cleansing the Temple
Matthew 21:12-19, Mark 11:12-18, John 12:20-50
Focus: Jesus clears the temple and curses the fig tree.
What was Jesus so angry about? How did the people/sellers respond to Jesus exercising authority? What does this say about the importance of worship, prayer, and freedom for all people to come to Him?
Day 1 PRAY: Ask God to show you any areas in your life where you need His spiritual cleansing (unconfessed sin, wrong attitudes, harmful habits or behaviors). Confess these to Him and ask for His forgiveness. Thank Him for His Word and the work of His Spirit to both illuminate these areas for you and to give you the strength to change.
Day 2 READ: Teaching and Authority
Matthew 21:23-23:39, Mark 11:19-25
Focus: How did the religious leaders respond to Jesus exercising authority?
What does this say about the dangers of hardened hearts and religious hypocrisy? What was the main point of the parables Jesus shared?
Day 2 PRAY: Ask God to show you any area of your life that might not be fully submitted to Jesus and His authority over your life (relationships/career/hobbies, etc.) Acknowledge this to Him and submit it to Him. Thank Him for His love for you and for leading you in every aspect of your life.
Day 3 READ: The Plot to Betray
Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11
Focus: Judas agrees to betray Jesus; Jesus is anointed at Bethany.
Notice the contrast of hatred for Jesus by one of His disciples (Judas) and the religious leaders with the wholehearted devotion of a woman? How does this reflect our hearts before receiving Christ and after coming to the cross and receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior? How should these two examples both warn us and also encourage us to cling to, trust in, and embrace Jesus?
Day 3 PRAY: Thank God for His love for you and thank Jesus for willingly offering His life for you. Ask Him to show you how you can worship Him and express greater devotion, adoration, and gratitude for Him daily. Write down what He reveals to you and share with a trusted friend/family member.
Day 4 READ: The Last Supper & Gethsemane
Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-53 Bonus: John 13-17
Focus: The Last Supper, Garden of Gethsemane, and Arrest
How did Jesus demonstrate humility during the Last Supper? What is a modern-day example of foot washing? What was Jesus main point in washing His disciples feet? What strikes you about Jesus’ prayer in the Garden? How does His example of humble service and passionate prayer inspire you to grow more like Him?
Day 4 PRAY: Ask God who you can serve and how you can serve with greater intentionality this week. Take the necessary steps to follow through on what He reveals to you. Take some time today to spend in solitude and silence as you reflect on the magnitude of Jesus’ actions on this day: washing His disciples' feet, praying for and with His disciples, agonizing in the Garden, and facing the betrayal of one of His closest friends.
Day 5 READ: Crucifixion and Burial
Matthew 27:1-61, Isaiah 53
Focus: False Trials, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial
How did Jesus and His death on the cross fulfill the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53? Write down specific examples.
Day 5 PRAY: Thank Jesus for His unwavering faithfulness to incur the most despicable treatment, most gruelling physical torture, and unimaginable emotional, mental, and spiritual anguish as He bore the full weight of our sin and the Father’s wrath. If there is an area in your life that is holding you back from fully trusting Him, release it to Him. If there is any unconfessed sin, confess it to Him and ask for His forgiveness.
Memorize and Reflect
Isaiah 53:10-11
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.