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Supersize My Commitment to God

Supersize My Commitment to God

Last updated on: October 26, 2026 at 9:57 pm by Jim Erwin

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Supersize My Commitment to God 2026-10-26T21:57:34-05:00 Jim Erwin

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Jesus rides a donkey toward Jerusalem, illustrating wholehearted commitment to God.

Matthew 21:1–11
Deepen your commitment to God by following Jesus with trust, obedience, and love. This Palm Sunday sermon explores five circles of commitment, from personal faith to our shared mission in the community.

Introduction: Palm Sunday and Passover

Palm Sunday begins Holy Week by remembering Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Matthew 21:1–11 places us on the road with a humble King whose mission calls for more than a cheering crowd: it calls for committed disciples.

Jesus enters Jerusalem in the setting of Passover, the celebration of God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

Passover: God’s rescue mission to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt, remembered year after year as God’s faithfulness.

Palm Sunday: God’s ultimate rescue mission, as Jesus enters Jerusalem to deliver us from the slavery of sin.

Both events are about freedom and sacrifice. Together, they call us to a deeper commitment to God.

The question before us is simple but profound:

Will you supersize your commitment to God this week?

Dr. Oscar Thompson wrote about “concentric circles of concern” — the gospel spreads from the inside out. Like ripples from a stone thrown in water, it starts with Jesus at the center and moves outward.

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, He shows us these Five Circles of Commitment — let’s take a journey through them.

1. Christ — The Model of Perfect Commitment (Matthew 21:1–5)

“When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, telling them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there with her colt. Untie them and bring them to Me.’” (Matthew 21:1–2)

Jesus begins His journey to the cross fully committed. He sends His disciples for a donkey — not a warhorse, not a chariot, but a humble animal of peace.

This fulfills prophecy:

“Tell Daughter Zion, ‘Look, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey.’” (Matthew 21:5)

Palm Sunday is the visible sign of His invisible commitment.

And it’s no accident that this happens during Passover. At Passover, every family selected a lamb to be sacrificed. Now, God is presenting His Lamb, Jesus, to take away the sins of the world.

Illustration: Imagine a soldier going into battle knowing he won’t return — yet he goes willingly for the sake of his people. Jesus marches into Jerusalem, knowing the cross awaits. His love is not hesitant; it is wholehearted.

Reflection: Am I following Christ’s example of full commitment, or am I holding back parts of my life from God?

2. Christian — Trust, Believe, and Obey (Matthew 21:1–6)

“Jesus then sent two disciples…” (Matthew 21:1)

The disciples didn’t argue. They didn’t delay. Jesus gave them a strange command — go into town, find a donkey, untie it, and bring it.

And they obeyed.

“If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.” (Matthew 21:3)

Their response models three essentials of discipleship:

Trust Jesus’ instructions. (v. 1–3)

Believe God’s Word about Jesus. (v. 4–5)

Obey without hesitation. (v. 6)

“The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them.” (Matthew 21:6)

Illustration: Think about assembling IKEA furniture. You have the manual, but you’re tempted to skip steps because you “think you know better.” Later, you realize you missed something critical. Discipleship is like that — following Jesus requires full obedience, even when the steps seem unclear or inconvenient.

Reflection: Am I truly trusting Jesus daily, or am I editing His instructions to fit my preferences?

3. Church — The Power of Collective Commitment (Matthew 21:6–7)

“The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them.” (Matthew 21:6–7)

The disciples didn’t work alone. They worked together, fulfilling Jesus’ instructions as a team.

The church is like that — the body of Christ, a collection of disciples working together for God’s glory.

During the early pandemic, we learned a lesson: the church is not the building — it’s the people. Whether online or in-person, the church moves forward when believers unite in mission.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

Illustration: Have you ever watched a rowing team? If one person is out of sync, the boat veers off course. But when everyone rows together, they glide powerfully through the water. The church is at its best when every disciple is rowing in the same direction.

Reflection: Am I actively rowing with the church, or am I drifting along for the ride?

4. Crowd — Move Beyond Enthusiasm (Matthew 21:8–9)

“A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.” (Matthew 21:8)

“Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:9)

The crowd cheers loudly on Palm Sunday. They recognize Jesus’ potential as King, but they misunderstand His purpose.

The cheers in this scene stand in sharp contrast to the cries for crucifixion later in Matthew’s account (Matthew 27:20–23). Matthew does not establish that these were the same people. The contrast still asks us an important question: will our devotion last when following Jesus becomes costly?

The crowd represents those who are curious but not committed.

Illustration: It’s like fans at a sporting event. When the home team is winning, they cheer wildly. But when the team falls behind, they boo and leave early. Crowds are enthusiastic but unstable. They follow the excitement, not the truth.

Our mission is to help people move from the crowd to true discipleship.

Reflection: Am I content to stay in the crowd, or will I take the next step toward commitment?

5. Community — Help Others Know Jesus (Matthew 21:10–11)

“When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (Matthew 21:10)

Jerusalem feels the rumble of Jesus’ arrival. The community is stirred but uncertain.

They see the movement but don’t understand the meaning.

Our world is full of people like this — they see glimpses of God’s work but don’t yet know His heart.

Illustration: It’s like hearing a fire alarm in a building. People hear the sound, they feel the urgency, but they’re not sure where to go. Someone needs to guide them to safety.

That someone is you.

Reflection: Am I helping my community understand who Jesus is and why He matters?

Conclusion: Supersize Your Commitment to God

When you order fast food, they ask: “Do you want to supersize that?” They’re offering you more — more fries, more drink, more satisfaction (at least temporarily!).

God is offering you something far better.

Deeper commitment begins with responding to God’s grace through trust, obedience, and love. It is not a bargain for greater comfort or success; it is a willingness to follow Jesus wherever He leads.

As we reflect on Palm Sunday and the Passover setting of Jesus’ entry, consider this question:

Will you supersize your commitment?

From Christ at the center, deepen your devotion.

As a Christian, live with trust, belief, and obedience.

As part of the Church, row together in mission.

Reach out to the curious Crowd.

Guide your confused Community.

Final Call: Don’t settle for spiritual fast food. Instead, let your faith, obedience, and love grow as you follow Jesus.

This is the Palm Sunday challenge we can live out every day.

Amen.

Questions About Commitment to God

What does Palm Sunday teach us about commitment?

Matthew 21:1–11 presents Jesus as the humble King and shows His disciples responding to His instructions. The passage invites us to move beyond admiration toward trust, obedience, and a clearer understanding of who Jesus is.

What are the five circles of commitment in this sermon?

They are Christ, the Christian disciple, the church, the crowd, and the community. These circles are an application framework for reflecting on personal devotion, shared mission, and witness to others.

Related Sermons

Road Signs to the Cross: A Journey to See Jesus — Follow Christ through surrender and faithful service.
The 5 Stages of Personal Discipleship — Explore growth as a follower of Jesus.
Matthew 21:1–11 My Commitment to God — Read an earlier reflection on the same passage and commitment theme.

Image is from OpenAI.

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