Mar 29 / Jon Collier

Cheers to the Cross

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Palm Sunday looks like pure celebration. Picture the dusty road into Jerusalem. Crowds press in, waving palm branches like victory flags. Cloaks carpet the ground. Voices rise in a thunderous chorus: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” A humble donkey carries Jesus forward, and for one electric moment, hope feels unstoppable. People are cheering a king they believe will finally fix everything—overthrow Rome, end their oppression, deliver the life they’ve been waiting for.

Five days later, the same energy evaporates. The cheers turn to silence or worse—“Crucify him!” The celebration collapses under the weight of unmet expectations. Jesus didn’t ride in on a warhorse. He didn’t seize power. He headed straight toward the cross.

This is the danger of surface-level welcome. It feels exciting in the moment, but it can’t survive real life. And if we’re honest, many of us experience the same pattern in church today. We show up for the worship high, the community buzz, the Sunday “Hosanna” moment. Then life gets real—demands pile up, hurts surface, and we drift. Burnout sets in from constant serving. Boredom creeps when our gifts sit unused. The excitement fades, and quietly, without fanfare, we start to disengage.

At Unquittable Church, we exist for exactly these moments. We bring healing for the broken, rest for the burnt out, and purpose for the bored—because Jesus invites us beyond crowd-level enthusiasm into something deeper, more committed, and soul-sustaining.

The Biblical Story: A King Who Came Differently

Let’s slow down and look at the story again through fresh eyes. In Matthew 21, Jesus sends two disciples ahead: “Go into the village opposite you, and you will find a donkey tied there… Untie them and bring them to me.” This isn’t random. It fulfills Zechariah 9:9—“See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.” The crowds missed the “lowly” part. They wanted a warrior Messiah to conquer their enemies. Instead, they got a humble king whose victory would come through sacrifice.

As the Bible Project explores in their work on the Gospels, this was a royal announcement of God’s Kingdom breaking in—but in a completely upside-down way. No military parade. No power grab. Just steady, purposeful movement toward the cross. Jesus knew the cheers were shallow. He kept walking anyway, clearing the temple, teaching hard truths, washing feet, and ultimately giving His life. The same voices that shouted “Hosanna!” scattered or turned when the path led through suffering.

That shift wasn’t a surprise to Jesus. He came for the long haul—for people who would follow Him not just when it felt good, but when it required everything.
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The Danger Today: When the High Fades

Fast-forward to our Sunday mornings. The lights dim, the music swells, hands go up, and for ninety minutes it feels electric. We leave feeling seen, pumped, connected. Then Monday hits. The volunteer rotation calls again. The leadership meeting runs long. Your family needs you. Your own soul feels empty. Or maybe you’ve been showing up for years, but your passion for teaching kids, leading worship, or serving the community sits on the sidelines while others carry the load. Boredom sets in. The “Hosanna” feeling disappears, and you start wondering why you even bother.

Recent data from the Pew Research Center shows the result. Only about one-third of U.S. adults now attend religious services in person at least monthly. Far more—two-thirds—go a few times a year or less, with many describing themselves as spiritual but disconnected from organized faith. The gradual drift is real. People don’t usually storm out in anger. They simply stop showing up when the surface excitement no longer masks the exhaustion or emptiness underneath.

This is the danger of surface-level welcome. It creates a church experience built on vibes and programs rather than rooted relationship. When expectations crash—when God doesn’t fix things on our timeline, when serving drains more than it fills, when our voices and gifts go unheard—we quietly walk away. Brokenness grows in the silence. Burnout follows constant giving without boundaries. Boredom thrives when passion stays buried.

Jesus Invites Us Deeper

But here’s the good news: Jesus never settled for surface-level. He modeled a better way. He entered Jerusalem humbly, not to impress the crowds but to accomplish the Father’s mission. He served without depletion. He rested in obedience to the Father’s rhythm. And He invites us to the same soul-deep following.

Remember His words in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This is the King we’re following—the One who carries our burdens instead of adding to them. The One whose Kingdom brings true freedom through surrender, not striving.

This invitation directly addresses our pain points. For the burnt out, He offers rest as obedience, not laziness. For the bored, He calls us to discover how our unique gifts fit into His story. For the broken, He creates space to be truly seen and heard.

Practical Steps: Monitoring Workload and Giving Rest

So how do we move from cheers to committed following in our churches and lives? It starts with two of the 6 Unquittable Actions that keep us rooted and renewed.

Monitor Workload. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it creeps in when leaders and members give beyond healthy limits. Jesus never ran on empty to please the crowds. He withdrew to pray. He set boundaries. In our communities, this looks like regular, honest check-ins. “How’s your heart? Are you serving from overflow or exhaustion?” It means creating space to say no without guilt. Leaders, this is on us: track who’s carrying what. Make adjustments before people break. When we monitor workload, we prevent the slow drift that turns “Hosanna” into silent exit.

Give Rest. Rest is not optional—it’s God’s design. The same Jesus who rode the donkey into Jerusalem also modeled Sabbath rhythms. He slept in the boat during storms. He invited His disciples to come away and rest. In a culture that glorifies hustle, giving rest means building rhythms of renewal into church life: actual days off, no-guilt sabbaticals for leaders, seasons where people step back without shame. It’s obedience that allows us to serve joyfully instead of resentfully. When we give rest, burnout loses its grip and purpose returns.

From Cheers Through the Cross to Unshakable Hope

Palm Sunday reminds us that surface-level welcome will always fail. The crowds wanted a quick fix. Jesus offered something better: a King who walks with us through the cross to resurrection. The same power that raised Him can raise us from burnout, boredom, and brokenness.
This Holy Week, don’t just wave the palm branches. Welcome Jesus on His terms—humble, purposeful, rest-giving. If you’ve been drifting, feeling the excitement fade, or carrying more than your soul can hold, you don’t have to walk alone. Here, in this community committed to the 6 Unquittable Actions, you’ll find people who listen, who create space for rest, who help you rediscover purpose.

Jesus is still inviting: “Come to me… and you will find rest for your souls.” Let’s follow Him past the cheers, through the cross, and into the life He died to give us. Healing, rest, and purpose aren’t just nice ideas—they’re waiting when we choose depth over surface.

You don’t have to quit. You can become unquittable—not by your own strength, but by rooting yourself in the unshakable love of Christ.

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Discussion Questions

Question 1
The crowds shouted “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday with huge excitement, but many turned away when Jesus didn’t meet their expectations. What “Hosanna” moments have you had in church—maybe a worship high, a season of serving, or a sense of belonging—that later faded into disappointment, burnout, or boredom? What expectations were you placing on Jesus or the church that needed re-aligning?

Question 2
Jesus never ran on empty to please the crowds—He withdrew, prayed, and honored healthy limits. The article calls us to Monitor Workload so serving stays joyful instead of crushing. On a scale of 1–10, how full is your plate right now (at church, work, or home)? What’s one small change you or our group could make this week to protect people from the slow drift that turns “Hosanna” into quiet goodbye?

Question 3
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The article reminds us that rest isn’t laziness—it’s obedience. What would practicing the Unquittable Action Give Rest look like for you personally right now? How can we build a community where people feel safe to rest without guilt, still stay deeply engaged, and rediscover their God-given passion and purpose?

Leader Tip
Start with Actively Listen—give everyone space before jumping in. Then Encourage Speaking so no one carries their story alone. These questions naturally open the door for Discover Passion and Allow Engagement too.

5‑Day Devotional

This short devotional walks you through the heart of the article “From Cheers to the Cross.” Each day takes 5–7 minutes and is written for anyone feeling broken, burnt out, or bored with church. We’ll move from the loud “Hosanna!” of Palm Sunday to the quiet invitation of a King who offers real healing, rest, and purpose.

Grab your Bible (or the Bible Project app), a journal, and a quiet moment. Let Jesus meet you right where you are.

Day 1: The Loud Cheers
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’”

Reflection
Palm Sunday felt electric—palms waving, voices shouting. The crowds welcomed Jesus with surface-level excitement, expecting a quick-fix king. The Bible reminds us Zechariah 9:9 promised a “lowly” king on a donkey, not a warhorse. But most missed it.

Unquittable Action – Actively Listen
Today, slow down and listen to your own heart. What “Hosanna” expectations have you brought to church lately?

Practice
Write one expectation you’ve placed on Jesus or church. Be honest.

Prayer
Jesus, I’ve cheered for You before. Help me see You as You really are. Amen.

Day 2: When the Cheers Fade
Scripture – Matthew 21:10-11 (and the road to the cross)
“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds answered, ‘This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.’”

Reflection
Five days later the cheers turned to silence or “Crucify!” Surface welcome can’t survive real life. Burnout creeps in when we keep giving. Boredom settles when our gifts stay on the shelf. The article nails it: “The danger of surface-level welcome is that it feels exciting… but it can’t survive real life.”

Unquittable Action – Encourage Speaking
Tell one safe person (or journal) how you’re really doing right now—broken, burnt out, or bored?

Practice
Text a friend: “Hey, reading this devotional and feeling ___ about church lately. Pray for me?”

Prayer
Lord, I’m tired of pretending everything’s fine. Give me courage to speak honestly. Amen.

Day 3: Jesus Never Ran on Empty
Scripture – Mark 6:31
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Reflection
Jesus modeled healthy limits. He withdrew to pray. He didn’t hustle to impress crowds. This Palm Sunday we’re reminded: burnout happens when we give beyond healthy limits. That’s why we Monitor Workload—one of the 6 Unquittable Actions.

Unquittable Action – Monitor Workload
Look at your calendar this week. Where are you over-giving?

Practice
Cross off or reschedule ONE thing. Say it out loud: “I’m protecting my soul.”

Prayer
Jesus, You served without burning out. Teach me to follow Your pace, not the crowd’s. Amen.

Day 4: The Invitation to Rest
Scripture – Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls.”

Reflection
The Bible shows Jesus fulfills the Sabbath promise—rest isn’t laziness, it’s obedience. The same King who rode the donkey gently still offers soul-rest to the burnt out and bored. Give Rest isn’t optional; it’s how we stay unquittable.

Unquittable Action – Give Rest
Block 30 minutes today with zero agenda. No phone. Just be.

Practice
Sit outside or in silence and whisper, “I receive Your rest, Jesus.”

Prayer
Gentle King, I’m laying down my hustle. Give me the rest my soul craves. Amen.

Day 5: Following Deeper
Scripture – Matthew 21:9 + Matthew 11:29
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” … “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.”

Reflection
The crowds wanted a quick king. Jesus offered a cross, a yoke, and resurrection life. Surface cheers fade, but committed following lasts. When we combine the 6 Unquittable Actions—listening, speaking, monitoring workload, giving rest, discovering passion, and allowing engagement—church stops being a show and becomes home.

Unquittable Action – Discover Passion + Allow Engagement
Ask God: “What gift have You given me that the church needs?” Then take one small step to use it.

Practice
Explore the additional resources at Unquittable Church and see what might be a good next step for you.

Prayer
Jesus, I choose You past the cheers and through the cross. Make me unquittable in Your love. Amen.

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