The Vertically Challenged Tax Collector’s Big Day. Extreme Tree Climbing: The Unconventional Path to Salvation.
Section 1. Welcome and Announcements
Hey everyone, it’s so good to see all of you here today! It’s always a joy to gather together as a church family and share in God’s love and grace. We have a few exciting things coming up that I want to make sure you’re aware of.
- Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Collection: Don’t forget to pick up a shoebox to fill with gifts for children in need around the world! Drop-off deadline is November 24th. Let’s spread some Christmas joy!
- Senior Ministry Thanksgiving Luncheon: Our senior adults are hosting a Thanksgiving luncheon on November 18th at noon. If you’d like to volunteer to help or contribute a dish, please sign up at the welcome center.
- Financial Peace University: Take control of your finances with our upcoming Financial Peace University class, starting November 5th. Learn practical steps to get out of debt, save for the future, and give generously.
- Christmas Caroling: Get into the Christmas spirit by joining us for Christmas caroling at the local nursing home on December 15th. It’s a wonderful way to brighten someone’s day!
Section 2. Call to Worship
Let’s turn our hearts and minds to God as we prepare to worship Him today. We’ll be focusing on Luke 19:1-10. As we read this passage, let’s consider how Jesus seeks out those who are often overlooked and how He transforms lives.
Section 3. Opening Prayer
Dear Lord, we come before you today with open hearts, ready to receive your word and your love. We ask that you would speak to us through the scriptures, through the music, and through the fellowship of believers. Help us to draw closer to you and to become more like Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen.
Section 4. Praise and Worship
Let’s lift our voices together in praise! Our worship team has prepared a set of songs that will help us focus on God’s goodness and express our love for Him. As we sing, let’s remember that worship is not just something we do on Sundays, but a way of life.
Section 5. Scripture Reading
Today, we’re going to explore a powerful story from the Gospel of Luke. It’s the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who had an encounter with Jesus that changed his life forever. This story reminds us that Jesus is always seeking us, even when we feel lost or unworthy. It teaches us that no one is beyond His reach and that true repentance leads to transformation.
In this passage, Jesus passes through Jericho, where a wealthy tax collector named Zacchaeus, known for his dishonesty, seeks to see Jesus but is hindered by the crowd due to his short stature. He climbs a sycamore-fig tree to get a better view. Jesus notices him, calls him down, and announces that He will stay at Zacchaeus’ house. This causes grumbling among the people, but Zacchaeus declares that he will give half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times what he has cheated. Jesus affirms that salvation has come to his house, for Zacchaeus is a son of Abraham, and states His purpose: to seek and save the lost.
Here’s Luke 19:1-10:
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus Reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately! I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at one and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Section 6. Pastoral Prayer or Intercessory Prayer
Let’s bow our heads and lift our hearts in prayer, thinking about the story of Zacchaeus and how Jesus reached out to him with love and compassion.
Lord, we thank you for your example of reaching out to those who are often overlooked and rejected by society. We pray for those who feel lost, unworthy, or separated from you. Help them to know that you love them and that you are seeking them out. Give us hearts of compassion, that we may be instruments of your love and grace to those around us. Help us to see others as you see them, with eyes of love and acceptance. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Congregational Prayer Response: Lord, help us to be instruments of your love and grace, seeking out the lost and bringing them to you.
Section 7. Offering
As we prepare to give our tithes and offerings, let’s remember that giving is an act of worship. It’s a way of expressing our gratitude to God for all that He has given us, and it’s an opportunity to support the work of His church in our community and around the world.
Father, we thank you for the blessings you have poured out upon us. We offer these gifts as an expression of our love and devotion. Use them to further your kingdom, to reach those in need, and to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Section 8. Special Music
Now, we have a special treat for you. Our choir has prepared a beautiful piece of music to lift our spirits and draw us closer to God. Let’s give them our full attention as they share their gifts with us.
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Section 9. Complimentary Bible Study!
Feel Overlooked? Discover How Jesus Seeks YOU (Like He Did Zacchaeus!)
Hey everyone! Ever felt like you were on the outside looking in? Like you were too short, too flawed, too something to really connect with God? You’re not the only one!
I remember when I first felt called to ministry. I had so many doubts. I wasn’t a perfect person. I had made a lot of mistakes in my life. I wondered if God could really use someone like me.
Then I read the story of Zacchaeus. Here was a guy who was a tax collector, which meant he was basically a cheat. He was disliked by everyone. Yet, Jesus sought him out, called him by name, and invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ home!
That story gave me so much hope. It showed me that God doesn’t care about our past. He cares about our hearts. He’s always seeking us, even when we feel unworthy.
I want you to experience that same hope and assurance. That’s why I’m giving away this Bible Study based on Luke 19:1-10.
In this study, we’ll explore:
- How Jesus seeks out the lost.
- The power of transformation.
- What it means to repent and follow Jesus.
- How to experience God’s grace, no matter your past.
Download or print your Bible Study and outline today and discover how much Jesus cares about you!
Section 10. Bible Study and Sermon Outline
Sermon Title: “Climbing the Tree: Encountering Jesus and Transforming Your Life”
Hey everyone! This is a powerful Bible Study and Sermon Outline based on Luke 19:1-10!
- I. Zacchaeus’s Desire (Luke 19:1-4)
- Verses 1-4: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through…
- Explanation: Zacchaeus, a wealthy and despised tax collector, longs to see Jesus. Because he is short, he climbs a sycamore tree to get a better view. This highlights his initiative and determination to encounter Jesus, despite the obstacles.
- II. Jesus’s Invitation (Luke 19:5-6)
- Verses 5-6: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him…
- Explanation: Jesus sees Zacchaeus in the tree and calls him down by name, inviting Himself to Zacchaeus’ home. This demonstrates Jesus’s intentionality in seeking out the marginalized and offering them fellowship.
- III. The Murmuring and Zacchaeus’s Response (Luke 19:7-8)
- Verses 7-8: All the people saw this and began to mutter…
- Explanation: The crowd grumbles about Jesus going to the home of a sinner. Zacchaeus, however, declares that he will give half his possessions to the poor and repay four times the amount he had cheated. This shows his genuine repentance and transformation.
- IV. Salvation Declared (Luke 19:9-10)
- Verses 9-10: Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…
- Explanation: Jesus affirms that salvation has come to Zacchaeus’s house, recognizing him as a son of Abraham. Jesus declares that His mission is to seek and save the lost, underscoring the universality of God’s love and the transformative power of encountering Christ.
May Jesus pour his Grace Upon you and your family during this special time in our lives.
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Section 11. The Sermon
I. Zacchaeus’s Desire (Luke 19:1-4)
- Verses 1-4: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through…
Here we see Zacchaeus, a man who had wealth but was also a chief tax collector—meaning he was likely dishonest and definitely not well-liked. Yet, something stirred in him, a longing to see Jesus. He was willing to go to great lengths, even climbing a tree, just to get a glimpse. It’s a reminder that even those who seem the least likely can have a desire for something more, a hunger for God.
My Thoughts:
Sometimes, we box people in, assuming we know what they’re all about. But everyone has a story, and everyone is capable of change. Zacchaeus shows us that desire can bloom in the most unexpected places.
Personal Commentary:
Zacchaeus’s desire wasn’t passive. He didn’t just sit around hoping to see Jesus. He took action, overcoming obstacles to make it happen. That’s a powerful example for us.
Personal Commentary on Christian Discipleship:
Discipleship begins with a desire to know Jesus better. It’s a willingness to go the extra mile, to step out of our comfort zones, to pursue Him with all our hearts.
Personal Reflection Commentary on Spiritual Growth:
Spiritual growth isn’t about being perfect; it’s about having a sincere desire to grow closer to God. It’s about being willing to climb the tree, even if it seems silly or awkward.
Ask Yourself This Question:
What “tree” do I need to climb to get a better glimpse of Jesus? What am I willing to do to pursue a deeper relationship with Him?
II. Jesus’s Invitation (Luke 19:5-6)
- Verses 5-6: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him…
Jesus looks up and calls Zacchaeus by name, inviting Himself to Zacchaeus’ home. This is astounding! Jesus, the Son of God, chooses to associate with a known sinner. It’s a radical act of grace, showing that no one is beyond His reach. It also demonstrates the Jesus seeks out and knows His people!
My Thoughts:
I’m blown away by Jesus’s love and acceptance. He doesn’t wait for Zacchaeus to clean up his act; He meets him right where he is.
Personal Commentary:
Jesus sees beyond our outward appearance and our past mistakes. He sees our potential and invites us into a relationship with Him.
Personal Commentary on Christian Discipleship:
Discipleship is about accepting Jesus’s invitation to follow Him. It’s about saying “yes” to His call, even when it doesn’t make sense to the world around us.
Personal Reflection Commentary on Spiritual Growth:
Spiritual growth happens when we allow Jesus to come into our lives, into our homes, into our messes. It’s about opening the door and letting Him in.
Ask Yourself This Question:
Am I willing to let Jesus into every area of my life, even the ones I’m ashamed of?
III. The Murmuring and Zacchaeus’s Response (Luke 19:7-8)
- Verses 7-8: All the people saw this and began to mutter…
The crowd grumbles because Jesus is associating with a sinner. But Zacchaeus responds with a radical act of repentance, vowing to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay those he has cheated four times over. This isn’t just a change of behavior; it’s a transformation of the heart.
My Thoughts:
It’s easy to criticize others, to judge their actions. But Jesus calls us to love and accept, just as He did. Zacchaeus’s response shows us what true repentance looks like: a willingness to make restitution and to live a life of generosity.
Personal Commentary:
True repentance isn’t just saying “I’m sorry.” It’s about taking action to make things right. It’s about changing our behavior and our attitude.
Personal Commentary on Christian Discipleship:
Discipleship involves a commitment to justice and generosity. It’s about using our resources to help those in need and to right the wrongs we have committed.
Personal Reflection Commentary on Spiritual Growth:
Spiritual growth often requires us to confront our past mistakes and to make amends. It’s about being honest with ourselves and with God.
Ask Yourself This Question:
What areas of my life need repentance and restitution? What steps can I take to make things right?
IV. Salvation Declared (Luke 19:9-10)
- Verses 9-10: Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house…
Jesus declares that salvation has come to Zacchaeus’s house, affirming that he is a son of Abraham. He reiterates His purpose: to seek and save the lost. This is the culmination of the story, showing the transformative power of encountering Jesus.
My Thoughts:
Salvation isn’t just a ticket to heaven; it’s a transformation of our lives here and now. Zacchaeus’s story reminds us that no one is too far gone to be saved.
Personal Commentary:
Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That’s all of us! We were all lost before Jesus, and He came looking for us.
Personal Commentary on Christian Discipleship:
Discipleship is about living a life that reflects the salvation we have received. It’s about sharing the good news of Jesus with others and inviting them to experience His transforming power.
Personal Reflection Commentary on Spiritual Growth:
Spiritual growth is a journey of ongoing transformation. As we grow closer to Jesus, we become more and more like Him, reflecting His love, grace, and compassion to the world around us.
Ask Yourself This Question:
How is my life reflecting the salvation that I have received?
Section 12. Final Thoughts
The story of Zacchaeus is a powerful reminder of God’s love and grace. It shows us that no one is beyond His reach and that true transformation is possible when we encounter Jesus. Let’s strive to be like Zacchaeus, willing to climb the tree, open our homes to Jesus, and live lives of generosity and repentance. Let us move forward, embracing the transformation offered by Jesus and reflecting His love to the world.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for seeking us out, even when we feel lost or unworthy. Thank you for your grace, your love, and your transforming power. Help us to be like Zacchaeus, willing to do whatever it takes to encounter you. Fill us with your spirit, and empower us to live lives that reflect your love and compassion to the world around us. In your name we pray, Amen!
Section 13. Closing Hymn or Worship Song
As we prepare to leave today, let’s stand together and sing “Amazing Grace.” Let’s be reminded of the incredible gift of salvation that we have received and the transformation that is possible through Jesus Christ.
Section 14. Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
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