Encountering Jesus: The Greedy Traitor

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the eleventh sermon in our series on the Encountering Jesus from Luke. This sermon is ‘The Greedy Traitor’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Luke 19:1-10DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF). Next Steps this Week BIBLE READING: Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”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.”Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Download in PDF format.CONNECT: What distracts you from hearing God’s Word? How could you avoid it or lessen it?WARM-UP What’s significant about Jericho? Where was Jesus passing through to?Read Luke 19:1-4What do we know about Zacchaeus? Why were tax collectors considered to be traitors and cheats?How could tax collectors become wealthy? What did it mean that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector?Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus? What did he need to leave behind to climb the tree?In order to follow Jesus are there any aspects of your pride that you have needed to leave behind?Can you think of any modern examples of how people might just ‘peek’ at Jesus from the sidelines? Do you know anyone who looks to Jesus from a distance? How could you encourage them closer?Read Luke 19:5-10How do you think Zacchaeus felt when Jesus spotted him and called him? Who is taking the initiative?What does Jesus say? How is it clear that this is more than Jesus inviting simply himself over for dinner?How does Zacchaeus respond? What does it mean that he welcomed Jesus gladly? (cf. Revelation 3:20)In what way are we still able to welcome Jesus gladly into our lives today? When did you first do this?Why was everyone so upset that Jesus went to eat with Zacchaeus? Can we ever be resentful like this?Is there anyone in your life (or on your frontlines) whom you sometimes are tempted to think is beyond salvation? How should this encounter reshape that view? How could you better respond?How is it evident that Zacchaeus was deeply convicted of his sin and wanted to repent of his ways? How does Zacchaeus compare to the rich young ruler from earlier in Luke? (cf. Luke 18:18-23)How do you think Zacchaeus’ employees would have responded to his new found ways?On one of your frontlines (e.g., work or friends), how is it evident to others that grace has taken a grip on your life? In what area of your life do you think grace needs to have a greater ‘re-ordering’ effect’?What is Jesus’ mission? How did Jesus becoming the ultimate ‘outsider’ make that possible?APPLY: In light of God’s grace, what one area of your life needs some further ‘re-ordering’? PRAYER How can your conversations about the Easter long weekend point to Jesus and the events of Easter? GOING DEEPER On Your Frontline This Week: Where are the places that you spend the most time during the week? What are your current frontlines? Listen, Watch, and Read: Audio: “Seeking the Lost” by Rico Tice: Audio: “God’s Work in God’s World” by William Taylor: Audio: “Jesus’ Meal with Zacchaeus” by Tim Keller:Audio: “Luke 19-20” by Gary Millar: Video: “Why did Jesus eat with an oppressor” with Erica Hammence:SERIES Resources:Series overview bookletScripture Journal: for the Gospel of Luke. For example, https://bit.ly/3A6N9COBook: The Infographic Bible by Karen Sawrey (the visualisations of the way in which people interacted with Jesus are particularly helpful)Book: Luke for Everyone by Tom WrightSt Bartʼs Library Resources for Current SeriesGrow as Families Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.Families: Read, Chat, Do, and PrayHigh School: CHARGE Discussion QuestionsKids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ TalkeBook: Watch the eBook