Friend of Sinners: Part 3 - Unexpected

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
April 10, 2022
_____________________

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Easter is Next Sunday, April 17 - Time to Invite!
Did you know that Easter is one of the best times to invite people to experience Jesus with you at your campus? More people come on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday of the year. Because of that, we are challenging every OneLifer to invite someone with them as a part of our “Easter on Mission!” So be on the lookout for people  where you live, work, and play and let’s make this an unforgettable Easter at 9 & 10:45am at both of our locations. 

The Tour
Stay after the service in the auditorium on Sunday, April 24 for a 15 minute meet ‘n greet that we call “The Tour.” We’ll have some light snacks and refreshments, take a tour around the facility, learn more about why we do many of the things we do, and - most importantly- give you a chance to meet some people! Just look for the sign that says “The Tour.” And if you have kids, they can remain in Kid City until The Tour is over. 

MyOneLife - A 4-Week Small Group Experience, Starts May 1
If you’re newer to OneLife or have been attending for a while but haven’t gotten involved, then MyOneLife is your next step! You’ll learn about the history, vision & values of our church, discover your personal mission and spiritual gifts, and have opportunities to get involved. MyOneLife is a 4-week small group experience that takes place on Sunday mornings during the 10:45am service in the Meeting Room at each of our campuses. MyOneLife starts May 1. For more information, check the “MyOneLife” box on your Connection Card. 

Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism then it’s time to take that step! Click here and we’ll help you get started. 
____________________

GIVE BACK
Give Jesus your best! Make a one-time tithe or offering or to set up a recurring tithe or offering: Click Here To Give Online.
_____________________

SERMON NOTES & DISCUSSION


BOTTOM LINE: The greatest opportunities are often overlooked.

Luke 19:1-4 NIV
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.

1. Judgements of outward appearances lead to false assumptions of inner desires.

Luke 19:5-6 NIV
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 once and welcomed him gladly.

2. A simple invitation can be a powerful catalyst.

Luke 19:7 NIV
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

3. The opportunity is greater than the opposition.

Luke 19:8-10 NIV

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.”

4. Repentance ripples far beyond the one.

Start Talking
When have you overlooked the best opportunity for something, or almost overlooked it? Why did you overlook it? What were the assumptions that you had, which turned out to not be true?

When have you been overlooked for an opportunity because there were assumptions about you or the situation?

Start Thinking
Read Luke 19:1-2. Why would Zacchaeus have been overlooked as someone worth investing in by most religious people? Why would even non-religious people assume he wouldn't be someone Jesus would become friends with or ask to follow Him?

Who are the modern day Zacchaeus-type people that would be overlooked as someone open to following Jesus or worth investing in from a spiritual perspective? What are the assumptions most people would have about this person?

Read Luke 19:3-4. Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was? What do you think he must have heard, seen, or experienced that made him go to such great lengths to see Jesus? Read Romans 1:19-20. How does this explain what may have been part of Zacchaeus' desire to see Jesus?

Start Sharing
Luke 19:3 says Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, "but because he was short he could not see over the crowds." What are the hurdles you faced to seeing Jesus when you first had that desire or as you have grown throughout your spiritual journey? Or, what are the hurdles we may be putting in front of people, even without realizing it?

Read Luke 19:5-6. What is a simple invitation you have received along your spiritual journey that became a powerful catalyst for you to experience Jesus? When have you given a simple invitation to someone in this way and been surprised to see them accept it?

Read Luke 19:7. What role has potential opposition played in keeping you from extending an invitation to someone in a spiritual way? What do you fear most - opposition from the person or opposition from others? How can we focus more on the opportunity rather than the opposition?

Read Luke 19:8-10. The result of this unlikely invitation was repentance that impacted more than just Zacchaeus, but his entire household, the entire community, and now even us today. How have you seen this in your life, as your decision to follow Jesus rippled far beyond just you? When have you seen this in others that you have invested in and how did their repentance ripple far beyond just them? Who else did it impact?

Start Doing
Who are the three people that are in your life and far from God that you felt led to write down or are people you can invite to follow Jesus? What can you do this week to invite them to follow Jesus in some way?

What will be their greatest hurdles to seeing Jesus, and what will be the greatest opposition you might be worried about? What can you do - and what can we as a micro church do together - to push through those hurdles and obstacles?

What role can your story play, and sharing your story with the Zacchaeus in your life, when you have the opportunity to invite them to experience Jesus in some way?

Start Praying

Pray for the names of each person that was shared, and pray for each other as you live on mission this week and look for ways to invite every Zacchaeus in our life to experience and follow Jesus. Pray for the egg hunts and Easter Sunday at your campus to open the door to do that.
_____________________

CONNECTION CARDS

Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, Click Here.
_____________________

MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:

Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
_____________________

WHAT'S NEXT?
Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?

Recent

Past Blogs

 2023
 2022

Categories

Tags