Message Notes
Look Back
How easy was it for you to recognize when you were relying solely on your inward perspective for truth? What belief that is relevant to you did you discover might not be universally true?
Look Up
Read Luke 19:1-7
- What was Zaccheus trying to do? What do you think he hoped to accomplish, and how important was it to him?
- What actually happened? How does this compare with what Zaccheus was trying to do?
- How did other people react to the situation? What had Zaccheus done to them to earn a reputation as a “notorious sinner”? How do people today get this type of reputation?
- Based on these verses, how should Christians today respond to people who have a reputation as a “notorious sinner”? Who are the notorious sinners in your life?
Read Luke 19:8-10 and John 3:16-21
- What did Zaccheus do to earn “salvation”? How does this apply to people today?
- What do you think caused Zaccheus’ change of heart? Do you think he was trying to buy Jesus’ favor and salvation? Why or why not?
- How do most people react when someone has a sudden change of heart? How should Christians today apply Jesus’ response to Zaccheus?
- What does John 3:16-21 have in common with the story of Zaccheus? What does John add or clarify about what it means to seek and save the lost?
Overall (Discovery Bible Study)
- What do these scriptures say about God?
- What do they say about people?
- How will I apply this to my life?
Look Ahead
In what ways will you show love to people with “bad” reputations this week?
Notes
We live in a world filled with both conviction and condemnation. However, it is often difficult to focus on the problem, and not the person. Also, in our world of social media, it is easy to create a “reputation” that may not always be true, fair or favorable. Through the love of Jesus, Christians no longer face condemnation and are called to show Jesus’ love to those we encounter in our daily lives. To do this we need to rise above the temptation to judge and condemn others, offering grace with the hope that through love others will come to know the truth of Jesus as well.
