Don't Hang Out with the Wrong Crowd

Series: Breaking the Unwritten Rules

March 11, 2018
Frank Foreman

As we live in an imperfect world we need some rules and laws to combat the worst forms of evil. Both in Jesus’s day and even today, the religious culture then and now had/has its own sets of rules. One of those rules that Jesus flew in the face of was spending time with those that seemed to be "outcasts" to many people. Thus, spending time with them caused the self-righteous to question His reputation, character and morality. In showing a willingness to put reputation aside to bring value to the lives of all people, Jesus sets an example for us of how we should live and love others.

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Episode Notes

Luke 19:1-10

Verses 1-3 ... He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 


Verses 4-6 ... So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received Him joyfully. 


1.  Jesus showed COMPASSION to the most HATED person in town?


  • Zacchaeus was a TRAITOR to his people and among the worst of SINNERS 



2.  Jesus went to great LENGTHS to spend time with an OUTCAST?


  • Jesus shows love and ACCEPTANCE to anyone WILLING to seek Him.


3.  Everyone GRUMBLED because they had no HEART for lost people?


  • They were interested in COMPARING rather than COMPASSION


Verses 7-10 ... And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”


You can’t seek and save the lost from the COMFORT of a holy HUDDLE …


Fight the enemy of COMFORT just as you would unrighteous CRITICISM


FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  1. What line would you be unwilling to cross to rescue and provide for a loved one?
  2. In the text for today, why do you think people hated Zacchaeus and which of these reasons were outside of his ability to control?
  3. What are positive or negative results of seeking to befriend or help those who are unwanted or have seemingly lower value in the eyes of people?
  4. What are some of the deeper reasons that people might criticize the choices we make in people with which we choose to associate?
  5. What are some of the costs of choosing to love others like Christ did? Which ones do you have difficulty in accepting?

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