This week, we’re finishing our series called “Unstuck.” We’ve seen how Jesus has the power to set us free, even from the most unlikely prisons. Sunday, we’ll see what happens when Jesus gets a reviled tax collector named Zacchaeus unstuck. Once again we find Jesus saving the least deserving people, much to the shock of the onlooking community. But it’s not just this “wee little man” who gets unstuck in this story–the ripples go into the whole community.
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(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)
DATE: June 25, 2017 Unstuck: Hiding & Hungry //
Scripture: Luke 19:1-10
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This week we finished our sermon series called Unstuck, by looking at the story of Zacchaeus. In this story, Jesus goes to the outskirts of society as he passes through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem to find a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus is hiding in a sycamore tree, hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus. He is a tough man who, as a chief tax collector, is extorting his own people to make himself rich. He is the local mafia kingpin of his day and was most likely despised by his fellow countrymen because of his work. He is a man who has it all, except for the one thing he needs—Jesus. In this surprising story, Jesus in his mercy comes to Zacchaeus, meets him in his hiding spot (which God has been doing since Genesis 3 with Adam and Eve), calls Zacchaeus by name, and goes with Zacchaeus into his house. This is what salvation is all about—God meeting us where we are, coming into our house, and setting us free from all the things that tend to get us stuck in our own lives. Zacchaeus, who is stuck in his finances, stuck in his relationships, and stuck in his unforgiveness, finds that Jesus can give him the freedom and forgiveness his heart has longed for. This week, Aaron challenged us to let salvation come to our house (right now—not just one day) for these very same things.
THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Mercy is the miracle.
SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What did you learn about Zacchaeus from this week’s sermon that you didn’t know before Aaron spoke? Why was that important to you? How did Aaron describe Zacchaeus? What did Aaron say was significant about Zacchaeus being in a sycamore tree? How was Zacchaeus stuck? What did Jesus do to get Zacchaeus unstuck? How did Zacheaus respond to Jesus? Why is this surprising?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): From Genesis 3 all the way to today, we as humans tend to hide from God. Why do you think we hide from God? How was Zacchaeus hiding in this story? Where is your tendency to hide from God? What does it look like for Jesus to call you by name and come into your house? What has been the most radical response to Jesus that you have ever made in your life? How has that changed you?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Jesus had a way of always seeing the world through the lens of grace and mercy. What does looking at the world through grace and mercy look like? How might looking at the world this way change the way we view our finances? How might it change the way we deal with our relationships? How does it help us deal with forgiveness of ourselves and others?
BE IT> – Practice
Change UP //Name Calling
In the sermon today, Aaron talked about the fact that Jesus called Zacchaeus by name. This is God’s nature. He knows who we are. But the even greater truth of Scripture is not just that God calls us by name; it’s that He gives us His name. He knows us and invites us to know Him. Today, invite your group to call God by name. Spend some time listing as many names of God (given in Scripture) as you can. Press in as you pray about the character of God revealed in these names.
Change IN // Tree Climbing
Everyone has a tree-climbing story. There is just something about trees; they are begging to be climbed. Get to know each other better this week by taking a few moments to tell each other your best tree-climbing story. Use these stories this week as you try to place yourself in Zacchaeus’s shoes in the story of Luke 19
Change OUT // Fringe Thinking
Jesus’ coming to Zacchaeus meant that he went to the outskirts and fringe of society. Even though Zacheaus didn’t look needy on the outside, he was deeply wounded on the inside. Take a moment to think through your own neighborhood or network as a group. Identify together where the fringe of your neighborhood or network is (it may not look like fringe on the outside). Think through together what it might mean for salvation to come to that place.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.