Proper 26 (2025)
Notes
Transcript
Otterbein Church of Paris
Otterbein Church of Paris
*Opening Prayer
*Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 119:137-144)
Leader: Righteous are You, O Lord, and Your laws are right.
People: Your statutes are trustworthy; You are faithful in all You do.
Leader: Though trouble and distress may come upon us, Your commands give us delight.
People: Your righteousness is everlasting, and Your Word is true. All: Amen.
Hymn #267 Come Thou Almighty King
Scripture Reading Habakkuk 2:1–4 Joel Sherer
I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.
“See, the enemy is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Hymn #379, v. 1 Take My Life And Let It Be
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Children's Message Debbie
Scripture 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.”
Sermon
I have a theory. And while I admit I can’t prove it word for word from the text we just read. There are enough other passages and even modern day stories that would prove my theory true. If you were ever told the story of Zacheus in Sunday School as a child, you were probably taught the song that went with it. You know the words,
Zacchaeus was a wee little man
And a wee little man was he
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see
And when the Savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree
And said, 'Zacchaeus, you come down!
For I'm going to your house today!
For I'm going to your house today!'
Zacchaeus was a wee little man
But a happy man was he
For he had seen the Lord that day
And a happy man was he;
And a very happy man was he.
2. When we think of Zacchaeus we tend to think of a very short man. But the Greek word can also mean “small”. In other words, Zacchaeus might have been a man with a small heart, selfish, no compassion for others.
3. And my theory is that Jesus doesn’t stop by this sycamore tree to make a short guy feel better about his lack of height. In fact, I don’t believe the qualification for a touch from Jesus ever had anything to do with a person’s physical appearance. I don’t think Jesus said to anyone. Yes, I’ll help you but only because you are good looking enough, or tall enough, or smart enough, or have enough hair.
4. Jesus, being God, looked not at the external appearance but at the heart. And when He saw Zacchaeus, He saw a man who was hurting. Jesus knew the heart of Zaccheaus needed transformation. Much like we discuss the Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge at Christmas time, Zaccheaus was a wee little man, perhaps not necessarily because he was short phyically but because he was small relationally and spiritually.
5. And Jesus stops by the tree where Zachaeus was and tells him to come down so they can share a meal together at his house. Now we don’t know exactly what the conversation was between these two men. Luke doesn’t record it.
6. But we do know the results. Whether Zacchaeus was physically short or spiritually small, his life was changed from his encounter with Jesus. Zacchaeus jumps up and cries out, “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.” And this is all it takes for Jesus to declare, “Today salvation has come to this house”.
7. Now here’s the thing. Zacchaeus didn’t push his way to seeing Christ. He climbed up in a tree. Maybe to see or maybe to avoid being seen. But Christ saw not only him but his need.
8. And Zacchaeus didn’t need to be taller, no matter how short he may have been. He needed the love of Christ. And that’s what you and I need. And gratefully we have received it through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Communion
Giving of Tithes and Offering
Doxology
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn # 297 I Love To Tell The Story
*Benediction
Sanctuary
