Moving Toward Christ

Call to Worship

Psalm 130:7 NIV

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

KiDZ Message

On-Ramp

SLIDE - KiDZ Message

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought something like this:

“I’m not being very good right now.”

“I messed up.”

“I don’t feel ready to talk to God.”

Sometimes when we feel that way, we think:

“I should get better first… and then I can get close to God.”

Today, Jesus is showing us that that’s not how He works.

Zacchaeus

There was a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.

But Zacchaeus knew something about himself:

He had made bad choices.

He had hurt people.

He felt like he didn’t belong.

And there was another problem: Zacchaeus was short, and the crowd was big.

So Zacchaeus might have thought: “Jesus probably doesn’t want to see me. I should stay back.”

But instead, Zacchaeus did something surprising. He climbed a tree so he could see Jesus.

And when Jesus came by, Jesus did not say: “Zacchaeus, come back when you’re better.”

No. Jesus looked up and said: “Zacchaeus, come down. I want to be with you today.”

👉 Jesus invited Zacchaeus close BEFORE Zacchaeus fixed anything.

Jesus didn’t say: “Get better, then come close.”

Jesus said: “Come close—and I’ll help you change.”

In Lent we Repent

Repentance is how we move closer to Jesus when we feel far away.

So as we get ready for Easter, we think about the areas we feel far away from Jesus and then we start moving closer.

SLIDE - KiDZ BIG IDEA:

In Lent we Repent to move toward Jesus

One way we do that is by kneeling and praying.

Let’s do it together. Will you kneel and pray at the cross with me?

Prayer

Jesus, Thank You for loving me right now. Thank You that I don’t have to get better first. Help me trust You enough to show you my mistakes. Show me what you want me to do to live closer to you. Amen.

Main Sermon

ON-RAMP

[SLIDE - Title]

Let’s talk about Altar calls.

[describe them for the familiar and unfamiliar]

When we hear an invitation like “come forward” or “come to the altar,” a lot of things start happening inside us.

“I don’t want to draw attention to myself.”

“I don’t want to look dramatic.”

“I don’t want people to misunderstand why I’m moving.”

“What if this feels performative?”

“Am I really feeling the Spirit, or am I being manipulated?”

“Can’t repentance just happen in my heart?”

For many people, the hesitation is not spiritual rebellion. It’s social anxiety.

yet there is a tension here: The thing we’re most afraid of—looking inauthentic—may actually be what’s keeping us from practicing authentic repentance.

Because in Scripture, repentance is never just a feeling or a thought.

Repentance always moves.

We are half-way through this series on the art of Repentance.

We learned from the beginning that Repentance is meant to be a regular rhythm for followers of Jesus.

It is the natural response to encountering Christ, but the mechanics of doing it sometimes feel unfamiliar and unnatural to us.

My aim is to teach you how to repent well so that you can stay close to Jesus throughout your journey as a Christian.

And something every follower of Jesus must learn is that...

Confession without action is incomplete.

Biblical repentance involves embodied movement, because trust doesn’t stay theoretical. Genuine repentance moves bodies.

And we’re going to see that clearly in the story of Zacchaeus.

SCRIPTURE - Zacchaeus

SCRIPTURE - Luke 19:1-10, follow verse by verse

Luke 19:1–3

Jesus is passing through Jericho. And Luke introduces Zacchaeus with three important details:

He is a chief tax collector, He is rich, He wants to see who Jesus is.

Context: Tax collectors were seen as some of the greatest sinners because they exploited their own for profit.

Zacchaeus is not hostile, resistant, or closed off.

He wants Jesus.

But Luke tells us: “He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not…”

Zacchaeus has desire—but no access.

His body is in the way (he’s short).

The crowd is in the way.

Likely his reputation is in the way.

You ever feel that way?

Like you wanted to get close to Jesus, but your body, your community, and what you think others will think is getting int he way?

Zacchaeus is spiritually interested—but physically stuck.

And I think that describes a lot of us.

We come to church. We listen. We reflect. We notice gaps. But we stay exactly where we are.

Luke 19:4

“So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him…”

This is the first real act of repentance in the story.

Before Jesus speaks. Before Zacchaeus confesses anything. Before restitution is mentioned. He moves.

And this movement costs him something:

Grown men don’t run.

Important men don’t climb trees.

Rich men don’t make themselves small.

This is undignified, visible, and risky.

And yet: Zacchaeus decides that seeing Jesus is worth looking strange.

Is getting close to Jesus worth looking strange to you?

He noticed the gap, and decided to do something about it.

Luke 19:5

“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”

Three things to notice:

Jesus speaks first. Zacchaeus moves—but salvation is still Jesus’ idea.

Jesus is always ready for you

Jesus says, “I must.” This isn’t convenience. This is divine purpose.

Zacchaeus’ salvation from the burdens in his life, many of which he was responsible for. is made possible by Jesus.

Jesus says, “Today.” Not someday. Not when Zacchaeus gets his life together.

Jesus said to John in a vision in Revelation 3:20 “20 Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”

Jesus was ready for Zacchaeus, and he is ready for us.

If Jesus is ready to give you salvation like he was for Zacchaeus, what is standing in your way today?

Luke 19:7

“All who saw it began to grumble…”

This is the part of the story that hits close to home.

Zacchaeus experiences exactly what many of us fear will happen if we move:

He is seen, judged, questioned, and misunderstood.

And Jesus does not correct the crowd. He does not explain Zacchaeus. He does not manage the optics.

Repentance does not require approval from the crowd.

If you’re afraid of what people might think if you move you are not alone.

Yet that fear may be the door that stands between you and healing, between you and salvation, between you and a growing relationship with the God who has overcome death and offers you eternal life now and forever.

The question we are left with is whose opinion of us carries more weight. People who don’t have the whole story, or God who sees all?

Notice that Zacchaeus didn’t do anything to win jesus’ favor. He recieved the gift of Jesus’ love despite do everything he could to NOT earn it.

Luke 19:8

“Half of my possessions I will give to the poor…”

Zacchaeus is embodying repentance.

He doesn’t just say “I’m sorry.” He rearranges his life.

If repentance never moves us toward action, it has not yet become repentance—it’s still just awareness.

Seeing that God is God and I am not is not repentance. It doesn't actually become repentance until we MOVE.

And if encountering Christ reveals a ga and we simply feel bad about it, we have functionally rejected Christ’s invitation to be saved.

Luke 19:9–10

“Today salvation has come to this house…”

Notice the order:

Pursuit

Encounter

Confess the gap

Move toward Christ

Jesus doesn’t say, “Once you pay everyone back, salvation will come.”

in order to pay everyone back according to the law would require Zacchaeus to simply give people back what he stole +20%

Instead he gives half his possessions to the poor AND pay everyone back 4x what he stole.

Salvation is not Zacchaeus getting into heaven or avoiding hell

It is Zacchaeus being set free to go beyond restitution all the way to generosity.

Salvation is the freedom to be fully human; unlimited by sin, trauma, oppression, or anything else that could hold you back.

Salvation is made possible ONLY by Jesus Christ

Repentance is the doorway to Jesus.

The goodness you have always hoped would flow out of you is possible in Christ, but you need to move your body

You need to open the door Jesus is knocking on, and do whatever he tells you to.

He is able to do far more than you could ever imagine.

PRACTICE

So, remember when I said that repentance is the natural outpouring of people who encounter Christ, but sometimes the mechanics of it can feel unnatural and unfamiliar?

The best way to deal with that unfamiliarity is to practice, and practice, and practice.

Some of us worry that repetition inherently lacks authenticity and becomes performative.

So let’s name this clearly:

Performance is not defined by visibility or repetition Performance is defined by motivation.

Zacchaeus did not move to be seen. He moved because staying where he was no longer felt honest.

What makes repentance inauthentic is not movement. What makes it inauthentic is staying still when trust is calling you forward.

So, let’s move.

Cue band

SLIDE – THE RHYTHM

Step 1 – Encounter Christ

We've already done this one.

You just encountered Christ by hearing the scriptures read and explained.

Close your eyes and bow your heads.

Think about what was faithful in that encounter, and what was not...

Zacchaeus pursued Jesus despite many barriers. Do you?

Jesus was ready for him to move, do you remember that he is ready for you?

Zacchaeus’ repentance was verified by action. Salvation was experienced in changed behavior.

Is there salvation that you desire but have yet to experience?

Is there a gap that Jesus has shown you today that you want to see closed?

[Pause to give time for this]

Step 2 – Confess the gap

“If you’re seeing clearly, there is a gap.”

“Name it. Write it or hold it.”

“God already knows—but you must be willing to look.”

If you do not want there to be a gap, if you want to be closer to Jesus, then continue to the next step.

If don’t see a gap, or you don’t care about the gap, then God honors your choice and will not force you to come close to him.

Just know that he isn’t going anywhere and will wait until you are ready.

Yet, He is ready today, right now. You do not need to wait as his salvation isn’t dependent on you being ready.

It is offered to you because you can’t get ready on your own.

I would encourage you to consider that inaction is just as much of a choice as action is.

To not draw closer is to make a choice to stay away.

[Pause to give time for this]

Step 3 – Move toward Christ

“Physically.”

Allow the stage and the cross to represent the door that Jesus is standing at.

Stand, kneel, bow, sit, lay down. Whatever posture asks for help. whatever position says “I want to be closer to you Jesus. I want you to save me from the gap.”

“Don’t just think about moving”

“Actually Move your body toward Christ now.”

LONG PAUSE, give them time to move.

Step 4 – Receive his invitation

Now that you have come toward Christ, tell him the gap you see and ask him what he would have you do and don't leave that spot until you have a next step, one thing you will do differently this week to live closer to him and his way of being.

Zacchaeus offered half of everything he had for the poor AND to pay back those he wronged 4x what he owed.

What is the Holy Spirit placing on your heart to do about the gap?

It may feel impossible for you to do. It is on your own, but it’s not for Jesus who saves you.

Maybe it's a commitment to act for decisively when he calls

Maybe it's to not wait until you are healed to invite others

Maybe it's to spend less time looking at others are needy for Jesus, and remembering that YOU are needy for Jesus

Maybe it's to commit to coming back next week.

He said "Follow Me" so where is he leading you today and this week?

Give plenty of time for this

Step 5 – Obey

“This happens after worship.”

“Faith without works is dead.”

“Come back next week ready again.”

CLOSING

NORMALIZE

“This may feel mechanical today.”

“That’s how learning an art works.”

VISION

“Over time, this becomes natural.”

“If it’s working, you’ll start longing for it.”

EXTEMPORANEOUS PRAYER

Availability

Trust

Courage to move

Band lead final song

Benediction and Connect Card AFTER music.

XI. CLOSING PRAYER

Jesus, Thank You for seeing us before we move. Thank You for meeting us when we do.

Teach us not to confuse stillness with faithfulness, and not to confuse movement with performance.

Help us trust You enough to follow— with our hearts, and with our bodies.

Amen.