Witness: Zaccheaus (2)

INTRODUCTION

In Rainer's Book, "The Unchurched Next Door"

82% of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited. There is more.

Only 2% of church going people ever invite someone to church in a given year.

Seven out of ten unchurched people have never been invited to church in their whole lives.

Inviting someone to church is not really evangelism. It's really pre-evangelism. So how many are actually evangelizing? How many are lost in America because the church refuses to even begin the evangelizing of their friends?

Let's see Jesus example of how he treated the unchurched around him.

Luke 19:1–10 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 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.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 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.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Many times when we think about evangelism we think about people we barely know or don't know at all.

Let's think over the net few weeks about evangelizing our friends.

3 Parts of Friendship Evangelism

I. 1-Jesus' Part

A. Jesus Lived with Purpose (1, 10)

Luke 19:1 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.

1.             Jesus passed through with purpose- he was headed for the cross.

2.             Luke 17:11  On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.

Luke 17:11 ESV

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.

3.        Luke 19:10

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

a)            He wasn't looking for the righteous. he was looking for the sinner.

b)            It wasn't about self glorification- He was God. Had right to expect others to seek him.

B. Jesus Lived with Mercy (5)

Luke 19:5 ESV

5 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.”

1.             Mercy- Not getting what you deserve

2.             Accepted him where he was- he was a traitor and a horrible sinner.

3.             Tax Collectors: Worked for Rome. Made money by cheating

C. Jesus Lived with Grace (5b)

Luke 19:5 ESV

5 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.”

1.             Grace- Getting what you do not deserve

2.             gave him what he needed and was looking for "to know him"

II. 2-Friend's Part

A.  Want to Know Truth (3)

Luke 19:3 ESV

3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.

1.             "he was seeking to see who Jesus was"

2.             Not just to see Jesus but to know Jesus.

3.             Obviously Zaccheaus had heard stories about Jesus.

4.             He wanted to get to know this Jesus.

B. Search to Know Truth (4)

Luke 19:4 ESV

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

1.             He looked for truth. Went to the source- Jesus.

2.             We have the N.T.

C. Receive the Truth (6)

Luke 19:6 ESV

6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

1.             He received Jesus immediately- did not have to change first.

2.             He received Jesus where he was.

3.             We are not saved by works. We are saved by faith.

a)            Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

b)            Titus 3:5

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

D. Live the Truth (8)

Luke 19:8 ESV

8 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.”

1.             Statement of a changed man. Change is evidence of salvation.

2.             Ephesians 2:8-10

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

3.             Luke 18:18-30

Luke 18:18–30 ESV

18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

4.             "eye of a needle"- This is hyperbole. Point: That which is impossible with man is possible with God.

5.             Salvation is a changed life. Evidence of salvation is a new life.

III. 3- Your Part

A. Live Like Jesus

1.             Live with Purpose for your lost friends.

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

a)            Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

b)            "Go"= participle- "as you go"- however word "go" is a word used for traveling with purpose.

2.  Live with Mercy for your lost friends.

a)            It's not your place to play judge in their life.

b)            Love them for who they are. Don't condone their sin but they do not need you judging them for their sin.

c)             Jesus didn't point fingers and judge. He loved the unlovable.

3. Live with Grace for your lost friends

a)            Show them the love of Jesus.

b)            Do things for them in the name of Jesus.

c)             When they are feeling the results of sin, help them.

CONCLUSION

Jesus offered salvation to the lost.

   -Have you accepted salvation?

   -Have you offered salvation?