Roger

The gospel should draw on the heartstrings of lost people, not beat them up with condemnation, guilt and shame. The gospel is good news, not bad news. Had Jesus not honored the much-hated tax collector, Zacchaeus, like He did; but continued to address him on the same course that the townspeople were accustomed to, Zacchaeus potentially would never have come to faith. His story is found in Luke 19 Note with me in verse 7 that the people were used to coming at Zacchaeus in a very dishonoring and self-righteous manner: “He (Jesus) has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” His reputation preceded him, and his chances for reconciliation and a better life were minimized. The Spirit of God, by all indicators, was dealing with the heart and attitude of that little man, or he would not have been there in the first place. Something inside the tax collector caused him to show up that day when he heard that Jesus was coming; and desperation for life change drove that little guy up a tree! What w...

Last week I discussed the need for honoring people. A little man in Scripture  (Luke 19)  remains the "poster child." Zacchaeus’ wounded heart and broken spirit were made glad by the Man from Galilee, who saw beyond his sordid reputation to his significance as a human being made in the image of God.   Sin tarnishes our self-image; the grace of Jesus targets our innate significance.   The Scriptures tell us that “ There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10).   We understand this; however, I’m not talking about our righteous.   I’m referring to our significance – our meaning or purpose.   Significance refers to the potential of our personhood.    All of us were created by God “to matter.”   We are important in our own right, and we are placed upon this earth to help usher in God’s kingdom.   Insignificance, dishonor and disrespect all kill our divine potential and rob us of an abundant life.   Rob a man o...

In Luke 19 we read about a little man by the name of Zacchaeus.  You’ve heard this story most of your Christian life and perhaps even sang about him: “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!’” When we planted Hope Community Church, Lori and I committed to making this church an “honoring community.”   By this I mean we wanted to talk more about what we’re “for” as Christians more than what we’re “against.” It seems that in today’s church we talk more about what’s wrong than what’s right.   I’m not talking about sin; I’m talking about a lack of honor and respect in our culture that has I’m afraid, spilled over into churches.   We understand that man’s problems trace back to the issue of sin, which originate...