Out on a Limb

Out on a Limb

Text: Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”

8 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.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

I. Introduction:

II. The Sinner: A Wicked Man

A. Within A City Noted for its Glory

B. With A Name Communicating Irony

C. With A Career Feeding on Injury

D. With A Life Lived in luxury

III. The Seeker: A Curious Man

A. Inquisitive Motivation

B. Handicapped Condition

C. Remarkable Determination

IV. The Sought: A Wanted Man

A. The Insistent Call of Jesus

1. The Call Made: Obedience Demanded

a) A Call to Come

b) A Place to Lodge

2. The Call Answered: Obedience Demonstrated

a) Answered Immediately

b) Answered Joyfully

B. The Intolerant Contrast to Jesus

1. Criticizing Instead of Affirming

2. Demeaning Instead of Uplifting

V. The Saved: A Found Man

A. A Bold Repentance

1. Boldly Announced to Jesus

2. Boldly Demonstrated by Restitution

B. A Beautiful Salvation

1. Attested by Christ

2. Adopted by Faith

3. Afforded by Christ

VI. Conclusion: