Fall Bible Study

• Lesson 2

Jesus and Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10

1 – What made Zacchaeus, a “sinner”, want to see Jesus that day?

Why did he try so hard?

2 – What was the importance of Jesus’ calling Zacchaeus by name?

What effect do you think this had on Zacchaeus?

Read Exodus 3:13-15, Isaiah 62:2; and John 10:3-4.

What do these verses tell us about God’s name and about our names?

3 – Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds”; what does this mean to you?

The author refers to Jesus’ special gift for sensing and ministering to the person who needed him the most in any given moment.

What can we do to develop these same skills in ourselves?

How do we identify those who need us?

4 – The people had labeled Zacchaeus a “sinner” and had negatively judged him based on his profession (a tax collector, loyal to Rome).

In what ways do we label people (examples: job, appearance, religious affiliation, and so forth)?

Why is it hard for us to reach out to people we have a negative view of?

What can we do to see people as they really are, and the potential they have to become something new, as Jesus did with Zacchaeus?

5 – Zacchaeus had made mistakes in the past, but Jesus gave him another chance.

How did Zacchaeus respond? Read Matthew 18:21-22 and Ephesians 4:31-32.

What do these verses tell us about forgiveness and giving someone another chance?

6 – According to Ellsworth Kalas, God is saying to each one of us, “I recruited you. You are a part of my team, and I need you.”

What role do you feel God is calling you to play on the team?

Read Ephesians 4:4-6, and 1 Corinthians 12:14-21, 26.

Explain these verses in your own words.

If Christ is the head of the church and we are all members of Christ’s body, give examples of how we can all work together for the good of Christ and the good of the church.

Focus for the Week

Pray these words from Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Think about and work at using your words to show others they truly are loved, forgiven, and needed.