A Place at the Table: Zacchaeus (Lent)
March 22, 2026
In this powerful message for the fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesse Enniss explores the story of Zacchaeus — a man whose height forced him into a tree but whose reputation kept him at a distance from his community. While the crowds saw a "sinner" and a "traitor," Jesus saw a son of Abraham.
Pastor Jesse dives into the Methodist understanding of grace — prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying — and challenges us to consider how our own "grumbling" might become a stumbling block for others. We are also reminded that sometimes we must get close to someone to see the good fruit God is producing in their lives.
Are we keeping a seat open at the table for the ones Jesus is redeeming? Join us as we learn to move from judgment to proximity.
Sermon Reflections:
- Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, risking his dignity as an adult and a high-status official. What "trees" do we need to climb today to get a better view of what God is doing in our lives?
- The crowd judged Zacchaeus from a distance, but Jesus drew near. Who in your community are you judging from a distance, and how might your perspective change if you "got close enough to see the fruit"?
- Pastor Jesse outlines three types of grace: Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying. Can you identify a time in your life when God’s "prevenient grace" was working before you even realized it?
- When Jesus went to Zacchaeus’s house, the crowd grumbled. Why is it so difficult for us to celebrate the redemption of those we consider "unlovable" or "unsavable"?
- Zacchaeus’s change was visible through his actions (giving to the poor and repaying fourfold). In what ways is the "sanctifying grace" of God producing visible fruit in your own life today?
- Christianity is "not a solo sport." How can your small group or our church as a whole more intentionally create "a seat at the table" for those with lower social status or those who have been hurt by the church?