Opening
Icebreaker question: What is the most memorable experience you’ve had this year (or last year)?
Prayer
Go into musical worship if someone is scheduled. Otherwise begin with a prayer of thanksgiving.
Passage
Luke 19 : 1-10
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 because he was short he could not see over 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 the lost.”
Discussion
- Have the things you’ve accomplished brought you satisfaction?
- What things do you do, currently, that leave you feeling a sense of joy and satisfaction/fulfillment?
- What do you hope to accomplish in the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
- What experiences in life steal your joy and/or leave you feeling drained?
- Do you have emptiness syndrome? Do you experience feelings of emptiness or feelings of aimlessness?
- Are there days that feel pointless or wasted?
- Are there areas of your life that feel aimless (work, down time, interests, etc.)
- Are you seeking Jesus who alone can fill that emptiness?
- Is there an area in your life that has not been filled by Jesus (Is there an area in life that you have not submitted to Jesus)?
- How have you experienced Jesus filling the emptiness in your life (In what ways have you experienced Jesus’ love and power in your life–directly or through the kindness of others)?
- Jesus came to seek and save sinners. Share a time you have encountered God.
- Are there people that you know who don’t know Jesus? What can you do to help others know Him?
- Meet Jesus and be saved!
- Do you feel you have a relationship with Jesus? Do you feel you have a growing relationship with Jesus or does it feel stagnant?