LUKE 19:1–10
WEEK 1 | ZACCHAEUS
PREPARE:
1. Become familiar with the Who’s Your One evangelism initiative by visiting the Who’s Your One website: whosyourone.com
2. Order, for free, or download and print the prayer guide and bookmarks: whosyourone.com/start-a-campaign
3. Go to lifeonmissionbook.com/conversation-guide, and review the 3 Circles method of sharing Christ. Download the free app to your phone, so it is always handy.
4. Open a Bible to Luke 19:1–10, which is the story of Zacchaeus. Read the story yourself before presenting it to your family, making note of the following things about Zacchaeus and the interaction between Jesus and Zacchaeus. Focus on how Jesus approached Zacchaeus and how your family can apply Jesus’ method of evangelism to people in your sphere of influence.
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Zacchaeus was rich because he had taken advantage of his position as chief tax collector by extorting money from his fellow Jews. He was despised by the people in Jericho because he had sold out to the Roman government and mistreated his own people (v. 1).
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Jesus called Zacchaeus by name, though He had never been introduced to him (v. 5). He also knows your person or family of focus. He knows you, too!
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Jesus spent time with Zacchaeus at his house, much to the horror of the citizens of Jericho (v. 6). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (v. 10).
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Though Zacchaeus was a blatant sinner and hated by the people, Jesus thought he was worth saving. Jesus wasn’t concerned with what “righteous” people thought of Him.
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Zacchaeus responded with his whole heart and took immediate action (v. 8). He promised to give half his possessions to the poor and pay back four times the money he had extorted, though only 20% more than what had been extorted was required. These were the actions of a transformed man.
QUESTIONS:
1. When we pray for God to touch a person’s heart, He is faithful to do it. What evidence is there in verse 4 of the story of Zacchaeus that shows Jesus had already been at work on Zacchaeus before He entered Jericho? Zacchaeus was so anxious to see Jesus he climbed a tree.
2. Was Zacchaeus considered a good person by the people of Jericho? Why or why not? The people despised Zacchaeus because he had extorted money from them. They thought him a friend of the Romans.
3. Did Jesus care what the people thought of His going to Zacchaeus’s house? No. Which was more important to Jesus—His reputation among the people or the salvation of Zacchaeus’s soul? Zacchaeus’s soul.
4. What evidence do we see in verse 8 that Zacchaeus was a changed man because Jesus spent time with him? He returned four times the money he extorted and gave half his possessions to the poor. His heart was changed, and he acted on it.
5. How can we apply this story and the actions of Jesus to the people we have chosen as our one(s)? Begin by praying for God to soften their hearts, then make an intentional effort to befriend them (if not already) and be an example of Christ. Accept other answers that fit your context and the people you have chosen. Invite discussion of actions to take.
ACTION:
1. Give each family member one of the bookmarks you ordered. You can order this resource free of charge in packs of 25 from the North American Mission Board at nambstore.com.
2. Have each person write the name of the person, persons or family in the blank provided on each bookmark. Tell each family member to put the bookmark in a place where they will be reminded to pray for their one.
3. Bring out the prayer guide you ordered from the North American Mission Board or downloaded and printed from whosyourone.com/for-you. Note that there are 30 days of pre-printed prayers that coincide with the Bible verse references printed on the bookmarks. Commit to gather as a family and pray daily for your one(s).
4. Write the names of your one(s) in the blanks provided in the prayer guide.
PRAYER:
First pray for your family and your commitment to this task. Then pray for your one(s) using the prayer on day one of the prayer guide. Pray also for whatever the Lord lays on your heart about the persons for whom you are praying. Continue to pray every day, using the prayer guide and the bookmark, for seven days, until you come together again as a family for the devotion for week two.
