Challenging Expectations: The Radical Love of Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Sees and Welcomes the Outcast

No matter where you are or what others think of you, Jesus sees you, calls you by name, and welcomes you with joy. The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that God’s love is not limited by our past, our reputation, or the labels others place on us. Even when the crowd grumbled and judged, Jesus chose to stay with Zacchaeus, affirming his worth and belonging. You are never hidden from God’s sight, and His invitation is always open to you, just as you are. [35:13]

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Reflection: Who in your life might feel unseen or unwelcome? How can you reach out to them today with the same welcome and love that Jesus offers?

Day 2: God Challenges Our Expectations

God rarely fits into the boxes we create or the expectations we hold. The story of Zacchaeus, and even the way his name means “pure and righteous one,” upends our assumptions about who is worthy of God’s love and favor. Sometimes, we are so attached to our traditions, our interpretations, or our comfort zones that we miss the surprising ways God is at work. Let God challenge your expectations today—be open to seeing Him move in people and places you might not expect. [46:13]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Reflection: What is one expectation you have about God or others that you sense God might be inviting you to reconsider or release today?

Day 3: Faith Is Not Transactional

We often fall into the pattern of thinking that faith is a formula: sin, repent, receive forgiveness. But the story of Zacchaeus invites us to see that God’s grace is not a transaction to be earned or a formula to be followed. Zacchaeus was already living generously, and Jesus declared salvation had come to his house—not because of a transaction, but because of relationship and recognition. God’s love is freely given, not earned, and He invites us to live in that freedom. [49:23]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself trying to “earn” God’s love or approval? How can you rest in the truth that His grace is a gift?

Day 4: Jesus Sides with the Oppressed—Even the Unexpected

Jesus always hears the cry of the oppressed, even when the oppressed are not who we expect. Zacchaeus, though wealthy and powerful, was rejected and judged by his community. Jesus stood with him, affirming his dignity and worth. Sometimes, those who seem to have it all are carrying unseen burdens or are marginalized in ways we don’t recognize. Jesus calls us to see and stand with all who are excluded or misunderstood, offering compassion and solidarity. [56:16]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: Who in your community might be overlooked or misunderstood, despite outward appearances? How can you show them the nearness and compassion of Christ today?

Day 5: Radical Inclusion—The Love of Jesus Is for Everyone

The Gospel of Luke highlights that everyone has a place in the family of Christ. The story of Zacchaeus is a powerful reminder that God’s love is radically inclusive, extending to every person regardless of status, background, or reputation. As followers of Jesus, we are called to create spaces where all are welcomed, embraced, and affirmed as beloved children of God. May we be a church and a people who love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously, reflecting the heart of Christ to the world. [57:40]

Galatians 3:26-28 (ESV)
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can help your church or community become a more welcoming and inclusive place for all people this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering was a celebration of connection, community, and the radical, unexpected love of God. We began by sharing the many ways our church is reaching out—through upcoming events, our Advent study, and especially our ongoing ministries like the community meal and coat drive. These acts of service are not just programs; they are the heartbeat of who we are. The true measure of a church is not in numbers or rituals, but in whether those most in need would recommend us, whether they feel seen, loved, and included.

We heard gratitude from those we’ve served—a note from Geneva House, and another from someone blessed by our closed captioning. These reminders call us to be a church that is open, inclusive, and attentive to the needs of all, striving to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

Our worship centered on the story of Zacchaeus from Luke’s Gospel. This story is often told as a tale of a notorious sinner’s repentance, but a closer look at the text challenges that expectation. Zacchaeus’ name means “pure and righteous one,” and a literal translation of the Greek suggests he was already living generously and justly. The crowd, not Jesus, labeled him a sinner. Jesus, as always, saw the truth and sided with the one who was misunderstood and marginalized—even if he had status and wealth.

This challenges our assumptions about who is worthy, how salvation works, and what God’s love looks like. We often want God to fit our expectations, to reward the “good” and punish the “bad,” to operate by our formulas of sin, repentance, and forgiveness. But God’s grace is not transactional. Jesus’ love is not limited by our categories or our comfort zones. The story of Zacchaeus invites us to let go of our need for control and certainty, and to embrace a God who surprises us with mercy, inclusion, and radical welcome.

May we be a people who challenge our own expectations, who create space for all to belong, and who experience not the God we expect, but the God we truly need.

Key Takeaways

1. True success is measured by compassion The real test of a church is not attendance or programs, but whether the most vulnerable in our community would speak well of us. When we serve, include, and love those on the margins, we reflect the heart of Christ. Our acts of compassion are the truest sign of God’s presence among us. [09:20]
2. God’s love disrupts our expectations The story of Zacchaeus shows that God rarely fits into the boxes we create. Jesus did not condemn Zacchaeus, but saw his true heart and welcomed him. We are called to let go of our assumptions about who is worthy and open ourselves to the surprising ways God’s grace is at work. [40:36]
3. Inclusion is not optional—it’s essential Luke’s Gospel highlights the radical inclusivity of Jesus, who brings outsiders in and challenges the crowd’s judgments. Our calling is to create a church where all are seen, valued, and embraced, regardless of status, background, or reputation. This is not a side project; it is the core of our mission. [43:12]
4. Faith is not a transaction, but a relationship The common formula—sin, repentance, forgiveness—can make faith feel like a business deal. But Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus reveals a deeper truth: God’s love is not earned or bartered, but freely given. We are invited into a relationship where grace precedes and exceeds all our efforts. [49:23]
5. We need the God we don’t expect Our tendency is to shape God in our own image, to seek comfort in predictability. But the God revealed in Jesus continually challenges, surprises, and transforms us. The invitation is to surrender our expectations and receive the God who meets our deepest needs, not just our desires. [57:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:36] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[06:17] - Combined Service and Advent Study
[07:00] - Coat Drive and Community Meal
[07:40] - Reflections on Community Needs
[08:19] - Church in the News
[08:56] - What Makes a Church Successful?
[09:52] - Letters of Gratitude
[10:47] - Embracing Inclusivity
[11:29] - Mission and Vision Statements
[12:01] - Call to Worship: Zacchaeus
[16:27] - Jesus Sees Us
[21:01] - Prayer: Being Seen and Loved
[24:14] - Affirming Our Faith
[26:47] - The Meaning of “Catholic”
[27:59] - Prayers for the Hungry
[30:34] - Children’s Message: Challenged Expectations
[35:13] - Gospel Reading: Zacchaeus
[37:07] - Sandia Crest and Expectations
[40:36] - God and Our Expectations
[43:12] - Luke’s Radical Inclusivity
[45:25] - The Meaning of Zacchaeus’ Name
[46:48] - Rethinking Repentance and Salvation
[49:23] - Faith Beyond Transaction
[53:55] - Making God Fit Our Expectations
[56:16] - Jesus Sides with the Oppressed
[57:40] - The God We Need
[58:16] - Blessing and Offering
[62:28] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
[62:51] - Closing Hymn

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV) — > He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation Questions

According to the story, who called Zacchaeus a sinner—Jesus or the crowd? What was Jesus’ response to Zacchaeus? [[47:36]]
What does Zacchaeus say about his own actions regarding generosity and justice? Does he promise to change, or does he describe his current way of living? [[50:43]]
What is the meaning of Zacchaeus’ name, and how does that challenge our expectations about him? [[45:25]]
In the sermon, what examples were given of the church reaching out to those in need? [[07:40]]

Interpretation Questions

The crowd labeled Zacchaeus as a sinner, but Jesus saw something different. What does this reveal about how Jesus views people compared to how society often does? [[47:36]]
The sermon suggests that Zacchaeus was already living generously and justly. How does this challenge the usual “sin, repentance, forgiveness” formula we expect in stories of salvation? [[49:23]]
The story of Zacchaeus is only found in Luke’s Gospel, which the pastor says is “obsessed with the idea of everyone finding a place and belonging.” Why might Luke have chosen to include this story when other Gospel writers did not? [[43:12]]
The pastor mentioned that the true measure of a church is whether the most vulnerable would recommend it. How does this idea shift the focus from numbers and programs to compassion and inclusion? [[09:20]]

Application Questions

The pastor asked, “Would the poor of your community write your church a letter of recommendation?” How do you think our church would be viewed by those in need? What is one thing you could do this month to help someone on the margins feel seen and included? [[09:20]]
Zacchaeus was misunderstood and labeled by the crowd, but Jesus saw his true heart. Have you ever felt misunderstood or judged by others? How did it affect you, and what would it look like to see others the way Jesus does? [[47:36]]
The sermon challenges us to let go of our need for control and certainty about who is “in” or “out.” Are there people or groups you find it hard to welcome or include? What is one step you could take to create more space for belonging? [[54:39]]
The pastor pointed out that God’s love is not transactional—it’s not about earning or bartering for grace. Do you ever find yourself trying to “earn” God’s love or approval? What would it look like to rest in the truth that God’s love is freely given? [[49:23]]
The story of Zacchaeus invites us to have our expectations about God challenged. Can you think of a time when God surprised you or worked in a way you didn’t expect? How did that experience change your faith? [[57:40]]
The church is called to be radically inclusive, not just as a side project but as the core of its mission. What is one practical way you can help make our church more welcoming to people of different backgrounds, abilities, or life experiences? [[43:12]]
The pastor shared stories of gratitude from people who benefited from the church’s ministries, like the community meal and closed captioning. How can you personally contribute to making sure everyone feels valued and included in our church family? [[10:47]]

Sermon Clips

It's okay to have our expectations challenged. It's okay for us to not always know what's next. It's okay for us to not always think we've got it all together. It's okay to have our expectations challenged. [00:31:16] (21 seconds) #EmbraceUncertainty

Naming, naming something in the Bible is very, very significant. From the very beginning, and I mean the beginning Genesis, the name Adam, or in Hebrew Adam, is a Hebrew play on words. Because Adam, of course, is the name of the first man. Adam is the first, is the name of the first man. And the Hebrew word for the earth, or the ground, is Adamah. Because it's wordplay. Because in one of the creation stories, the person, Adam, Adam, is literally taken from the ground, from the Adamah. And so it's, it's wordplay. Naming is an important part throughout the Bible. [00:44:16] (47 seconds) #PowerOfNaming

Who calls Zacchaeus a fraud? Who calls Zacchaeus a sinner in the story? Here's a hint. It wasn't Jesus. It wasn't Jesus. That was always my expectation. But what actually happens is that Jesus comes into town. He must have heard that, I don't know, Zacchaeus makes a really great mac and cheese. And he's like, I gotta go to your house. This is, I, you. You, Zacchaeus. It's the people, it's the crowd in the story. They're mad because they think that Zacchaeus is a fraud and a cheat and a sinner. [00:47:27] (43 seconds) #CrowdJudgmentNotJesus

In the literal translation, it says that in response to the crowd, Zacchaeus did not say, I will give away half of my possession. It says, I do give away half of my possessions. As in, this is my current practice. This is what I do right now. It doesn't say, I will give people back four times what I owe them if I cheat them. It says, I do that already. This is a part, this is what you get when you hire Zacchaeus tax collecting service. That's the service you get. It's my current practice. [00:50:43] (44 seconds) #ZacchaeusCurrentGenerosity

If that's true, if that's true, that means that Zacchaeus really is a pure and righteous one. He really is pure and righteous. He really does live up to his name. [00:51:30] (19 seconds) #TrueRighteousness

They made up, out of whole cloth, an entire verb tense just to make sure that their expectations were met. That's how far they were willing to go to get the God that we expect to get. And I wonder what the answer would be if I were to ask the same question. How far are we willing to go to make sure that our expectations of our God are met? What are we willing to do in order to get the God we expect to get? [00:54:04] (36 seconds) #ChallengingGodExpectations

We always just assumed, I always just assumed, that Jesus thought Zacchaeus was a dirty, rotten scoundrel. But rather, this is a story about Jesus doing what Jesus always does. Jesus always hears the cry of the oppressed. Sometimes the oppressed even has status. Zacchaeus had status. He was rich. He was known. And yet he was oppressed by the crowd that gathered. They thought he was rotten. And they said as much. And Zacchaeus said, I'm not. This is a story of Jesus doing what Jesus always does. Jesus always takes sides. And Jesus always sides with the oppressed even when they have status. [00:55:59] (61 seconds) #JesusSidesWithOppressed

So my friends, may you have your expectations challenged. May you embrace this radical, unexpected idea that the love of Jesus Christ truly is for every single person. May you create a space where everyone feels welcomed and embraced. And may you not experience the God that you expect. But may you experience the God that we all need. [00:57:57] (31 seconds) #ExperienceGodWeNeed

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does the name Zacchaeus truly mean?

How do expectations influence our understanding of God?

In what ways does Jesus challenge societal labels?