Episode 032 – A Life Worth Mimickingi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-291{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-291:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-291.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): 1 Corinthians 11:1In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul encourages his audience to mimic his life because he’s mimicking the life of Jesus. In essence, Paul says if you’re struggling to imitate Jesus, just do what I do. It’s a gutsy statement to make. The question is, “Could we say the same?” That’s what this teaching addresses as we look at the mimicking reality of life and why what we do matters so much.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

Who has had a positive influence on your life that you tend to mimic? What do you appreciate most about what them?

Where have you seen people mimic you?

Is your life worth mimicking?

If someone followed you around for a month, what would you be most proud of (in a good way) and what would concern you if they mimicked what you do?

What tangible changes do you desire to make?

How will you begin implementing those changes this week?

Episode 031 – Zacchaeus Pt 7: Answering Your Questionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-294{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-294:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-294.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 5:19-24Over the last six episodes, we’ve been digging into the Zacchaeus story, and I’ve been encouraging you to ask your questions. In this episode, I seek to answer those questions. The discussion entails everything from what salvation meant for the Jewish people in the first century to how we steward our hearts with respect to our money to how Jesus addressed the religious leaders who though they had it all together (and clearly didn’t), and more. May this discussion help round out some additional aspects of the Zacchaeus story as we seek to live out the truths of this story in our lives.

Discussion Questions

Were there any “aha” moments for you in the answers given that helped you better understand a facet of the Zacchaeus story or just life in general?

Were you surprised by the discussion on “salvation?” Why or why not?

Based on your understanding of the Zacchaeus story, were there any questions you would’ve answered differently?

What’s your biggest takeaway from this entire series on Zacchaeus?

Have you begun living out the most significant truths addressed in this series in your life? If so, how? If not, what’s the next step you need to take in doing so?

Episode 030 – Zacchaeus Pt 6: A Wealthy Patterni.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-297{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-297:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-297.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 9:1-2Zacchaeus is a “chief tax collector,” which means he’s incredibly wealthy – something everyone would’ve known. So why does Luke go out of his way to include the detail that he was “wealthy” as well? I believe he’s helping his audience connect into a larger theme of “wealth” that has been threaded throughout his gospel. In doing so, he’s encouraging us to see just how revealing and redemptive Zacchaeus’s response of using his wealth appropriately was to the advancement of Jesus’s kingdom movement. This is a teaching that will challenge us all in how we utilize the resources God’s given to us.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

Do you generally think of yourself as “wealthy?” Why or why not?

Remember that half of the world’s population live on less than $2 a day. Knowing this, how does this change your view on what “wealthy” means?

Where were you most challenged in thinking about your wealth?

Where are you using your resources in a way that advances Jesus’ kingdom?

Where have you allowed wealth and possessions to pull you off track?

How will you begin walking out your desired changes in the coming weeks?

Episode 029 – Zacchaeus Pt 5: The Amos Backdropi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-300{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-300:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-300.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Amos 7:1-8, 17; Amos 9:14Who cares that it was a sycamore fig-tree that Zacchaeus climbed? Of all the details Luke could’ve included, why this one? Could it be the key for unlocking a substantial element to the story that is often overlooked? I believe so. And what it unlocks will push us all to think deeper and harder about how we live out the biblical concepts of justice and righteousness, and why the entire book of Amos addresses these issues and appears to ultimately inform Zacchaeus’s response. It was these connections that originally gripped by attention towards the Zacchaeus story, and I believe they will grip you as well.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

What was most the most helpful thing you learned about justice and righteousness?

How have you traditionally understood “righteousness,” and how did this teaching help or challenge you to think differently about it?

What connections are you making to other stories in the Bible after being tipped off to the concepts of justice and righteousness?

Where are you being challenged in how you help and interact with the poor and needy?

How can you begin walking out these truths in the days and weeks to come?

For Further Study

Amos Video by The Bible Project

Justice Video by The Bible Project

Who Cares That it Was a Sycamore? Climbing Trees and Playing on Words in Luke 19.1-10 by J. Lee Magness

Episode 028 – Zacchaeus Pt 4: To Seek and To Savei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-303{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-303:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-303.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 19:10; Daniel 7:12-13; Ezekiel 34The Zacchaeus story ends with Jesus stating, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This wasn’t just a nice summary statement, but an electric proclamation that would’ve sent shockwaves through his listeners’ ears. Drawing upon two substantial prophetic books, Jesus demonstrates that he’s reclaiming the world, that he’s the fulfillment the entire biblical story, and that with extreme compassion, he’s bringing people back into the fold.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

Prior to this teaching, were you familiar with the practice of remez? Are you aware of any other stories where Jesus utilizes this strategy?

Teachings like this remind us of the importance of the Old Testament. How have you traditionally viewed the importance of the Old Testament? Where do you feel you need to grow the most in engaging and understanding the Old Testament?

Knowing what you now know, what thoughts and emotions would’ve been rattling through the hearts of minds of those who heard Jesus use phrases like “Son of Man” and “to seek and save?”

In what ways have you experienced Jesus pursuing you with extreme compassion?

How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week?

For Further Study

TaNaK / Old Testament Video by The Bible Project

Daniel Video by The Bible Project

Ezekiel Video by The Bible Project

The Restoration of All Things – this is a 73-minute teaching I did on the entire Bible from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, providing the overarching narrative and for understanding what the Bible is all about. The timeline graphic that accompanies the teaching can be downloaded at the teaching link.

Episode 027 – Zacchaeus Pt 3: Jesus’s Shocking Actionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-306{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-306:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-306.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 19:1-10; Luke 15:1-2In the first two episodes, we examined Zacchaeus’ actions and how utterly remarkable his responses were. But how were such responses even possible? The answer lies in Jesus’ actions. They’re shocking, perplexing, and infuriating to those in the crowd, but life-giving and healing to those in need of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. May we not only embrace Jesus’ actions, but emulate them to others as well.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

In three weeks of engaging this passage now, what did you see or learn that you hadn’t seen in the story thus far?

“How often are we the crowd?” was posed in the teaching. What came to mind as you heard that question?

Which of Jesus’ five actions (knew name and pursued, offered love and acceptance, didn’t care about reputation but people, rescued and restored, enabled Zacchaeus to become who he was called to be) struck you the most? Why?

What which did you need to hear the most? Which one challenged you the most as you think about emulating Jesus’ actions to others?

How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week?

For Further Study

Encounters With Jesus by Gary M. Burge – This story is addressed in Chapter 3 (Note: Gary comes to a different conclusion about Zacchaeus’s actions).

Episode 026 – Zacchaeus Pt 2: A Holistic Responsei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-309{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-309:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-309.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 19:5-10Following his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus’s response is utterly remarkable. He pledges to give half of his possessions to the poor and provide a fourfold restitution to those he’s wronged. He understands what a holistic response looks like, and offers an incredible pattern for us to follow in our lives as well.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

What surprised you most about Zacchaeus’s response?

What connections are you making within the Zacchaeus story, or in relationship to other stories in the gospels or in the Bible at large?

In the holistic approach of repentance, reconciliation, and impact, which one do you do the best? Which one do you need to improve?

In his forthcoming actions, Zacchaeus was going to have the opportunity to share his story of how Jesus changed him. In what ways has Jesus impacted you, and what opportunities do you have to share that story?

How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week?

Episode 025 – Zacchaeus Pt 1: Climb a Treei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-312{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-312:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-312.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 19:1-4We’re kicking off a series on Zacchaeus from Luke 19 where over the course of several weeks, we’re going to look at this story from a number of different angles. In this particular teaching, we look at Zacchaeus’ desire to change and what he had to overcome in order to have an encounter with Jesus. It’s going to be quite a ride as this electric story is about so much more than just a wee little man.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

How have you traditionally understood the Zacchaeus story?

Where do you long to have change in your life? Is it something you desire to become better at? Is it something that needs to go from your life?

What’s keeping you from pursuing this change? Shame? Fear? Not knowing where to begin?

Like Zacchaeus, how can you put yourself in a position to encounter the desired change – i.e. What tree do you need to climb?

How will you begin walking this out over this next week?

Episode 024 – Fully Present (Put Down the Cell Phone)i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-315{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-315:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-315.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Exodus 24:12How often are we “there,” but not really “there?” How often are we distracted and not fully present in the moments we find ourselves in? What does that do to us, and particularly to those who become collateral damage in our inability to be present? This is what this teaching addresses as we look at a fascinating passage in Exodus 24 and seek to apply it to the various aspects of our lives, especially in our addiction (err, usage) of our cell phones.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

When was the last time someone called you out on not being present? What were the implications?

In what circumstances are you most likely not to be fully present? What do you need to do to change that?

On a scale of 1 (no problem) to 10 (big problem), how would you rate your relationship with your cell phone?

Do you have rules (or need rules) to keep a healthy relationship with technology?

How would life look differently for you if you were able to be present in every situation?

How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week?

For Further Study

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch

Episode 023 – Divine In The Dailyi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-318{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-318:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-318.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Exodus 3:1-5We generally look for God in the big things, and yet, I believe God is most available to us in the everyday, humdrum activities of life. The problem is, we’re unaware as we speed through life, not slowing down long enough to notice the miracles in our midst and to encounter the divine in the daily. God woke Moses up to this reality, and I believe God wants to do the same for you and me.

Discussion Questions

What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching?

Where can you create margin in your day to explore those intuitions that arise from time to time?

When was the last time you experienced “a burning bush” moment when the unexpected became spectacular because you entered fully into a situation or encounter? What allowed you to give your attention to that moment?

Where do you need to slow down, wake up, and pay attention?

How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week?

For Further Study

God Was in this Place, and I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner – Chapter 1 addresses the content of this teaching

Holy Now by Peter Mayer – YouTube Video