Meals with Jesus #6: Tea for Two (Luke 19:1-10)

Ready for Impact (10 minutes)

Catch up on how things have been over the past week (over drinks and snacks if possible). Then ask group members:

What does the word ‘generous’ bring to mind for you?

This term, we’re exploring some of the meals Jesus shared. Not only is this helping us get to know Jesus better, but we’re seeing how the way he shared meals has loads of implications for how we experience student life today.

Ask for a volunteer to read Luke 19:1-10 to the group, praying a short prayer that, however much they’ve come to know Jesus, they’d know him better as a result of your time together.

Watch

If you’re not gathered in person, the leader should project the video for the group through sharing their screen. If you’re using Zoom, make sure you have optimized your screen share for video. You can download the video to watch offline.

Impacted by the Word (15 minutes)

Suggested questions to help your discussion.

Luke describes Zacchaeus in verses 2-3. Imagine what life was like for him. What sort of relationship do you imagine he had with the other citizens of Jericho?
What kind of person might Zacchaeus be today?
Why do you think Zacchaeus was so keen to see Jesus?
Read verses 5-6. Which of the details Luke gives us stands out to you most? Why do you think these details are mentioned?
Why do you think a meal with Jesus so transforms Zacchaeus?
Why might Jesus interpret Zacchaeus’ radical generosity as an indicator of his ‘salvation’ (verse 9)?

‘Salvation’ refers to when a person has been saved from peril. Another word we could use is ‘rescue.’ So, in verse 9, Jesus is saying that Zacchaeus has been rescued. Verse 10 adds that, to this point, Zacchaeus had been lost. Now he is found.

The ideas of salvation and rescue are important to the Bible. Christians are rescued by Jesus from the penalty, power and presence of sin. As Jesus sees the overflow of new life with him in Zacchaeus’ new-found generous spirit, he sees the fruit of one who has been rescued and brought to new life.

Abraham was the genetic ancestor of the Jewish nation. He had been a worshipper of other idols until he met with the LORD God. Having changed Abraham’s life, God made his family central to his plans for blessing the world. Circumcision was given to Abraham’s family as physical sign of the reality of these promises. In one sense, then, ‘son of Abraham’ meant to be a physical descendant of Abraham who had willingly adopted a part in God’s big story i.e. to be a Jew who had been circumcised.

By Jesus’ day, the idea emerged that a person’s standing with God was based upon their genetics and obedience to God’s law, especially their willingness to be circumcised. Jewish law-keepers therefore thought of themselves as ‘sons of Abraham.’ Those who weren’t Jewish or who blatantly broke God’s law were not given this title.

Now Jesus calls Zacchaeus ‘a true son of Abraham.’ Jesus is emphasising that national identity and obedience to the law cannot make anyone right with God. True ‘sons of Abraham’ (like Zacchaeus) share Abraham’s faith: this commitment to God starts inwardly but inevitably spills out in love for God and others.

Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)

Encountering Jesus changes Zacchaeus’ relationship with money and possessions. Then the entire town would have been changed as Zacchaeus shared his wealth!

Where have you seen this kind of generosity in people who belong to Jesus?
To what extent has Jesus impacted your relationship with money and possessions?
Where would you like it to have more impact?

Impacting the University (15 minutes)

Today’s episode shows how much a person’s life can be changed when they meet Jesus personally. Watch this video:

Have you ever read the Bible with a friend who isn’t yet a Christian?
What encouragements might Zacchaeus’ story give us to do so?

Feedback on how you got with last week’s activity, then choose another to undertake together this week (ideally a different category to whatever you did last time).

Get nourished: for group bonding

Perhaps this term’s Impact Group is giving you a taste for Luke’s Gospel! Commit together to reading a chapter a day of Luke over the next 24 days, with a view to encountering Jesus personally and hosting an Uncover seeker discussion together with friends next term.

Offer a taste: to do together

Host an Uncover ‘taster session.’ Get together over coffee or food, each inviting friends to commit to trying just the first session. Let those who want to stop there, but be prepared to keep meeting with those who’d like to find out more about Jesus.

Add spice: a personal challenge

Prayerfully commit to asking a friend whether they would like to read one of the biblical accounts with you. You could pair up with others and work through the Uncover seeker studies together – perhaps over coffee or a meal.

Commit to at least one of these activities in the week ahead, and pray for what you have planned. Make the necessary plans, then keep each other updated with progress during the week in your group chat!
Spend time praying for any specific prayer requests group members have. You might also pray that ‘lost’ people around you are found by Jesus.

Wrap-up – think TACOS 🌮

Thank You – Thank everyone for coming, and ask someone to thank God for your time together in prayer.
Ask – Ask those who are new to reading the Bible if they’d like to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in Mark’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate Jesus for themselves alongside one of you.
Church and CU – What does the CU have planned ahead? And what help would group members value in finding a local church?
Others – Who else could you invite to join your CU Impact Group next week? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
See You Soon – Tell the group where and when you’ll meet next week, and arrange who will bring snacks. (You might like to alternate healthy and less healthy weeks!). See if anyone would be up for sharing a meal or hanging out socially in the meantime!