Pieces of the Puzzle

Following Jesus: A Church Centered on Christ

Scripture: Luke 19:1–10; Titus 3:3–7

So much of life seems to work in a certain order.

You prove yourself, then you’re accepted. You work hard, and then you’re rewarded. You meet the expectations, and then you belong.

We learn it pretty early in life. Get the grades. Make the team. Do the job well. Say the right things. Meet the expectations.

After a while, it’s easy to begin believing that acceptance is something we have to earn.

Sometimes we even bring that same way of thinking into our relationship with God. We imagine that we need to get our lives together first. Make better choices. Become a little more faithful, a little more loving, a little more like the person we think God wants us to be.

Then maybe we’ll be ready for God.

But grace works in a very different order.

In Luke 19:1–10, Jesus encounters a man named Zacchaeus. His life is complicated. His choices have affected other people. His reputation in the community isn’t good.

Most of us know what eventually happens: Zacchaeus changes.

But the most surprising part of the story may be when he changes.

Before Zacchaeus changes anything, Jesus sees him.

Jesus calls him by name.

And Jesus invites himself to his house.

Grace comes first. Transformation follows.

The Person Behind the Label

Everybody in Jericho already knows who Zacchaeus is. Luke tells us that he isn’t simply a tax collector. He is a chief tax collector, and he is rich (Luke 19:2).

Tax collectors worked within the Roman system, collecting money from their own people on behalf of an occupying power. The system also provided plenty of opportunity to collect more than was owed and keep the difference.

Zacchaeus hasn’t merely survived within that system. Apparently, he has done quite well for himself.

So the people of Jericho already have him figured out. They have a word for him: sinner.

When Jesus announces that he is going to Zacchaeus’ house, the crowd grumbles:

“He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
—Luke 19:7

They don’t say, “Zacchaeus.”

They say, “a sinner.”

We can do the same thing.

We take one thing we know about someone—a choice they’ve made, a struggle they’ve had, something they’ve done, or a group they belong to—and allow that one thing to become their whole story.

Divorced. Addict. Immigrant. Republican. Democrat. Troublemaker.

Sometimes a label may tell us something that is true. Zacchaeus really has made choices that have hurt people. Later in the story, even he seems to acknowledge that (Luke 19:8).

But a label can tell us something about a person without telling us everything about that person.

The crowd looks up into the tree and sees everything they already believe about Zacchaeus.

Jesus looks up and sees Zacchaeus.

The crowd sees a category.

Jesus sees a person.

Jesus Looks Up

Zacchaeus climbs a tree because he wants to see Jesus (Luke 19:3–4). But then something happens that changes the whole story:

“When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up…”
—Luke 19:5

Zacchaeus thinks he is looking for Jesus.

But Jesus is already looking for Zacchaeus.

Jesus stops. Jesus looks up. Jesus sees him. And then Jesus calls him by name:

“Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.”
—Luke 19:5

Notice the order.

Zacchaeus hasn’t confessed anything. He hasn’t given any money away. He hasn’t made things right with anyone he may have harmed. He hasn’t done anything to prove that he deserves Jesus’ attention.

Jesus comes near first.

That’s grace.

In the Wesleyan tradition, we call this prevenient grace—the grace of God that goes before us.

Before we recognize God, God is already reaching toward us. Before we take a step toward Christ, Christ has already taken a step toward us.

Titus describes it this way:

“When God our Savior’s kindness and love appeared, he saved us because of his mercy, not because of righteous things we had done.”
—Titus 3:4–5

Titus gives us the theology.

Zacchaeus shows us what it looks like.

Grace walks right up to the tree. Grace looks up. Grace calls him by name. Grace comes home with him.

Grace comes first. Transformation follows.

Grace Changes Us

Grace coming first doesn’t mean that nothing in Zacchaeus’ life needs to change.

Something happens when Jesus comes near.

Zacchaeus says:

“Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”
—Luke 19:8

That’s not a small adjustment.

Grace is reshaping the way Zacchaeus lives—his relationship with money, with his neighbors, and with anyone he may have harmed.

But once again, notice the order.

Jesus doesn’t stand beneath the tree and demand that Zacchaeus prove he has changed before Jesus will come to his house.

Jesus comes near first (Luke 19:5–6).

Grace isn’t God overlooking everything in our lives that needs to change. Grace is much more powerful than that.

Grace meets us where we are and continues working within us. God’s grace forgives, restores, and reshapes us as we grow in love of God and neighbor.

As Paul writes, “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

Grace isn’t God’s reward for transformation. Grace is God’s power that makes transformation possible.

Grace Changes How We See People

Zacchaeus isn’t the only person being challenged in this story.

There’s also the crowd.

They have already decided who belongs and who doesn’t (Luke 19:7). Churches can fall into the same pattern.

Who belongs?

Who is ready?

Who believes enough?

Who has changed enough?

Who has their life together enough?

But a church centered on Christ learns to see people the way Jesus sees them.

Remember the tree.

The crowd looked up and saw a sinner.

Jesus looked up and saw Zacchaeus.

That’s the kind of vision grace gives us.

Grace teaches us to see people not simply for where they are right now, but as people created and loved by God—and as people in whom God’s grace is still at work.

From the beginning of Scripture, human beings are described as created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). The labels we give one another can never tell the whole story of a person who bears that image.

That doesn’t mean discipleship doesn’t matter. Zacchaeus makes that clear. Encountering Jesus changes the direction of his life (Luke 19:8–9).

But we have to remember the order.

Welcome isn’t the reward people receive after transformation. Welcome creates space where grace can begin transforming lives.

That’s what it means to be a church where grace comes first.

None of us is finished yet.

Every one of us is still being shaped by grace. Every one of us is still learning to follow. Every one of us still has a next faithful step.

We trust that the God who began a good work in us continues that work in us (Philippians 1:6).

A church where grace comes first isn’t a gathering of people who have already arrived.

It is a community of people who have been welcomed by grace, are being changed by grace, and are learning to offer that same grace to one another.

There Is Still a Next Step

Jesus’ invitation to the first disciples was simple:

“Follow me.”
—Matthew 4:19

But the story of Zacchaeus reminds us that even before we begin following Jesus, Jesus has already come toward us.

Grace comes first.

As 1 John puts it, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Yet grace doesn’t leave Zacchaeus sitting in the tree. Jesus says:

“Zacchaeus, come down.”
—Luke 19:5

That’s his next step.

Once Zacchaeus responds, grace begins reaching into every part of his life—his home, his possessions, his relationships, even the places where harm may have been done (Luke 19:6–8).

The same is true for us.

Some of us have been following Jesus for decades. Some may still be trying to figure out what following Jesus means. Even after years of following, we continue discovering what faithfulness looks like in new seasons and circumstances.

Following Jesus when life is going well may look different from following Jesus through grief, uncertainty, illness, or change. New situations ask something new of our faith.

Discipleship is never something we finish.

We keep listening. We keep learning. We keep growing.

And through it all, God’s grace continues to meet us and invite us forward.

There is always a next faithful step.

Maybe it’s something that needs to change.

Maybe it’s a relationship that needs healing.

Maybe it’s someone we need to see differently.

Maybe it’s simply trusting that God’s grace really is for us.

Whatever that step may be, we don’t take it to earn God’s grace.

We take it because grace has already come near.

Grace comes first. And then grace invites us to follow.

This post is part of our series, Following Jesus: A Church Centered on Christ*, exploring what it means for a congregation—and for each of us—to center our life on Jesus and continue taking the next faithful step.*

Scripture references: Luke 19:1–10; Titus 3:3–7; Genesis 1:26–27; Matthew 4:19; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13; 1 John 4:19.

Scripture: Mark 1:14–20

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become distracted?

We begin with good intentions. We want to follow Jesus. But before long, our schedules, our worries, our ambitions—even good things—begin pulling us in different directions.

Everything has a center.

Our solar system has a center. Every planet is held in its orbit by the sun. A wheel has a hub. Remove the hub, and the wheel wobbles and eventually falls apart.

Even our lives have a center. Whether we realize it or not, there is always something around which we organize our lives.

For some, it is family. For others, it is success, security, achievement, or comfort. Sometimes it is fear. Sometimes it is the desire to be accepted. Whatever is at the center eventually shapes everything else.

It shapes our decisions. It shapes our priorities. It shapes the way we spend our time, our money, and our energy.

The same is true for a church.

Every church has a center. Some are centered on tradition; others on programs or personalities. Those things can be wonderful gifts, but they were never meant to hold the center.

The church has only one center: Jesus Christ.

That raises an important question:

What does it mean for Jesus to be at the center of our church?

It means becoming a community of people who continually orient our lives around Jesus and help one another follow him.

This message begins a new sermon series exploring that question, starting with the first words Jesus speaks in Mark’s Gospel.

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Jesus Announces a New Reality

Scripture: Mark 1:14–15

When we hear this passage, it is easy to focus on the disciples leaving their nets—and we will come to that. But before Jesus ever says, “Follow me,” Mark tells us something even more important.

Jesus begins with an announcement:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:15, NRSVUE)

These are more than the opening words of Jesus’ ministry. They announce that everything has changed.

Notice what Jesus does not begin with. He does not hand people a list of rules or launch a new religious movement. He begins with good news.

“The kingdom of God has come near.”

For centuries, Israel had confessed that God is King. The Scriptures proclaimed God’s reign over creation and God’s care for God’s people. Now Jesus declares that God’s reign has broken into history in a new and decisive way.

The kingdom is not merely a promise for someday. It is God’s rule breaking into the present through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

This is why the gospel is called good news.

The King has come. And that changes everything.

Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say, “If you repent, then God’s kingdom will come.” He says, “The kingdom of God has come near.”

God has already acted.

Before anyone repents, before anyone believes, before anyone leaves a fishing net, God has come near.

That is grace.

God always takes the first step. The invitation to follow always begins with God’s initiative, not ours.

Because God has come near, Jesus now says:

“Repent, and believe the good news.”

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Jesus Calls for a New Direction

Scripture: Mark 1:15

If the kingdom has come near, then Jesus says there is only one appropriate response:

“Repent, and believe the good news.”

Those are familiar words. In fact, they are so familiar that we can easily miss what Jesus is actually saying.

When many of us hear the word repent, we think about feeling guilty or being sorry for our sins. Certainly repentance includes confessing our sins, but Jesus means something much bigger.

Repent literally means “to change your mind,” but Jesus is calling for something deeper—a complete reorientation of life. It is turning toward God’s kingdom and away from every other kingdom that competes for our allegiance.

It is not merely regret.

It is choosing to live under a new King.

Then Jesus says:

“Believe the good news.”

Here again, our English language can be misleading.

We often think believing means accepting certain facts as true. Yes, Jesus is the Son of God. Yes, Jesus died and rose again. Those truths matter deeply.

But in the first century, faith meant even more than intellectual agreement. It carried the idea of allegiance—of loyalty, trust, and faithful commitment.

I remember hiking one time when the trail was not clearly marked. We came to a fork in the path, and from where we stood, both trails looked right. We studied the map, looked around, and still were not sure.

Then someone who knew the trail came along and simply said,

“Trust me. This is the way.”

At that moment, it was not enough to believe they knew the trail.

We had to decide whether we were willing to follow.

That is the difference between believing something and entrusting yourself to someone.

In the same way, many people admire Jesus. They may even believe all the right things about him.

But following Jesus means entrusting your life to him.

It means placing your whole life under his leadership, trusting that when you cannot see the whole journey, he knows the way.

That is exactly what we see in the next verses.

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Jesus Invites Ordinary People

Scripture: Mark 1:16–20

The very first people Jesus calls are not priests or scholars. They are not political leaders or religious experts.

They are fishermen.

Simon.

Andrew.

James.

John.

Ordinary people going about an ordinary day.

They are not looking for Jesus. They are simply casting their nets, doing what they had done countless times before.

Then Jesus walks into their ordinary lives and speaks two words that changed everything:

“Follow me.” (Mark 1:17)

Notice what Jesus does not ask.

He does not ask if they have memorized the Scriptures, overcome every weakness, or reached spiritual maturity.

He simply invites them to follow.

Just as striking is what Mark does not tell us.

He does not tell us Peter understood everything about Jesus. He does not tell us Andrew had unwavering faith or that James and John had all their questions answered.

They did not have complete understanding.

They had a beginning.

That is what discipleship is.

Not having all the answers.

Not arriving at perfection.

But saying “yes” to the next step Jesus places before us.

That may be one of the most encouraging truths in this story.

Jesus does not wait until people have everything figured out before calling them.

He calls them first.

Then, as they walk with him, they learn, they grow, they stumble, they fail, they are forgiven, and they keep following.

Isn’t that true for us as well?

None of us begins this journey with perfect faith.

None of us has every question answered.

We are all still learning what it means to follow Jesus.

That is true for me too. Even after seminary, and even after serving as a pastor for several years, I am still learning and growing.

The good news is that Jesus does not say,

“Come back when you’ve figured it all out.”

He simply says,

“Follow me.”

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A Church Centered on Jesus

When Simon and Andrew left their nets, they were not simply changing careers.

They were re-centering their lives around Jesus.

From that moment on, everything would be shaped by one question:

Where is Jesus leading us?

That is what it means to be a church centered on Christ.

It is not that we all have the same gifts, experiences, or stories.

It is that together we keep asking one essential question:

How is Jesus calling us to follow?

That question shapes everything.

• It shapes our worship.
• It shapes how we love one another.
• It shapes how we serve our neighbors.
• It shapes how we welcome those who walk through our doors.

If Jesus is truly at the center, everything else finds its proper place around him.

Throughout this series, we will continue exploring what it means to live by grace, grow in love, welcome others, and take the next faithful step.

Because the goal is not simply to become a better church.

The goal is to become more faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

When we keep saying “yes” to his invitation, the church becomes exactly what Christ intends it to be.

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Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

Our journey is beautifully summarized in the words of Hebrews 12:1–2:

“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

The writer of Hebrews uses the image of a journey.

The Christian life is not standing still.

It is not checking off a list.

It is not proving that we have arrived.

It is a lifelong journey of following Jesus.

How do we stay on that journey?

Not by constantly looking at ourselves.

Not by comparing ourselves with someone else’s faith.

Not by becoming distracted by all the things competing for our attention.

We keep our eyes on Jesus.

Because wherever our eyes are fixed, our lives will eventually follow.

A church centered on Christ is a church that keeps its eyes on Jesus.

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A Continuing Invitation

When Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, he did not begin with a list of requirements.

He simply said,

“Follow me.” (Mark 1:17)

That invitation has never changed.

Jesus does not say,

“Figure everything out first.”

He does not say,

“Come back when you’re perfect.”

He simply says,

“Follow me.”

Some people have been following Jesus for many years.

Others are just beginning.

Still others may be wondering whether they are ready to take that first step.

Wherever you find yourself today, hear this good news:

Jesus is still calling.

Perhaps the most important question is not whether we have arrived.

The most important question is this:

What is Jesus inviting me to do next?

A church centered on Christ is simply a community of people who keep saying “yes” to Jesus’ invitation to follow.

When we do, our worship changes.

Our relationships change.

Our priorities change.

Our communities change.

Not because we become perfect,

but because we keep following the One who is.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been reflecting on what Christian joy really is. Not the passing happiness that depends on circumstances, but the deep and lasting joy that comes from God.

The Bible reminds us that our joy begins because God delights in us (Zephaniah 3:17). It grows as we learn to trust God’s care (Matthew 6:25–34), and it gives us courage because God has been faithful in the past and will remain faithful in the future (Joshua 1:9; Hebrews 13:8).

That leads to an important question:

What is joy for?

Is Christian joy simply something to enjoy privately, or is it meant to bless others?

Scripture gives a clear answer. Joy is meant to overflow. It creates community. It opens doors. It makes room for others.

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Joy Creates Community

The prophet Zechariah paints a beautiful picture of God’s restored people:

“Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem… and the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.” (Zechariah 8:4–5, NRSVUE)

Notice what defines this vision. It isn’t impressive buildings or growing numbers. It’s people living together in peace.

Older adults can sit together without fear.

Children can play safely.

Neighbors enjoy one another’s company.

Joy is measured by relationships.

That challenges how many of us define success. We often focus on attendance, budgets, or facilities. Those things certainly matter, but Zechariah invites us to ask deeper questions:

• Do people feel safe?
• Do they feel known?
• Do they know they belong?
• Can newcomers find more than a seat—can they find a community?

Where those things exist, God’s joy is taking root.

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Cana Reveals God’s Abundance

John tells us that Jesus’ first public sign took place at a wedding (John 2:1–11).

John intentionally calls it a sign, not simply a miracle.

A sign points beyond itself.

The miracle isn’t just about turning water into wine. It reveals something about Jesus—and about God.

Jesus begins His public ministry, not in the Temple, but at a celebration.

When the wine runs out, Jesus quietly provides far more than anyone expects. Six large stone jars become somewhere between 120 and 180 gallons of excellent wine (John 2:6–10).

This isn’t simply solving an embarrassing problem.

It’s revealing God’s generous heart.

Where Jesus is present, grace is abundant.

Mercy overflows.

There is more than enough.

The first sign in John’s Gospel reminds us that God’s kingdom is not marked by scarcity but by abundance. God delights in bringing joy into ordinary lives and everyday celebrations.

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Joy Becomes Hospitality

The Book of Acts shows what happened when that joy shaped the life of the early church.

Luke writes:

“Day by day… they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” (Acts 2:46–47)

Notice what attracted people.

Luke doesn’t credit a brilliant strategy, an impressive building, or clever marketing.

People were drawn to a community marked by:

• Joy
• Generosity
• Gratitude
• Genuine care

Christian hospitality is much more than entertaining guests.

It is participating in God’s welcome.

Every time we notice someone standing alone…

Every time we invite someone to sit with us…

Every time we share a meal…

Every time we listen with compassion…

We reflect the welcome God has already extended to us through Jesus Christ.

The early Christians understood that they had first been welcomed by grace.

Because they had been welcomed, they welcomed others.

Their joy became hospitality.

Their hospitality became one of the clearest witnesses to the gospel.

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Small Acts Reflect God’s Kingdom

Most people don’t remember every sermon they’ve ever heard.

Many of us do remember the people who welcomed us.

The Sunday school teacher who learned our name.

The family who invited us to lunch.

The church member who noticed us sitting alone.

The neighbor who offered encouragement during a difficult season.

Those ordinary moments often become holy moments because they allow people to experience Christ’s love in tangible ways.

Hospitality doesn’t always require grand gestures.

Sometimes it looks like:

• offering a sincere welcome,
• sharing a meal,
• helping a struggling family,
• encouraging a teacher,
• supporting children as a new school year begins,
• or simply making room for someone who feels forgotten.

These simple acts quietly proclaim:

“There is a place for you.”

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Joy Is Meant to Be Shared

Throughout this journey of rediscovering Christian joy, one truth has become increasingly clear.

God delights in us (Zephaniah 3:17).

God cares for us (Matthew 6:25–34).

God goes before us (Joshua 1:9).

And God sends us.

Joy was never meant to stay inside our hearts—or inside the walls of the church.

It is meant to overflow into the lives of others.

Every act of kindness…

Every invitation…

Every expression of generosity…

Every moment of hospitality…

becomes a living sign of God’s kingdom.

One Question to Carry This Week

As you go through your week, consider one simple question:

Who needs to experience God’s welcome through you?

Perhaps it’s a neighbor.

A coworker.

A grandchild.

A friend who has drifted away from church.

Someone sitting alone.

Someone carrying burdens no one else can see.

You may never perform a miracle like Jesus did at Cana.

But every one of us can offer an invitation, extend compassion, share a meal, or make room for another person.

Sometimes those ordinary acts become extraordinary signs of God’s grace.

May our churches—and our lives—reflect the joy of God’s kingdom: places where children are valued, older adults are honored, strangers become friends, neighbors become family, and everyone discovers there is always room at Christ’s table.