BOTTOM LINE: The greatest opportunities are often overlooked.

1. Judgements of outward appearances lead to false assumptions of inner desires.

2. A simple invitation can be a powerful catalyst.

3. The opportunity is greater than the opposition.

4. Repentance ripples far beyond the one.

Start Talking

When have you overlooked the best opportunity for something, or almost overlooked it? Why did you overlook it? What were the assumptions that you had, which turned out to not be true?

When have you been overlooked for an opportunity because there were assumptions about you or the situation?

Start Thinking

Read Luke 19:1-2. Why would Zacchaeus have been overlooked as someone worth investing in by most religious people? Why would even non-religious people assume he wouldn't be someone Jesus would become friends with or ask to follow Him?

Who are the modern day Zacchaeus-type people that would be overlooked as someone open to following Jesus or worth investing in from a spiritual perspective? What are the assumptions most people would have about this person?

Read Luke 19:3-4. Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was? What do you think he must have heard, seen, or experienced that made him go to such great lengths to see Jesus? Read Romans 1:19-20. How does this explain what may have been part of Zacchaeus' desire to see Jesus?

Start Sharing

Luke 19:3 says Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, "but because he was short he could not see over the crowds." What are the hurdles you faced to seeing Jesus when you first had that desire or as you have grown throughout your spiritual journey? Or, what are the hurdles we may be putting in front of people, even without realizing it?

Read Luke 19:5-6. What is a simple invitation you have received along your spiritual journey that became a powerful catalyst for you to experience Jesus? When have you given a simple invitation to someone in this way and been surprised to see them accept it?

Read Luke 19:7. What role has potential opposition played in keeping you from extending an invitation to someone in a spiritual way? What do you fear most - opposition from the person or opposition from others? How can we focus more on the opportunity rather than the opposition?

Read Luke 19:8-10. The result of this unlikely invitation was repentance that impacted more than just Zacchaeus, but his entire household, the entire community, and now even us today. How have you seen this in your life, as your decision to follow Jesus rippled far beyond just you? When have you seen this in others that you have invested in and how did their repentance ripple far beyond just them? Who else did it impact?

Start Doing

Who are the three people that are in your life and far from God that you felt led to write down or are people you can invite to follow Jesus? What can you do this week to invite them to follow Jesus in some way?

What will be their greatest hurdles to seeing Jesus, and what will be the greatest opposition you might be worried about? What can you do - and what can we as a micro church do together - to push through those hurdles and obstacles?

What role can your story play, and sharing your story with the Zacchaeus in your life, when you have the opportunity to invite them to experience Jesus in some way?

Start Praying

Pray for the names of each person that was shared, and pray for each other as you live on mission this week and look for ways to invite every Zacchaeus in our life to experience and follow Jesus. Pray for the egg hunts and Easter Sunday at your campus to open the door to do that.