Top Scripture Verses for Parish Renewal - Part 5

We are in the fifth part of a six-part series looking at Scripture passages that are absolutely vital for parish renewal. In a recent coach training, I asked our Rebuilt coaches to keep these passages in mind when they are working with our partner parishes. These passages challenge the way we often approach ministry in the church and yet they are right from Scripture, from God’s word.

So far in this series, we have looked at Matthew 28:18-19, Acts 6:1-7, Ephesians 4:11-13, and Exodus 18:13-27. You can read them in my previous blogs, and of course, you can read the passages for yourself and make the appropriate application to your environment.

In this installment, we are going to look at a passage from Luke 19. Jesus is passing through the city of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. As he walks through the town, he sees Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree just to see Jesus and get a glimpse of him. Sometimes we gloss over details that are significant. Zacchaeus climbed a tree just to see Jesus. He wasn’t a kid; he was a grown man, even if short of stature. And Zacchaeus wasn’t just a grown man; he was a wealthy tax collector, the chief tax collector. Wealthy grown men don’t climb trees unless they are desperate for changing.

Not only does Zacchaeus see Jesus, but more importantly, Jesus sees and notices Zacchaeus. Jesus invites himself over for dinner. After this meal, this encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus has a change of heart. He announces that he will give half his money to the poor and pay back anyone he had defrauded four times the original amount. Tax collectors were not allowed to worship at the Temple and were considered traitors to their country. You only chose the profession because you could make lots of money. Zacchaeus’ decision showed his change of heart.

In response to Zacchaeus’ transformation, Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house!” We can hear the excitement of Jesus about the salvation of one guy, one soul. Like the parables of Luke 15, Jesus rejoices at the one person who returns to God. Then he sums up the whole reason he is excited. He says,

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Healthy, growing churches share the mission of Jesus to seek and to save the lost. They share the excitement and joy when those who are lost return to the Lord. Something happens in a parish community when it takes the time and effort to seek people far from God. A transformation happens when a parish moves from focusing on itself to focusing on the people who are not coming. Parish communities transform when they make it their focus to reach people who have drifted away or run away from God. This is the work of evangelization.

At Rebuilt, we call this focus “Grow Wider” by welcoming outsiders. The main reason we have parking ministers on the lot, greeters at the door, and host ministers in our sanctuary is so that people who have not come to church in a long time will immediately know they are welcome. We believe one day “Zacchaeus” will make the effort to come to see Jesus at church. As Jesus’ hands and feet, we want to notice him when he comes in the door and help him experience the acceptance and the love of Christ.

We like to say that evangelization is not so much a program we run but a culture we create. We create that culture in three key ways. One, we internalize it as leaders. We have to care about the lost as Jesus did. Two, we build hospitality ministries for our weekend experience that communicate the love and acceptance of Jesus. Three, we preach and teach to the people in the pews about the importance of joining Jesus in the mission to seek and save the lost.

Being on mission with Jesus to seek and to save the lost will re-energize your parish. It will give you a new motivation to get out of bed on a Sunday morning and serve the Lord with joy.

Rooting for you,
Tom