Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus. But his whole life changed when Jesus looked up and called his name—before any evidence of change existed, before he'd cleaned up his past, before he'd proven himself worthy.
This is the pattern of grace: God's generosity arrives first. Our response follows.
In this sermon on Luke 19:1-10, we explore what happens when someone sees us, really sees us, and chooses to enter our life anyway. We discover how a wealthy tax collector's grip loosened not through guilt, but through the joy of being genuinely welcomed. We learn from John Wesley's stewardship teaching that generosity isn't a burden we take on—it's a discovery we make when we stop protecting what we were never meant to own.
As McPherson First UMC celebrates 152 years, we're part of a long story of people who encountered God's grace and couldn't help but respond with open hands. The invitation stands for us today: What will you release? What will you give? What fresh start is God offering you?
