Encounters, Part 1: The Rich Young Rulers

BRIAN BEHRENDS, CREATIVE PASTOR

Luke 18:18–22
¹⁸ A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
      ¹⁹ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
      ²¹ “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
      ²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Your notes…

Luke 18:23–27
²³ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. ²⁴ Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
      ²⁶ Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
     ²⁷  Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Your notes…

Luke 19:1–10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
      ⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly
.      ⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
      ⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
      ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Your notes…

Small Group Questions

1. What do you think it means to “encounter” Jesus? How is this different from learning about or knowing him?
2. Both the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus had wealth. Why do you think one walked away sad while the other joyfully gave away his riches?
3. What do you think is the one thing that keeps most people from fully surrendering to Jesus today? Why?
4. What can we learn from Zacchaeus about responding immediately and joyfully to Jesus’ invitation?
5. In what areas of your life are you most longing to encounter Jesus right now? What steps can you take to invite him into those spaces this week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?