Outcasts Big Idea of the Series: This 5-week series looks at five different passages that highlight Jesus’ pursuit of those many would label “outcasts.” In the series, you’ll discuss characters like Zacchaeus, the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, a leper, and the thief on the cross. In each of these situations, Jesus often goes out of His way to reach the outcasts of society. His love is extravagant and relentless. Week 1 Text: Luke 15:1-31 Topic: Love, Grace Big Idea of the Message: After hearing the religious leaders grumble about His attitude toward sinners, Jesus tells three parables that illustrate God’s extravagant love for the lost. This text teaches us that it doesn’t matter what we’ve done, or how far we’ve wandered, God is actively pursuing us to come back to Him. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: 1.   This message is all about “searching.” Here’s a funny video of a toddler searching

for a fork. You might use this to introduce the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qwNvLzs2l4

2.   Though there are three parables in this text, they all serve to illustrate one message: God loves the lost. Depending on your approach, you may briefly highlight all three of them, or zoom in on just one.

3.   Notice how, with each parable, Jesus raises the stakes by making the “thing” more valuable in each story. First, He tells about losing one out of a hundred sheep. Next, one out of ten coins. Finally, Jesus tells the story of a father losing one of his two sons. There’s an important point, here: Jesus sees everyone as valuable. He cares for those the teachers of the Law call “sinners” as if they were one of His children.

4.   Notice how excited the man in this video is about trains: https://youtu.be/6lutNECOZFw

The Bible says that when one person enters the Kingdom, heaven gets excited. Week 2 Text: Luke 19:1-10 Topic: Mercy, Compassion Big Idea of the Message: As the story of Zacchaeus illustrates, Jesus loves even the people we view as “unlovable.” Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1.   This week’s message is directly related to last week’s text. Week 1 of the series is about being open and loving to the outcast. Here, the rubber meets the road. The truth is, some outcasts are more challenging to love than others. Zacchaeus was hated by the people because he, a Jew, betrayed his Jewish community by siding with the Romans. On top of this, he also cheated the people out of their money by charging more taxes than what was required.

2.   Zacchaeus famously climbed a tree to get a better look at Jesus. In order to get him to come down, all Jesus had to do was invite Himself over. Good thing He didn’t have to do this to get him down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oJdRnksTiY

3.   Even after witnessing Zacchaeus humble himself enough to climb a tree to see Jesus, the crowd is still against the idea of Jesus spending time with this man they hate. Zacchaeus was desperate to know more about Jesus, but the crowd wanted to keep him an outcast because of the way he treated them.

4.   A man in Missouri was arrested for “reckless exposure to HIV” because he may have infected up to 300 people with the virus by not disclosing his positive status. While it’s true that his behavior is terrible, this man needs a cure to HIV just like everyone else infected. Jesus came to save the sick. There’s no one too sick for his healing grace. http://abcnews.go.com/US/missouri-man-infected-300-hiv/story?id=20168336

5.   Every church has room to grow in this area. It might be powerful to end this message by apologizing from the stage to anyone who might feel like an outcast, and feel they’re too afraid to come down from their tree to meet with Jesus because of the crowd. You can reassure them the church is there to celebrate people meeting Jesus.

Week 3 Text: Luke 7:36-50 Topic: Service, Testimony Big Idea of the Message: As this narrative illustrates, Jesus not only wants a relationship with the outcast, but He wants to use them for His kingdom. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1.   The Pharisee in this passage is shocked at the woman’s behavior. Jesus explains that she is willing to act that way because her life has been transformed.

2.   When you take someone’s behavior out of context it can seem strange. What if you only saw this video from twenty-three seconds on? You’d probably think she’s crazy! It’s not until you know WHY she’s acting that way that it all makes sense and warms your heart. https://youtu.be/SlNGJ1Sr9bM

3.   Jesus is using this woman as an illustration to show the Pharisee (and those around him) what the gospel can do to a life. She’s a billboard for the gospel. She’s a living infomercial.

4.   The outcast and the marginalized may feel their relationship with Jesus can only go so far because of their past. For some, they may feel like the child who made the basketball team because the coach felt sorry for them, but are left to sit on the bench the entire season. Jesus can and will use the life of anyone who comes to Him no matter who they were before they met Him.

Week 4 Text: Luke 17:11-19 Topic: Thankfulness, Blessing. Prosperity Big Idea of the Message: The greatest blessing of following Christ is the relationship we get to have with God, rather than the gifts He gives us. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: 1.   The nine lepers who didn’t return to thank Jesus were only in it for the blessing.

However, the one who came back knew that Jesus Himself was even greater than anything He could do for him.

2.   In his book, God is the Gospel, John Piper poses this question: “The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?” Sadly, the other nine lepers from this story would answer yes.

3.   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when they were about to be thrown into the fire, told the king that the Lord would save them, but even if He didn’t they would still

serve Him (Daniel 3:16-20). Their relationship wasn’t built on what God could do for them, but on who He was.

4.   The nine lepers only wanted the miracle so they could finally be accepted by the society that cast them out in the first place. They merely wanted their status changed. The tenth leper found something more valuable. Sadly, there are false teachers preaching to the outcasts about how Jesus can change their status. The prosperity gospel is all about a status change. The reality is, Jesus might keep you an outcast, but will make that life more meaningful than anything else you could pursue.

Week 5 Text: Luke 23:39-43 Topic: Repentance, Witnessing Big Idea of the Message: It is never too late to seek repentance, and it is never the wrong time to share the gospel. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: 1.   This passage tells two different stories for two different audiences. For those who

aren’t Christ followers, and believe they’re “too far gone” to ever receive forgiveness, this passage gives hope that, just like the thief on the cross, it’s never too late. For those who do follow Christ, this story can challenge us to be open to minister to those around us in EVERY situation. Jesus takes a moment in the midst of His death to minister! If only more Christians were willing to have their lives be interrupted.

2.   CNN collected stories from a Reddit post asking doctors and nurses if they had ever heard a deathbed confession. Some answers were sad, others were heartwarming. And then there’s this one: "My grandma went a little loopy before she went, but she left a vm [voicemail] for her best friend in the last days along the lines of: 'Maggie, it's Deborah. I'm dying, and it's a lot of fun! Call me back!’" http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/07/health/reddit-deathbed-confessions/

3.   A woman celebrates graduating from high school at 111 years old, proving that it is never too late to do what you want or need to do: http://wtkr.com/2014/06/17/woman-graduates-from-high-school-at-111-years-old/

4.   Across the gospels, Jesus constantly allows His schedule to be interrupted by opportunities to minister to others. In John 4, His relaxation is interrupted by the woman at the well. In Matthew 14, His quiet time is interrupted by a large crowd. And now He’s on the cross and takes the time to make sure the thief will join Him in Paradise. How open to interruptions are we in our own lives? Are we slaves to our schedule?

5.   Some interruptions are more entertaining than others. NBA player Steph Curry brought his daughter on stage during a press conference and tried his best not to let her distract him while answering questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evjJJoEONgo