Pastor Gail Whitcome Linstrom – “Up a Tree, Waiting for God” – Verdugo Community Church June 11, 2023

In her sermon, “Up a Tree, Waiting for God,” Pastor Gail looks at the stories of Zacchaeus and the rich young ruler found in Luke 19 and 18. Both are wealthy when they encounter Jesus. The rich young ruler seeks Jesus out to ask how to gain eternal life. Jesus challenges him to give away his fortune to the poor, and follow Jesus. The ruler rejects this because of his love of wealth. Zacchaeus is a tax collector and ostracized by his community. He hides up in a tree to see Jesus, who stops and calls him by name and says he must have a meal at Zacchaeus’ house, even though the crowd then condemns both Zacchaeus and Jesus. Zacchaeus joyfully complies, and publicly repents of his sinful actions, voluntarily gives up half his fortune to the poor, and agrees to make restitution to those he has cheated. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus, just as God seeks us out to offer salvation with what John Wesley called prevenient grace. We need to avoid the reaction of the crowd and willing to work with God to show his love to our neighbors.

 

Verdugo makes its Sunday sermons available to you on Facebook and posts audio copies of the service and sermon at https://verdugochurch.podbean.com.

 

Verdugo Community Church is a Free Methodist congregation serving the Glassell Park, Eagle Rock, and Glendale areas in Los Angeles. It is located at 4300 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Our email address is verdugofmc@gmail.com. Contact Pastor Gail at (323) 500-3343.

 

Verdugo is online at www.facebook.com/verdugochurch and www.verdugochurch.org.

Sermon copyright 2023 by Gail Whitcome Linstrom and Verdugo Community Church.