Zacchaeus: A Model of Repentance
From Pastor Juan
In Luke 19:1-10, Jesus reminds us that he came to seek and to save the lost. And Zacchaeus is a model of lostness. He is not just a tax collector – one who steals from his fellow Jews – but he is a chief tax collector. The fact that he is rich attests to how much he has taken from others. No wonder the people grumbled when Jesus went to his house.
And yet, Jesus sought him out and saved him. And when Jesus saves us, he doesn’t leave us the same. He saves us to change us. And Zacchaeus, the model of lostness, becomes a model of repentance. True repentance bears fruit that gives evidence of its genuineness (see Luke 3:7-14). When we have wronged someone and recognize our sin, a good question to ask is, “What does repentance look like in this specific situation?” Generally speaking, biblical counselor Jim Newheiser suggests, repentance bears 7 traits. Think through these and learn from Zacchaeus:
7 Traits of True Repentance
Your confession and repentance are God focused – we have sinned first against God (Psalm 51:4; 2 Samuel 12:13).
You hate the sin – we not only recognize our sin, we hate it (Psalm 32:5; 51:1-3).
You submit to discipline and accountability – those who are not truly repentant refuse to be held accountable or come under discipline (1 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 7:8).
Your heart is changed and produces fruit in keeping with repentance – Like Zacchaeus, when God changes your heart, you make things right (Psalm 51:6-12; Luke 19:1-10).
You patiently accept the consequences of your sin – the unrepentant often hide their sin because they don’t want to accept the consequences that come with admitting your sin (Psalm 51:4; 2 Samuel 24:13-14).
You accept full responsibility for your sin – you don’t make excuses or blame others for your sin (Psalm 51:3; 2 Samuel 24:10).
You are more concerned for others than yourself – those who refuse to repent are more concerned for themselves: their reputation, their comfort, their life (2 Samuel 24:17; Philippians 2:3-4).
May High Pointe – our members, our leaders, our homes – be characterized by such repentance.
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there's a place for you to serve in our children's ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry
Volunteering in the children’s ministry is a great way to know others at High Pointe and to serve parents. Reach out to Erin Wyman for specific details and to get started on our child protecting screening steps.
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
Sunday AM Preaching Schedule: Pray regularly for the ministry of the Word at High Pointe. Also, prepare for our gatherings by reading the sermon text, thinking it through, and asking questions about the text before Sunday. Here is our (tentative) preaching schedule designed to help you prepare for Sundays:
September 20 | 2 Peter 2:1-10 | Don’t Be Deceived by False Teachers | Pastor Robert Cline
September 27 | 2 Peter 2:11-22 | Beware! It Doesn’t End Well for Deceivers | Pastor Robert Cline
October 4 | Luke 19:11-27 | The King we Don’t Want | Pastor Juan Sanchez
October 11 | 2 Peter 3:1-8 | Wait Well for the Coming Day of the Lord | Pastor Robert Cline
October 18 | Luke 19:28-48 | The Arrival of the Humble King | Pastor Juan Sanchez
October 25 | Luke 20:1-21:4 | Opposition to the King | Pastor Juan Sanchez
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: The Association of Churches for Missions and Evangelism (ACME)
We are one of the founding churches of ACME. ACME exists to unite and mobilize like-minded churches to fund pastors, church planters, missionaries, and other projects around the world.
ACME is a fellowship of likeminded churches that share the same convictions: (1) Expositional Preaching, (2) Historic Baptist Ecclesiology, (3) Elder-led Congregationalism, (4) One, Unified Assembly (no multiple services or campuses), (5) Reformed Soteriology, (6) Meaningful Membership and Discipline, (7) Biblically Oriented Public Worship, and (8) Church-centered Missions and Evangelism.
To learn more, visit ACME online.
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
