The Posture of Jesus

Speaker: Preston Sprinkle
Date: November 7, 2021

Special guest Preston Sprinkle delivers a message on the posture of Jesus and explains parallels between how Jesus related to Zaccheaus and how believers today are called to relate to LGBTQ+ people.

Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author. He has proven to be one of the best communicators on sharing biblical truths in conversations regarding homosexuality, violence, alcohol, and others. He has written several books, including People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is Not Just an Issue and Living in a Gray World: A Christian Teen's Guide to Homosexuality.

Focus Scripture // Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)
"He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Sermon Highlights

• If Jesus would have called Zacchaeus out, He would have been true and just. But Jesus said I MUST stay at your house.

• Even if it meant sacrificing His own status, Jesus wanted to get to know Zacchaeus.

• He wanted to hear his story.

• This is how us, as believers, are called to love all people.

• Embody the presence of God here on earth.

• Embody God's truth and grace.

• Our truth will not be heard until our grace is felt.