🔥 JESUS, FRIEND OF SINNERS | WEEK 1: BREAKING THE RULES OF RELIGION 🔥

Message by Pastor Chuck Tate

February 21 & 22, 2026

They called Jesus many things—Teacher, Rabbi, Miracle Worker, Son of David.

But one title stuck:

👉 “Friend of sinners.” (Luke 7:34)

It wasn’t meant as a compliment.

It was meant as criticism.

Religious leaders used it as an insult.

Jesus lived it as a mission.

In Week 1 of our new series Jesus, Friend of Sinners, Pastor Chuck walks through the powerful story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 and shows us how Jesus breaks the rules of religion to reach people others had written off.

📖 Key Scriptures:

Luke 19:1–10 • Romans 2:4 • Psalm 34:8 • John 1:48

💡 Key Takeaways from This Message:

✅ Jesus Pursues the Rejected – Zacchaeus may have been rejected by his community, but he was never lost to God. Jesus called him by name. (Luke 19:1–6)

✅ Jesus Sits with Sinners – Table fellowship meant acceptance. Jesus knew relationship creates the environment where transformation begins.

✅ Jesus Shows Kindness Before Confrontation – Zacchaeus’ repentance came after experiencing Jesus’ presence. God’s kindness leads people to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

✅ Jesus Shows No Partiality – Right before Zacchaeus, Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus. From the hurting outsider to the wealthy insider, the gospel reaches both.

✅ Transformation Takes Time – New believers don’t become mature overnight. Growth requires time, teaching, community, correction, and presence.

🙌 A QUESTION FOR US:

Who is your Zacchaeus?

• The coworker who mocks your faith?

• The neighbor everyone avoids?

• The family member living far from God?

• The person whose lifestyle or politics offend you?

The crowd stood outside and complained.

Jesus walked toward the person in the tree.

If we want to follow Jesus, we must choose:

👉 Presence over platform

👉 People over politics

👉 Compassion over condemnation

Because the same Jesus who stopped under Zacchaeus’ tree…

stopped under ours.

He called us by name.

He came near.

And everything changed.

📍 Join us at RockChurch: 1081 Upper Spring Bay Rd, East Peoria

📲 Stream LIVE Sundays at 9 AM & 11 AM on YouTube, Facebook, and rcpeoria.org

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