But every once in a while, someone looks up. Someone calls your name. Not in the way you feared — not to tell you to leave — but to say something you never expected: “I’m coming to your house today.”

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Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho — wealthy, powerful, and completely excluded from the community he profited from. When he heard Jesus was passing through, something in him couldn’t stay away. He ran ahead, climbed a sycamore tree despite his dignity, and positioned himself to see. Jesus didn’t just pass by. He looked up, called Zacchaeus by name, and invited himself to dinner.

New to Grace Groups? Grace Groups are small communities of 6-8 people who meet weekly to grow deeper in faith and support each other. They’re a place to be honest about your faith journey and watch over each other in love — not a Bible study, not a therapy group, not a place to fix each other’s problems. The format is simple, the conversation is real, and over time, these become the people who know your story. Every meeting follows the same five-part rhythm below.

1. Center

Open with prayer or a moment of silence. Take a breath. Let the week fall away.

“God, open our hearts to see where we’re hiding. Help us recognize your invitations in unexpected moments. Transform us through this time together, we pray. Amen.”

2. Soul Tending

Check in with where you are spiritually — not where you think you should be. These five areas can help you find your way into the conversation. Pick the one or two that feel most alive — or most stuck — right now.

• Prayers — How is your prayer life? What are you reading or listening to?

• Presence — How has worship or being with other Christians shaped your week?

• Gifts — Where are you giving your time, money, or energy?

• Service — Where are you serving? What does that look like right now?

• Witness — Where have you shared your faith or lived it out loud?

This week’s scripture is about what happens when an unexpected invitation from Jesus transforms everything we thought we needed. As you check in, consider:

• What comfort or protection are you currently holding onto tightly, and what would it feel like to release it?

• When has someone’s genuine welcome changed how you saw yourself?

• What invitation from God are you hesitating to accept, and what’s holding you back?

3. God Sightings

Share something from this week where you noticed God moving — in your life, in someone else’s, or in the world around you. Big or small, it counts.

• Where have you experienced grace that arrived before you felt ready or worthy?

• How has encountering God’s generosity transformed your relationship with your own resources?

• Who in your circle models the kind of open-handed generosity the gospel invites?

4. Growing in Grace

Name something you’re carrying — a decision, a fear, a next step you’ve been avoiding. The group isn’t here to fix it. Just to hear it, sit with you in it, and pray.

• What is one concrete act of generosity you could practice this week?

• How does viewing yourself as a conduit rather than a container change your financial decisions?

• What legacy do you want your generosity to create for the next generation?

5. Close

Pray for each other before you leave.

Each person shares one prayer need in a sentence. Then someone in the group prays for them out loud. Keep it simple: “God, I pray for [name]...” and one or two sentences is plenty.

Go in peace. This week, practice one concrete act of generosity — financial, presence, or skill. The point isn’t the size of the gift. It’s the loosened grip. Zacchaeus discovered that the joy was never in the holding. It was in the releasing.

“I must stay in your home today.’ So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.” — Luke 19:5b-6 (CEB)

Jesus didn’t say “change your ways and then I’ll visit.” He didn’t set conditions. He said “I must stay at your home today” — while Zacchaeus was still a corrupt tax collector, still wealthy from exploitation, still the person the whole crowd resented.

The invitation came before any evidence of transformation. That word “must” — dei in Greek — signals divine necessity. God’s purpose required Jesus to enter Zacchaeus’s home before Zacchaeus had cleaned up a single thing about his life.

We get this backward constantly. We think we need to fix ourselves before God will show up. We delay prayer until we feel spiritual enough. We skip church until we’ve sorted out our doubts. We wait to respond to God’s invitation until we feel worthy of it.

But Zacchaeus came down “at once, happy to welcome Jesus.” He didn’t hesitate or negotiate or ask for time to prepare. He recognized that the invitation itself was the gift — and he received it before he understood what it would change.

What invitation have you been delaying because you don’t feel ready? You don’t have to be. That’s the whole point.

God who invites before we’re ready, help us stop waiting to be worthy. You come to us as we are. Teach us to come down at once. Amen.

You’re reading this because you decided this writing was worth sustaining. I want you to know what that means to me, and what I want this space to be.

Every week I write devotionals, worship resources, and reflections that go out to everyone who subscribes. That work matters to me deeply. But there’s a layer underneath the public writing that I rarely share: what it actually looks like to pastor a church, raise a family, and try to pay attention to God in the middle of all of it. This is where I want to share that layer. Once a month, a personal update from my life. Not a pastoral report. Not a polished reflection. Just an honest look at what’s happening.

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“So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.” — Luke 19:4 (CEB)

Picture this: a wealthy regional official hiking up his robes and sprinting through the streets of Jericho. People who owed him money, people who resented him, people he’d exploited — all watching the most powerful tax collector in the district scramble up a tree like a child.

Zacchaeus sacrificed his dignity to seek Jesus. That detail matters. Genuine seeking always costs us our composure. It means admitting we don’t have what we need, that our self-sufficiency has limits, that we’re desperate enough to look foolish.

We resist this. We’d rather seek quietly, privately, in ways that don’t risk our reputation. We’ll read the book but won’t join the group. We’ll listen to the sermon but won’t ask the question. We’ll watch from a distance but won’t climb where people can see us.

What would you be willing to look foolish for? The answer to that question reveals what you value most. Zacchaeus valued finding Jesus more than protecting his image. That undignified climb was the most honest thing he’d done in years.

God, free us from the need to look composed while we’re seeking you. Give us Zacchaeus’s willingness to sacrifice dignity for encounter. Amen.

Welcome

We’ve all stood before someone with power over us and wondered: Do I tell the truth, or do I say what they want to hear? Today we witness Jesus doing the unthinkable—speaking truth to the most powerful man in the room.

Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.

At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.

We grow as followers of Jesus through five practices: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.

If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app—you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.

Call to Worship

Leader: In a world of spin and half-truths, God calls us to something different.

People: We gather to worship the God who is truth itself.

Leader: When speaking honestly costs us, Jesus shows us another way.

People: We bring our fears and our courage to this place.

Leader: Power that serves itself will always fail. Power that serves others transforms the world.

People: We open our hearts to learn a different kind of strength.

Leader: Come, let us worship the One who stood before Pilate unafraid.

People: We worship the God whose truth sets us free.

Opening Prayer

God of truth, we live in a world where honesty is costly and silence often feels safer. Give us courage to speak what is true, even when power presses us to bend. Meet us here with your unshakeable presence. Amen.

Welcome Your Neighbor

Before we continue, take a moment to welcome your neighbor. Introduce yourself to someone sitting nearby—especially someone you don’t know yet.

If you’re worshiping online, say hello in the comments.

This is how we practice witness—welcoming others as Christ welcomes us and inviting others to experience this community. As you greet those around you, also consider who’s not here. Who might you invite to worship next week?

After we greet each other, please remain standing as we sing together. Will you please stand and welcome your neighbors?

Invitation to Prayer and Pastoral Prayer

Jesus stood before Pilate and told the truth. Sometimes we need courage just to be honest with God about what we’re carrying.

Now we practice prayers—one of the five ways we grow as followers of Jesus. Prayer connects us to God and each other.

We carry each other in prayer throughout the week. If you have a prayer request, share it through the Church Center app or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. You can also text PRAY to 620-241-3626. And if you’d like to join our prayer team, text PRAYERTEAM to receive requests throughout the week.

Will you pray with me?

God of truth, you see everything clearly—what we try to hide, what we refuse to admit, what we wish were different. We come before you now, not with polished words, but with honest hearts.

[Pause]

We praise you that you never manipulate or deceive. In a world where truth bends to power, you remain constant. Your word stands firm when everything else shifts beneath our feet.

We confess that we have been more like Pilate than we’d like to admit. We’ve asked “What is truth?” not because we wanted to know, but because the truth was inconvenient. We’ve stayed silent when speaking up felt risky. We’ve calculated consequences instead of seeking righteousness. Forgive us.

[Pause for silent confession]

We thank you that Jesus showed us what courage looks like—standing calm before power, speaking truth without flinching, trusting you when everything seemed lost.

Now we bring our prayers for others: for those facing powerful systems that feel impossible to change, for those who speak truth and pay the price, for leaders tempted to choose expedience over integrity, for our community and the places where injustice hides in plain sight. Give your people courage to name what is wrong and work toward what is right.

We pray for this congregation—that we would be people who tell the truth kindly and hear the truth humbly. We pray for those among us who are sick, grieving, or struggling. Meet them with your presence.

We offer all these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying…

Our Father, who art in heaven…

Invitation to Give and Check-In

Pilate couldn’t recognize truth standing right in front of him because he was calculating what it would cost. Following Jesus means putting our whole lives on the table—including our resources—trusting that the truth is worth whatever it costs.

Now we practice gifts—one of the five ways we grow as followers of Jesus. You can give through the offering plates, the Church Center app, or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. Thank you to those who give regularly—your generosity sustains our mission.

We also practice presence—showing up and serving in this community. Check in using the blue attendance pads next to the center aisle, the Church Center app, or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. And if you’re ready to find your place to serve in our ministries, you can do that through the app or website too.

Ushers, will you please come forward to receive the offering?

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We’ve offered our gifts. Now we’re sent to practice service—to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Will you pray with me?

God of justice, you call us to stand for what is true even when it costs us something. We thank you for these gifts and for the generous hearts that offer them. Use what we give to strengthen those who speak truth to power and serve the vulnerable in your name. Amen.

Will you please stand as we sing together?

Benediction

Friends, this week you will face moments when speaking truth feels risky and staying silent feels safer. Remember: Jesus stood before Pilate and did not back down. Neither should you. Love boldly. Serve joyfully. Lead courageously.

Now go in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And all God’s people said… Amen!

—

These worship elements are part of the Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Mostseries at McPherson First United Methodist Church. New worship resources are published every Tuesday.

Subscribe now

Welcome

We’ve all made promises we couldn’t keep—declarations spoken with complete sincerity that crumbled when tested. Today’s scripture takes us into one of the most honest moments in the Gospels.

Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.

At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.

We grow as followers of Jesus through five practices: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.

If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app—you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.

I invite you to join in our responsive call to worship as you see the words on display. [8:30]

Call to Worship

Leader: We come with our intentions and our failures.

People: God welcomes us just as we are.

Leader: We come with our boldest promises.

People: God knows how easily we stumble.

Leader: We come warming ourselves by fires that don’t satisfy.

People: God offers a warmth that transforms.

Leader: We come like Peter, carrying both faith and fear.

People: We worship the One who restores what we’ve broken.

Opening Prayer

Honest God, we confess that our courage often fails when faith demands the most. We recognize ourselves in Peter’s story—bold in safety, silent under pressure. Meet us in this gap between who we intend to be and who we are. Shape us through your grace. Amen.

Welcome Your Neighbor

I invite you to stand and greet those around you—and if you’re worshiping online, say hello in the comments. As you do, you’re practicing witness—showing that this community of faith is a place where people are seen and welcomed.

But witness isn’t only about who’s here. As you greet your neighbors, I want you to think about someone who isn’t here today—a friend, a family member, a coworker, a neighbor. Someone who might benefit from being part of a community like this. This week, consider inviting them to join you next Sunday. A simple invitation can change someone’s life. Sometimes all people need is to know they’re wanted.

Go ahead and greet your neighbors now, and then remain standing as we sing together.

Pastoral and Lord’s Prayer

Whether you’re here in person or joining us online, we’re about to enter into prayer together. One of our membership promises is prayers—both offering our prayers to God and praying for one another.

You can submit prayer requests anytime at mcphersonfirst.org/next or by texting PRAY to 620-241-3626. If you’d like to join our prayer team and receive prayer prompts throughout the week, text PRAYERTEAM to that same number.

Together, we bring our whole selves before God—our intentions and our failures, our courage and our fear. Will you pray with me?

God of mercy, you know us better than we know ourselves. You see our public faces and our private fears. You hear our confident words and our silent doubts.

(brief pause to center)

We praise you for being the God who does not abandon us when we fail. You are faithful when we are faithless. You pursue us when we run. You restore what we have broken. Your love does not depend on our performance.

We confess that we are Peter warming himself by the fire. We stay silent when faith demands speech. We distance ourselves from you to fit in. We choose comfort over conviction. We fail to live up to our own promises.

(moment of silent confession)

Forgive us, Gracious God, and give us courage for another day.

We thank you for this community where honesty is welcomed and restoration is offered. For those who have failed and tried again. For second chances and third chances and more. For the grace that meets us in the courtyard of our denial and calls us back to love.

We pray for those whose courage is being tested right now. For those facing pressure to compromise their values at work. For those afraid to speak truth in their families. For those whose faith costs them relationships. For anyone who feels they’ve wandered too far for grace to reach.

We pray for our congregation—for those carrying grief, facing illness, or navigating uncertainty. For those celebrating new beginnings and those mourning endings. For our community, our leaders, and all who feel invisible or forgotten.

(brief silence)

Gather these spoken and unspoken prayers into your loving care. Remind us that our failures are not the final word—that the same Jesus who saw Peter’s denial also restored him on the shore.

We offer these prayers through Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying…

Invitation to Give and Check-In

Two of our membership promises come together now: gifts and presence.

In today’s scripture, Peter was asked three times if he belonged to Jesus—and three times he said no. Fear made him hide his connection to the one he loved. Every week, when we give and when we check in, we’re answering that same question differently. We’re saying, “Yes, I belong here. Yes, I’m connected to this community. Yes, I want to be part of what God is doing through this church.”

If you’ve been giving faithfully—whether for decades or just a few months—thank you. Your consistent generosity sustains every ministry that happens in and through this place. And if today is the first time you’re considering a gift, welcome to the joy of participating in God’s work. There’s no amount too small, and your first gift is a powerful declaration of belonging.

As the offering plates are passed, you can also give through the Church Center app or at mcphersonfirst.org/give.

At the same time, take a moment to check in—whether through the app or by completing a connection card. Tracking our presence helps us care for each other and celebrates that you showed up. If you’re worshiping online, drop a comment letting us know you’re with us.

Ushers, please come forward to receive our offerings.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We’ve offered our gifts and ourselves. Now we prepare to be sent out to practice service—to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Service isn’t just what happens inside these walls. It’s how we live Monday through Saturday, showing up for neighbors in need, speaking truth when silence would be easier, and reflecting God’s love in ordinary moments. Will you pray with me?

Generous God, receive these gifts and use them beyond these walls. Send us out with courage renewed. Amen.

Benediction

Your failures are not the final word. The Jesus who saw Peter’s denial prepared breakfast for him on the shore. That same grace meets you this week.

God strengthens you for the choices ahead. Christ welcomes you home when you stumble. The Spirit gives you courage when fear whispers.

Go now—love boldly, serve joyfully, lead courageously. Amen.

—

These worship elements are part of the Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Mostseries at McPherson First United Methodist Church. New worship resources are published every Tuesday.

Subscribe now

Welcome

Grief has a way of making us question everything we thought we believed—and today’s scripture meets us right there.

Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.

At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.

We grow as followers of Jesus through five practices: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.

If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app—you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.

Call to Worship

Leader: In our grief, God draws near.

People: We bring our sorrow and our hope to this place.

Leader: Jesus wept at the tomb of his friend.

People: We worship a God who knows our tears.

Leader: Christ declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

People: We trust that death does not have the final word.

Leader: Jesus asks us, “Do you believe this?”

People: We gather to respond with hearts open to faith.

Opening Prayer

God of the living, we come carrying grief we cannot explain and hope we struggle to hold. Meet us here in the space between sorrow and trust. Open our hearts to your presence and speak life where we see only endings. Amen.

Welcome Your Neighbor

If you’re joining us for the first time today, we’re especially glad you’re here. Take a moment to introduce yourself to someone nearby—and if you see someone new, make sure they feel welcome.

If you’re worshiping online, say hello in the comments.

One of the ways we grow as followers of Jesus is through witness—welcoming others as Christ welcomes us and inviting people to experience this community. Who might you invite to join us next week?

Please stand, greet those around you, and remain standing as we join in singing together.

Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Jesus stood at the tomb of someone he loved—and wept. He invites us to bring our own grief and longing to him.

One of the ways we grow as followers of Jesus is through prayer. Prayer connects us to God and each other, and we carry each other in prayer throughout the week. If you have a prayer request, share it through the Church Center app or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. You can also text PRAY to 620-241-3626. And if you’d like to join our prayer team, text PRAYERTEAM to receive requests throughout the week.

Will you join me as we go to God in prayer?

God of resurrection hope, you meet us in the places where grief and faith collide. We pause now to center our hearts in your presence.

[Pause]

We praise you for your faithfulness that outlasts every sorrow, your love that pursues us even when we feel abandoned, your promise that death does not write the final chapter of our story. Like Martha, we sometimes wonder where you were when our hearts were breaking. And like Martha, we discover that you were never far away.

We confess the times we have given up too soon, buried our hope before you had spoken, or let grief harden into bitterness rather than opening us to new life. Forgive us when we have failed to trust your timing or doubted your goodness.

[Pause for silent confession]

We thank you for moments when hope broke through—for unexpected comfort, for community that showed up, for glimpses of resurrection in ordinary days. We thank you for those who have walked with us through valleys and pointed us toward light.

We pray now for those in this congregation who are grieving—whether the loss is fresh or has been carried for years. Meet them as Jesus met Martha and Mary: with presence, with tears, with power. We pray for those facing illness, for caregivers exhausted by the long watch, for families navigating difficult decisions. We pray for our community—for those who feel forgotten, for places where despair has taken root, for leaders seeking wisdom.

We offer all these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying…

Invitation to Give and Check-In

Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, but notice what he said next: “Untie him and let him go.” Resurrection required human hands. When we give, we become those hands—participating in God’s ongoing work of bringing life where there was death, hope where there was despair.

One of the ways we grow as followers of Jesus is through giving—offering our gifts to support God’s work in this place and beyond. You can give through the offering plates, the Church Center app, or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. Thank you to those who give regularly—your generosity sustains our mission.

We also grow through presence—showing up and serving in this community. Check in using the blue attendance pads, the Church Center app, or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. And if you’re ready to find your place to serve in our ministries, you can do that through the app or website too.

Ushers, will you please come forward to receive the offering?

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Non-Communion)

We’ve offered our gifts. Now we’re sent to serve—to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Will you pray with me?

God of new life, you call forth hope from places that seemed dead and finished. We thank you for the generosity represented in these gifts. Use what we offer to unbind those held captive by grief and despair, bringing your resurrection power to every corner of our community. Amen.

Will you please stand as we sing together?

Benediction

Jesus asks each of us: “Do you believe this?” Go trusting that the God who calls the dead to life is at work in your story.

Love boldly. Serve joyfully. Lead courageously. Now go in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!

—

These worship elements are part of the Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Mostseries at McPherson First United Methodist Church. New worship resources are published every Tuesday.

Subscribe now

Welcome

We all have moments when someone we respect does something completely unexpected—something that reorients everything we thought we knew about power and position. Today’s scripture gives us one of those moments.

Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.

At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.

Today we’ll share Holy Communion together—all are welcome at Christ’s table, and if you’re worshiping online, you may want to have bread and juice ready.

We grow as followers of Jesus through five practices: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.

If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app—you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.

Call to Worship

Leader: Jesus, our Lord and Teacher, knelt before his disciples.

People: We gather to learn what true greatness looks like.

Leader: He took a towel and a basin and began to wash their feet.

People: We come with our assumptions about power turned upside down.

Leader: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” Jesus asked.

People: We open ourselves to see what we have missed.

Leader: “As I have done for you, you also must do.”

People: We worship the One who calls us to kneel and serve.

Opening Prayer

God of basin and towel, you kneel before us when we expect to kneel before you. Wash away our pride that we might see clearly. Soften our hearts that we might serve freely. Open our hands that we might receive your love and give it away. Amen.

Welcome Your Neighbor

In the Upper Room, Jesus didn’t just serve—he looked into each disciple’s eyes as he knelt before them. This is what witness looks like—seeing each other and being seen. We practice being known by Jesus every time we risk being known by one another.

As you greet one another, think about who isn’t here today—a friend, a neighbor, a coworker—who might need what we experience together in this place. Who might you invite next week?

Please stand, welcome your neighbor, and then remain standing as we join together in song.

Pastoral Prayer

We’re about to enter a time of prayer together. Whether you’re here in person or joining us online, know that God hears every prayer—whether spoken aloud or kept quiet in your heart. During our prayer, there will be a couple of moments of silence. Use these pauses however feels right to you—perhaps to listen for God’s voice, to offer your own prayers, or simply to rest in God’s presence.

Prayers is one of the five practices of discipleship, and you’re never alone in your prayer journey. You can submit prayer requests anytime by texting PRAY to 620-241-3626. If you’d like to join our prayer team and receive prayer prompts throughout the week, text PRAYERTEAM to that same number.

Will you pray with me?

God of surprising humility, we pause to center our hearts in your presence.

[Brief pause]

We praise you for demonstrating your power not by demanding service but by offering it. In a world obsessed with climbing higher, you knelt lower. You took up basin and towel when everyone expected a crown and throne. Your greatness shows itself in service, your authority in love.

We confess that we often chase the wrong kind of greatness. We measure success by titles and recognition rather than faithfulness and service. We want to be served more than we want to serve. Forgive us, and reshape our understanding of what it means to follow you.

[Moment of silent reflection]

We bring to you those who feel unseen—people whose service goes unnoticed, caregivers worn thin by constant giving, workers treated as invisible. Remind them that you see them. Help us see them too.

We pray for leaders in every sphere—in government, in business, in families, in this church. Transform our understanding of leadership. We lift up those wrestling with what you’re calling them to do—people sensing an invitation to serve in new ways but unsure if they’re ready. Give them courage to say yes.

We pray for peace in the Middle East. For those in harm’s way this morning—military personnel, civilians, children caught in violence they did not choose. For the people of Iran. For the people of Israel. For communities across the region awakened by explosions. For leaders making decisions with life-and-death consequences—grant them wisdom we cannot see from here. For our own hearts, that we would not be ruled by fear or hatred or the illusion that more violence will finally bring peace. Teach us your way, which looks like a basin and a towel.

We hold before you those who are grieving, those who are ill, and those carrying burdens too heavy to name aloud. And we give thanks for every act of humble service this week—meals prepared, hands held, floors cleaned, children taught, neighbors helped. Bless the holy, ordinary work of your people.

We pray in the name of the One who took up the towel and showed us who you really are. Amen.

Invitation to Give and Check-In

Jesus said, “I have given you an example.” His gift wasn’t just clean feet—it was a new way of understanding what it means to follow him. We respond to God’s generosity by practicing giving ourselves.

Thank you to those who give faithfully week after week—your generosity sustains this ministry and makes everything we do possible. And if today is your first time giving, thank you for taking that step. Your gift matters, and we’re grateful you’re part of what God is doing here.

You can give through the offering plate, online at mcphersonfirst.org/give, through the Church Center app, or by texting GIVE to 620-241-3626.

As the offering is received, I also invite you to check in through the Church Center app or the attendance pad in your row. Checking in is how we practice presence—being part of this community, not as spectators, but as people who show up and are counted among the body of Christ.

Ushers, please come forward to receive this morning’s offering.

Holy Communion - Invitation, Confession, and Pardon

Preaching Pastor: We come now to the Lord’s table. If you are worshiping online, please have bread and juice ready. Together we’ll share Christ’s invitation, confess our sins, and receive God’s grace. Join in the words on screen.

Preaching Pastor: On the night before he died, Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and knelt before his disciples. He served them before he asked anything of them. And now he invites us to this table—not because we’ve earned a place here, but because he makes room for everyone.

Host Pastor: This is God’s table, and all are invited. Whether you feel worthy or unworthy, whether you come with confidence or with questions—you belong here. Let’s prepare our hearts to receive by confessing together.

People: Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Host Pastor: Take a moment for your own silent prayer.

(All pray in silence)

Host Pastor: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God.

Holy Communion - The Great Thanksgiving

Preaching Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Preaching Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Preaching Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Preaching Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.

You created us for community and called us into covenant love. When we forgot how to live as your people, you sent prophets to call us back. And when the time was right, you sent your Son—not as a king demanding tribute, but as a servant kneeling with a basin and towel.

In Jesus, you showed us that true power serves rather than dominates, that the greatest among us becomes the servant of all. He entered our world not to be served but to serve, and to give his life for many.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

People: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Host Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, set us free from sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Preaching Pastor: And so, remembering all you have done for us in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves to you—our praise, our thanks, our lives. United with Christ, we proclaim the mystery of faith:

People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Preaching Pastor: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

Host Pastor: By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Preaching Pastor: Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.

Host Pastor: And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Holy Communion - Receiving Holy Communion

Preaching Pastor: Though we are many, we are one body because we share one bread. The bread we break connects us to Christ’s body. The cup we share connects us to Christ’s life poured out for us.

Preaching Pastor: Communion servers, please come forward to receive first, then serve our congregation.

(Servers come forward, receive, and take positions)

Host Pastor: Friends, God welcomes you to this table of grace. You don’t have to be a member of this church or even a United Methodist. Come with an open heart to receive God’s love.

I invite you to come forward by the center aisle. There are serving stations on each side of the sanctuary—one for each section of pews. When you arrive, you’ll receive a piece of bread. Hold it carefully and reverently; it represents the body of Christ. Then you’ll be offered a small cup of grape juice. Eat and drink. If you’d like to pray, you’re welcome to kneel at the rail. When you’re ready, return to your seat using the side aisles. Place your empty cup in the holders at either end of the rail.

Gluten-free bread is available at the station on the right side as you face the front of the room. If you need communion brought to you, raise your hand or let an usher know.

Preaching Pastor: If you’re worshiping online, receive the bread and cup now, knowing you are part of this body.

This table is open to all. Come and receive God’s grace as the ushers give you direction.

(Music plays as congregation receives)

Holy Communion - Prayer after Holy Communion

We’ve been fed at Christ’s table. Now we’re sent to practice service—to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Will you pray with me?

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You have knelt before us in bread and cup, serving us with your own body and blood. Send us into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Will you please stand as we sing together?

Benediction

Preaching Pastor: Go now with basin and towel. Love boldly. Serve joyfully. Lead courageously.

Host Pastor: And may the God who kneels, the Christ who serves, and the Spirit who empowers go with you always. Amen.

Go now with basin and towel. Love boldly. Serve joyfully. Lead courageously. And may the God who kneels, the Christ who serves, and the Spirit who empowers go with you always. Amen.

—

These worship elements are part of the Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Mostseries at McPherson First United Methodist Church. New worship resources are published every Tuesday.

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Welcome

Crowds can be powerful things—they can lift us up or carry us somewhere we never intended to go. Today’s scripture asks us an uncomfortable question: What do we become when fear takes hold?

Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.

At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.

We grow as followers of Jesus through five practices: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.

If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app—you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.

Call to Worship

Leader: We gather before God who sees us as we truly are.

People: We come with hearts that long to be transformed.

Leader: In the presence of Jesus, our pretenses fall away.

People: We bring our fears and our failures to this place.

Leader: God does not turn from us in our brokenness.

People: We find hope in a love that will not let us go.

Leader: Come, let us worship the One who calls us to courage.

People: We open ourselves to God’s truth and grace.

Opening Prayer

God of truth, you see what we hide from ourselves and love us still. Open our eyes to see clearly—both the harm in the world and our part in it. Give us courage to choose a different way. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

Welcome Your Neighbor

One of the five ways we grow as disciples is through witness—welcoming others as Christ welcomes us and inviting others to experience this community. As you greet those around you, consider who’s not here—who might you invite to worship next week?

Take a moment now to welcome your neighbor. Introduce yourself to someone sitting nearby, especially someone you don’t know yet.

If you’re worshiping online, say hello in the comments.

Will you please stand and welcome your neighbor?

Invitation to Prayer and Pastoral Prayer

We’ve heard a difficult story—a story where the crowd chose violence over truth. Now we bring our own hearts before God, trusting that we can be honest about what we find there. One of the five ways we grow as disciples is through prayers—building a real relationship with God through honest conversation.

If you have a prayer request, share it through the Church Center app or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. You can also text PRAY to 620-241-3626.

Will you pray with me?

God of justice and mercy, we come to you knowing that you see us fully—not just who we want to be, but who we actually are. We pause now to quiet the noise within us and listen for your voice.

[Moment of silence]

We praise you for your unflinching love that meets us even in our darkest moments. You stand with the suffering. You speak truth to power. You refuse to abandon the vulnerable, even when we do.

We confess that we have been part of crowds that caused harm. We have stayed silent when we should have spoken. We have chosen comfort over courage. We have benefited from systems that hurt our neighbors while pretending not to see. Forgive us for the ways fear has shaped us into people we never meant to become.

[Moment of silence]

We thank you that confession is not the end of the story. Thank you for the grace that meets us here and the Spirit that empowers us to live differently. Thank you for communities where we can practice courage together.

Now we bring before you those who suffer from violence and injustice: those in our congregation carrying wounds they haven’t named, those in McPherson facing discrimination or marginalization, those around the world crying out for someone to see them. We pray for those who work for peace and justice—strengthen their hands and hearts. We pray for ourselves—that we would have eyes to see and courage to act.

We offer all these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying…

[Lord’s Prayer]

Invitation to Give and Check-In

Today’s scripture shows us what happens when people go along with injustice to protect themselves. Our giving is an act of resistance—a declaration that we will use our resources not for self-protection but for the healing of our neighbors and our world.

Now we practice gifts—one of the five ways we grow as followers of Jesus. You can give through the offering plates, the Church Center app, or at mcphersonfirst.org/next. Thank you to those who give regularly—your generosity sustains our mission.

We also practice presence—showing up and participating actively. Whether you’re here in person or online, check in through the Church Center app, at mcphersonfirst.org/next, or if you’re here in person you can tell us you’re here using the attendance pad near the center aisle and then passing it down to others in your row. Your presence matters to this community.

Ushers, please come forward to receive our offerings.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We’ve given our gifts. Now we’re sent to practice service—to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Will you pray with me?

God of courage, we thank you for these gifts and the hearts that offered them. Use what we’ve given to stand with those who suffer and to build a community where violence gives way to peace. Send us from this place to be different—to choose truth over fear, justice over comfort. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

Will you please stand as we sing together?

Benediction

This week, notice the crowds you’re part of—at work, online, in your community. When you feel the pull toward silence or complicity, remember: you can choose differently. The Spirit gives you courage.

Go now to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And all God’s people said… Amen.

—

These worship elements are part of the Witnesses: Encountering Jesus When It Matters Mostseries at McPherson First United Methodist Church. New worship resources are published every Tuesday.

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I invite you to connect with the voices of the Bible as we listen to one of the most painfully honest moments in the Gospels—Peter’s denial of Jesus.

We know Peter as the rock, the bold disciple who declared he would die for Jesus. But tonight we meet a different Peter. A Peter warming himself by a fire in the high priest’s courtyard while Jesus is interrogated inside. A Peter who, when asked a simple question, discovers that his courage has limits he never knew existed.

This story matters because it’s not really about Peter. It’s about every one of us who has ever intended to be brave and then discovered how quickly fear rewrites our intentions. John’s Gospel gives us this story not to shame Peter but to show us what happens when our convictions meet our survival instincts—and what grace looks like on the other side.

To understand this moment, we need to know what just happened. Hours earlier, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet—including Peter’s. Peter had protested, then overreacted, then received Jesus’ gentle correction. At the last supper, Peter had sworn, “I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus responded with a prediction: “Before the rooster crows, you will have denied me three times.”

Now we’re in the garden of Gethsemane. Soldiers and guards arrive with torches and weapons. Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. He’s ready to fight. This is the Peter we expect—impulsive, fierce, loyal to the point of violence.

But Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword. Jesus allows himself to be arrested. And suddenly Peter’s courage has nowhere to go. Fighting he understood. But this? Watching Jesus submit to his enemies? Peter doesn’t have a category for this kind of faithfulness.

So he follows at a distance. Another disciple—likely John—gets Peter into the courtyard because he knows the high priest. And there, surrounded by servants and guards warming themselves by a charcoal fire, Peter waits. He’s neither in nor out. Neither standing with Jesus nor running away. He’s in the worst possible place for someone whose courage is wavering: a crowd of strangers who might ask questions.

The first question comes from a servant woman at the gate. “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples, are you?” The question expects a negative answer in Greek—she’s practically giving him an easy out. And Peter takes it. “I am not.”

Notice what Peter denies. Not Jesus’ teaching. Not the miracles. Not even Jesus himself directly. He denies relationship. He denies belonging. “I am not one of his.”

The second denial comes as Peter stands warming himself by the fire. The guards and servants ask the same question: “You aren’t one of his disciples, are you?” Again Peter denies it.

Meanwhile, inside, Jesus is doing the opposite. When the high priest questions him, Jesus speaks openly. “I have spoken publicly to the world,” Jesus says. “Ask those who heard me.” Jesus claims his words and his witness even when it costs him a slap across the face.

The contrast is devastating. Jesus stands in the light, speaking truth. Peter stands by the fire, speaking lies.

The third denial comes from a relative of Malchus—the man whose ear Peter cut off. “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” This person has evidence. This isn’t casual curiosity; it’s accusation. And for the third time, Peter denies.

Immediately the rooster crows.

John doesn’t record Peter’s reaction. Other gospels tell us he wept bitterly. John simply lets the rooster’s cry hang in the air—a sound Peter will never forget.

We read this story and want to believe we would have done differently. But would we? How many times have we denied belonging to Jesus—not with dramatic words, but with strategic silence? A conversation where we could have mentioned our faith and didn’t. A joke we laughed at instead of challenged. A moment when identifying with Jesus felt socially costly, so we simply… didn’t.

Peter’s denial happened around a charcoal fire. Later, after the resurrection, Jesus will meet Peter beside another charcoal fire on the beach. Three times Jesus will ask, “Do you love me?”—one question for each denial. The same fire that witnessed Peter’s failure becomes the setting for his restoration.

This is the heart of the gospel. Our failures are not the final word. The Jesus who knew Peter would deny him still called Peter his friend. The Jesus who predicted the betrayal still prepared breakfast for the betrayer.

If you’ve ever failed to speak when faith required it, if you’ve ever denied belonging to Jesus to protect yourself, this story is for you. Not to condemn you, but to remind you: the rooster’s crow is not the end of the story. Grace meets us at the fire. And Jesus is already preparing your restoration.

—

This is part of the Voices of the Bible series from Andrew Conard. Each week we explore the scripture passage for the upcoming sermon, helping you encounter the text before Sunday morning.

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These worship elements are an early draft being shared as a preview for the upcoming service. The final version used in worship may be adapted or revised. Pastors and worship leaders are welcome to use and adapt these for your own context.

Welcome

Sometimes an unexpected invitation changes everything. Today we meet someone whose whole life transformed when Jesus looked up and called his name.

Welcome to worship at McPherson First United Methodist Church! I’m [NAME], and I’m delighted you’re here this morning.

At McPherson First, we aim to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. Whether you’ve been part of this congregation for decades or this is your very first Sunday, you belong here.

Today we celebrate our church’s 152nd birthday and welcome Rev. Dr. Dustin Petz from the Kansas Methodist Foundation as our guest preacher.

Five membership promises shape how we grow in our faith and how we support one another on the journey: prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. You’ll hear each of these named as we worship together today.

If you’re new or looking for your next step, visit mcphersonfirst.org/next or download the Church Center app — you can check in, request prayer, find ways to serve, or give. You can also text CONNECT to 620-241-3626 to stay in the loop.

Call to Worship

I invite you to join in our responsive call to worship as you see the words on display.

Leader: Jesus sees us before we even know we’re looking for him.
People: We come seeking the One who has already found us.
Leader: For 152 years, this congregation has gathered to worship.
People: Generations of faithful people have built what we inherit.
Leader: God’s unexpected invitations still transform lives today.
People: We open our hearts to whatever fresh start God offers.
Leader: Come down from your hiding places — Jesus calls your name.
People: We worship the God who welcomes everyone to the table.

Welcome Your Neighbor

Zacchaeus climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus. But the real miracle happened when Jesus saw him — and called him by name. That’s what happens when we practice witness: we help others see that they’re already seen by God.

Think about who in your life might need to know they’re seen. Who could you invite to experience this kind of welcome?

Please stand, welcome your neighbor, and then remain standing as we join together in song.

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, you called Zacchaeus down from a tree and changed his life forever. You have called this congregation for 152 years, and you call us still today. Open our eyes to see you. Open our ears to hear your invitation. Open our hands to respond with generosity. Transform us through this time of worship, we pray. Amen.

Invitation to Prayer and Pastoral Prayer

In a few moments, we’ll enter a time of prayer together. There will be space for you to bring your own concerns to God — moments of silence where you can name what’s on your heart.

Prayers is one of the five promises we make as members — both praying for one another and opening ourselves to God’s presence. If you have a prayer request, text PRAY to 620-241-3626, or text PRAYERTEAM if you’d like someone to pray with you this week.

Will you pray with me?

[Brief pause to center]

Holy God, we gather in this sanctuary where generations have gathered before us. For 152 years, your people have worshiped in this place — praying, singing, giving, serving, bearing witness to your love. We give thanks for every person whose faithfulness built what we now inherit.

We pray for our congregation today. For those celebrating milestones and those carrying grief. For families navigating change and individuals facing decisions. For the young people among us discerning their futures and the elders sharing their wisdom.

[Moment of silent reflection]

We confess that like Zacchaeus, we sometimes watch from a distance when you’re calling us closer. We calculate when you invite us to trust. We hold back when you offer abundance. Forgive us, and help us respond with the same joyful generosity Zacchaeus discovered.

We pray for our guest today, Dustin Petz, and for the ministry of the Kansas Methodist Foundation. Bless all who help your people think faithfully about resources and legacy.

We pray for our community — for McPherson and the surrounding area. Show us where you’re at work and how we can join you. Give us eyes to see people the way Jesus saw Zacchaeus: not by reputation, but by possibility.

All these prayers we offer in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray together, saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Invitation to Give and Check-In

When Jesus entered Zacchaeus’s home, everything changed. The tax collector who had accumulated wealth through exploitation immediately pledged half his possessions to the poor. Encounter with Jesus transforms our relationship with money.

Gifts is one of our five membership promises — supporting God’s work through our financial resources. If you give regularly, thank you. Your faithfulness sustains this ministry week after week. If you’re considering giving for the first time, know that every gift matters and makes a difference.

You can give through the Church Center app, at mcphersonfirst.org/give, by texting GIVE to 620-241-3626, or through the offering plate.

We also want to know you’re here. Presence means showing up — for worship, for one another, for the work God is doing among us. Check in through the Church Center app, at mcphersonfirst.org/next, or sign the attendance pad in your pew and pass it down the row.

Ushers, please come forward to receive this morning’s offering.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We’ve given our offerings and marked our presence. Now we’re sent to practice service — to be God’s hands and feet in our community. Will you pray with me?

Generous God, you have blessed this congregation for 152 years through people who gave faithfully, served joyfully, and loved boldly. Receive these gifts as signs of our gratitude. Use them to continue the work of transformation — in our church, in our community, and in the lives of people we may never meet. As Zacchaeus discovered, giving freely brings more joy than holding tightly. Send us out to live with that same freedom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

152nd Birthday Celebration

On April 13, 1874, a small group of Methodists gathered in McPherson to establish what would become McPherson First United Methodist Church. One hundred fifty-two years later, we’re still here — still worshiping, still serving, still growing as disciples of Jesus Christ.

From circuit-riding preachers to livestreamed services, from kerosene lamps to LED screens, much has changed since 1874. But our mission remains the same: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Every generation has passed the torch of faith to the next, and we’re honored to carry it forward.

Today we celebrate this milestone together. Birthday treats are waiting for you in the Serve Center after worship — stop by for sweets and fellowship as we give thanks for over a century and a half of faithful ministry.

Happy birthday, McPherson First!

Benediction

Go now to welcome the unexpected invitations God places before you. Love boldly. Serve joyfully. Lead courageously.

And may the God who sees you, the Christ who calls your name, and the Spirit who transforms your heart, bless you and keep you, this day and always. Amen.

“A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich.” — Luke 19:2 (CEB)

Luke gives us Zacchaeus’s resume in one sentence: chief tax collector, wealthy, powerful. By every measure his culture used, he had arrived. He sat at the top of a system designed to produce exactly what he had.

And yet he’s in a tree.

Something about having everything wasn’t enough. The accumulation that was supposed to bring security brought isolation instead. The wealth that was supposed to signal success carried a moral stain his neighbors never let him forget. Zacchaeus had built exactly the life his ambition demanded — and discovered it couldn’t hold what he actually needed.

We don’t have to be wealthy to recognize this pattern. We build routines, reputations, carefully constructed lives. And sometimes we climb to a vantage point just high enough to see that the thing we’ve been building isn’t the thing we’ve been looking for.

Where in your life has arrival felt emptier than you expected? That gap between achievement and satisfaction isn’t failure. It’s your soul telling you it was made for something else.

God, when what we’ve built can’t hold what we need, give us the courage to admit it. You offer something our accumulation never could. Amen.

I invite you to connect with the voices of the Bible. This week we hear from Luke chapter 19, verses 1 through 10 — the story of Zacchaeus. We’re in week two of our “Fresh Start” series, exploring how unexpected turns become opportunities for transformation. Let’s listen together.

To understand this story, we need to know what tax collectors meant in first-century Palestine. Rome occupied Israel, and they outsourced tax collection to locals willing to do the unpopular work. Tax collectors bid for territories, paid Rome upfront, then extracted whatever they could from their neighbors — keeping everything above the bid as profit. The system invited abuse.

Zacchaeus wasn’t just a tax collector. Luke tells us he was a “chief tax collector” — essentially a regional manager of exploitation. He supervised other collectors, taking a cut of their profits. The text says plainly: he was rich. In that context, wealth meant complicity. Every denarius in Zacchaeus’s purse represented a neighbor squeezed, a family struggling, a community resenting.

Jericho was a prosperous city, a major trading center, which made it a lucrative tax district. Zacchaeus had positioned himself well. But something was missing. Why else would a wealthy, powerful man climb a tree just to catch a glimpse of an itinerant preacher?

Notice the details Luke gives us. Zacchaeus “was trying to see who Jesus was.” Not just to see Jesus — but to see who Jesus was. There’s seeking here, curiosity that goes beyond spectacle. He wanted to understand something.

But he couldn’t see because of the crowd, and — Luke adds almost tenderly — because he was short. So this dignified tax official does something undignified. He runs ahead. He climbs a sycamore tree. Picture it: fine robes hiked up, sandals scrabbling for purchase, a grown man perched in branches like a child. Desperation makes us do things that sacrifice our dignity.

Then comes the moment that changes everything. Jesus stops. Jesus looks up. Jesus calls him by name: “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.”

The Greek word translated “must” is dei — it implies divine necessity. This isn’t polite suggestion. Jesus says, in effect, “God’s purpose requires me to be your guest today.” The initiative comes entirely from Jesus. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see; Jesus looked up to invite.

The crowd grumbles: “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” They’re not wrong about Zacchaeus’s past. But they can’t imagine a future different from that past. Jesus can.

Then Zacchaeus responds — and here’s where transformation becomes visible. “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”

Some scholars debate whether Zacchaeus is defending his current practice or announcing a new commitment. The grammar could support either reading. But the context suggests transformation. Jesus declares that “today salvation has come to this household.” Something changed in that encounter. The man who accumulated wealth through exploitation now releases it through generosity.

This story speaks to anyone who has ever watched from a distance, wondering if they’d be welcome if they came closer. Anyone who has built walls of wealth or achievement or reputation, only to discover those walls became a prison. Anyone who has heard an unexpected invitation and felt their grip loosen on whatever they’d been holding so tightly.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t wait for Zacchaeus to prove he’s changed. The invitation comes first. Transformation follows encounter. We don’t clean ourselves up to meet Jesus; we meet Jesus and find ourselves being cleaned. Grace precedes response.

And notice what salvation looks like here. It’s not just a feeling or a spiritual status. Salvation changes Zacchaeus’s relationship with money, with his neighbors, with his past. Real encounter with Jesus transforms how we hold what we have.

On this Sunday when we celebrate our church’s 152nd birthday, we remember generations of people whose generosity built what we now inherit. They encountered Jesus and let that encounter transform how they held their resources. We’re still benefiting from their response.

Zacchaeus climbed a tree out of curiosity and came down transformed. Jesus’s unexpected invitation changed everything — not just Zacchaeus’s eternal destiny, but his earthly relationships, his financial practices, his very identity.

The same Jesus still looks up. Still calls names. Still invites himself into homes and hearts and bank accounts. The question for us is the same question Zacchaeus faced: will we come down from wherever we’ve been hiding and welcome the One who sees us, knows us, and chooses to enter our lives anyway?

This week, listen for your name. Find the courage to come down. And let the unexpected invitation of Jesus change everything about how you see what you have.

Grace and peace.

—

This is part of the Voices of the Bible series from Andrew Conard. Each week we explore the scripture passage for the upcoming sermon, helping you encounter the text before Sunday morning.

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“He was trying to see who Jesus was.” — Luke 19:3a (CEB)

Luke doesn't say Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He says Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was. There's a difference. One is curiosity about a celebrity. The other is a question about identity — and it usually surfaces when our own identity isn't working anymore.

Zacchaeus had wealth, power, and position. He had everything his system rewarded. And something was still missing — something urgent enough to make a dignified man run through the streets and scramble up a tree.

We all have versions of this. The career that looks perfect from the outside but feels hollow at 2 AM. The life we built according to plan that somehow doesn’t fit anymore. The nagging sense that there’s something we’re supposed to be looking for but can’t quite name.

Pay attention to your own climbing today. What are you really seeking underneath the surface of your daily routine? The restlessness might not be a problem to solve. It might be an invitation to notice.

God, when restlessness stirs in us, help us recognize it as seeking rather than failure. You put the hunger in us that only you can satisfy. Amen.

You've thought it through. You've weighed the options. You've made your decision and committed to the path. And then something happens that makes all your careful planning irrelevant. Today we start a new series about what happens when God shows up in those moments.

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The disciples were hiding behind locked doors when Jesus appeared alive. One of them — Thomas — wasn’t there. When the others told him what happened, Thomas couldn’t believe it: he’d already been devastated once, and he couldn’t risk his heart being broken again. But Jesus came back, specifically for Thomas, with an invitation that would transform everything.

New to Grace Groups? Grace Groups are small communities of 6–8 people who meet weekly to grow deeper in faith and support each other. They’re a place to be honest about your faith journey and watch over each other in love — not a Bible study, not a therapy group, not a place to fix each other’s problems. The format is simple, the conversation is real, and over time, these become the people who know your story. Every meeting follows the same five-part rhythm below.

1. Center

Open with prayer or a moment of silence. Take a breath. Let the week fall away.

“God of locked rooms and opened doors, meet us where we are today. We carry questions and doubts alongside our faith. We’ve been hurt and we’re cautious. Thank you for walking through the locked doors we build. Open our hearts to your presence and your peace. Amen.”

2. Soul Tending

Check in with where you are spiritually — not where you think you should be. These five areas can help you find your way into the conversation. Pick the one or two that feel most alive — or most stuck — right now.

• Prayers — How is your prayer life? What are you reading or listening to?

• Presence — How has worship or being with other Christians shaped your week?

• Gifts — Where are you giving your time, money, or energy?

• Service — Where are you serving? What does that look like right now?

• Witness — Where have you shared your faith or lived it out loud?

This week’s scripture is about what happens when plans fall apart and honest doubt meets a patient God. As you check in, consider:

• Where are you protecting yourself because you’ve been hurt before? What would it take for you to risk believing again?

• Who or what have you been honest with about your true doubts instead of pretending you have faith figured out?

• What locked door in your life is God inviting you to walk through — and what’s keeping you standing outside of it?

3. God Sightings

Share something from this week where you noticed God moving — in your life, in someone else’s, or in the world around you. Big or small, it counts.

• When has someone showed up for you specifically during a time you felt alone? How did that experience change what you believe about God’s care?

• Where have you seen God working in your life in moments when you couldn’t see it happening — grace that surprised you later?

• How has doubt ever led you to a deeper faith rather than ending it altogether?

4. Growing in Grace

Name something you’re carrying — a decision, a fear, a next step you’ve been avoiding. The group isn’t here to fix it. Just to hear it, sit with you in it, and pray.

• What is one area of your faith you’ve been holding back — not fully surrendering or committing to?

• How could you practice witness this week by sharing honestly about your own journey rather than pretending you have it all figured out?

• If you knew Jesus was coming back specifically for you, how might that change what you believe about your worth, your struggle, or your next step?

5. Close

Pray for each other before you leave.

Each person shares one prayer need in a sentence. Then someone in the group prays for them out loud. Keep it simple: “God, I pray for [name]...” and one or two sentences is plenty.

Go in peace. This week, identify one locked door in your life — a place where doubt, fear, or disappointment has kept you from stepping forward. Take one step through it. Your fresh start is already on its way in.

Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” — John 20:28-29 (CEB)

All week we’ve been sitting with Thomas in the waiting — the missed moment, the stories fear tells, the loneliness of being the one who can’t get there yet, the courage it takes to name what you need, the grace that was working when nothing seemed to be happening. And now this: Jesus walks through the locked door, offers his wounds, and Thomas responds with the highest confession of faith in the entire Gospel of John. “My Lord and my God.”

Not doubt’s defeat — doubt’s destination. Thomas didn’t believe less because he struggled. He arrived at a deeper place precisely because he refused to pretend. His honest wrestling produced the words nobody else in John’s Gospel speaks.

Jesus doesn’t scold him for needing proof. He shows up, offers himself, and meets Thomas exactly where he asked to be met. Then he adds a blessing for every person who would come after: “Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”

That’s us. We’re the ones Thomas’s story was written for — people who believe without touching the wounds, trusting the testimony of those who came before us. The waiting wasn’t wasted. It never is.

God who meets honest doubt with open hands, thank you for Thomas’s story — and for writing ours into it. Christ, you came back for the one who struggled most. Holy Spirit, turn our wrestling into worship. Amen.

“Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!’” — John 20:26b-27 (CEB)

Jesus walked through the locked door again. But this time, he came specifically for Thomas. Not to scold him for doubting. Not to lecture him about faith. He came offering exactly what Thomas had asked for — his hands, his side, his wounds.

That’s the kind of God we follow. The one who doesn’t write off the person who struggles most but returns specifically for them. The one who meets our honest conditions with open hands rather than judgment. Thomas asked to see and touch. Jesus said, “Here. Go ahead.”

Tomorrow at McPherson First, we kick off “Fresh Start” — a seven-week series about what happens when life takes an unexpected turn. We’re starting with Thomas, because fresh starts often begin in the most unlikely place: with honest doubt and a God patient enough to meet us there. Join us at 8:30 AM with hymns and organ music, 10:15 AM with the praise team, or online at youtube.com/@mcphersonfirst.

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God who returns for the ones who struggle, thank you for not giving up on us. As we prepare for worship, open the doors we’ve locked against hope. Amen.

I serve on a nonprofit board here in McPherson. At a recent meeting, I decided to try something: speak up less.

That’s it. No dramatic intervention. No new strategy. Just a decision, on the drive over, to modulate my posture — to contribute less and listen more.

It went pretty well.

“Pretty well” shouldn’t be noteworthy. But for someone whose instinct in a meeting is to fill silence, offer a framework, or move the conversation toward resolution, choosing not to speak is its own kind of discipline. It takes more effort to hold back a thought than to share one.

Pastors are trained to be present. To notice what’s happening in a room, to name it, to guide it somewhere useful. That skill is real and it matters. But it can become a reflex that crowds out other voices — especially in a room full of people who are perfectly capable of getting there on their own. Sometimes the most helpful thing a leader does is create space by not filling it.

The meeting didn’t suffer for my restraint. Other people stepped into the pauses I would normally have occupied. Perspectives I might not have heard came through because I wasn’t already talking. The group reached its own conclusions, and they were good ones.

I don’t think every meeting calls for this. There are moments when a clear word at the right time moves things forward. But I’m learning that the instinct to contribute isn’t always the same as the call to contribute. And knowing the difference might be one of the more important leadership skills nobody teaches you.

Modulating posture. It’s a small phrase for a small adjustment. But the room noticed, even if they couldn’t name what was different. And I drove home feeling lighter than I usually do after a board meeting — which might be the clearest sign that something shifted in the right direction.