Preacher ： Rev. Danny Chiew 邱传道
Introduction
Rev. Danny Chiew began by highlighting the many ministry opportunities God has placed before the church through the Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, schools, and outreach ministries. He reminded the congregation that many lives have been transformed because believers were willing to intentionally reach out to young people and outsiders with the love of Christ.
Using the story of Zacchaeus, Rev. Danny emphasized that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He encouraged the church to reflect on whether believers today are willing to see people through the compassionate eyes of Christ instead of through prejudice, social status, or human judgment. Just as Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus, the church today is called to actively reach out to those who are spiritually lost and marginalized.
1. Zacchaeus Humbly Sought Jesus
Bible Scripture： Luke 19:1–4
Rev. Danny Chiew explained that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and a wealthy man. Although he possessed status, power, and riches, there was still something missing in his life. Tax collectors during Roman rule were despised by the Jewish community because they worked for the Roman government and often cheated their own people through excessive taxation. Zacchaeus was therefore viewed as a sinner, traitor, and social outcast.
Despite his position and wealth, Zacchaeus sincerely desired to see Jesus. Rev. Danny highlighted how unusual it was for a man of Zacchaeus’ status to run publicly and climb a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. In Middle Eastern culture, men of authority and dignity would never behave in such a childlike manner. Yet Zacchaeus willingly humbled himself because he genuinely wanted to know who Jesus was.
Rev. Danny connected this to Luke 18:17, where Jesus taught that the kingdom of God must be received like a little child. Zacchaeus set aside pride, status, and dignity in order to seek Christ sincerely. He contrasted this with many people today who avoid God because of pride, fear, self-sufficiency, or worldly success.
He also reminded the congregation that unlike Adam and Eve who hid themselves from God after sinning, Zacchaeus actively sought Jesus. His eagerness demonstrated a heart that was ready for transformation. Rev. Danny emphasized that whenever someone sincerely seeks Jesus, Christ is always ready to meet them personally wherever they are.
2. Jesus Saw a Soul in Need
Bible Scripture ： Luke 19:5–7
Rev. Danny Chiew emphasized the sharp contrast between the crowd’s perspective and Jesus’ perspective. The people saw Zacchaeus only as a corrupt sinner, dishonest tax collector, and hated man. When Jesus chose to enter Zacchaeus’ house, the crowd immediately complained and criticized Him for associating with a sinner.
However, Jesus saw beyond Zacchaeus’ sins and failures. Instead of seeing only his outward wrongdoings, Jesus saw a soul that was seeking and in desperate need of grace, repentance, and salvation. Rev. Danny highlighted that Jesus intentionally crossed social and religious boundaries in order to reach the lost.
By inviting Himself into Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus demonstrated God’s prevenient grace — God taking the initiative to seek sinners before they deserve it. Jesus did not wait for Zacchaeus to become righteous first before showing him love. Instead, Christ reached out to him in grace, and that grace led Zacchaeus toward repentance and transformation.
Rev. Danny challenged the church to examine whether believers today behave more like the crowd than like Jesus. Christians may become prejudiced toward people from different races, social classes, professions, family backgrounds, or language groups. Sometimes churches view young people, troubled individuals, or outsiders as nuisances rather than as precious souls whom God loves.
He reminded the congregation that schools, Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, tuition ministries, Alpha, and outreach events are all opportunities for evangelism and ministry. Jesus reached out beyond comfort zones because every soul matters to God, and believers today are called to do the same.
3. True Repentance Produces Transformation
Bible Scripture ： Luke 19:8–10
Rev. Danny Chiew emphasized that Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus resulted in immediate transformation. Zacchaeus voluntarily declared that he would give half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times whatever he had cheated from others. His repentance was genuine because it produced visible outward action and restitution.
Rev. Danny explained that true faith is not merely intellectual knowledge or verbal confession. Genuine salvation leads to inward transformation that is reflected outwardly through changed behavior and actions. Zacchaeus demonstrated remorse, humility, and a sincere desire to make things right with both God and people.
He also referred to the Mosaic Law concerning restitution, where those who stole or cheated were required to repay what they had taken. Zacchaeus willingly offered the highest form of repayment because his heart had truly been changed by encountering Jesus.
Rev. Danny warned that many Christians today may know Christian teachings and attend church regularly, yet still lack inward transformation and outward obedience. Faith must go beyond knowledge and become a life that reflects Christ.
He emphasized that discipleship means following the example of Jesus in loving the lost and living out the Gospel practically. Christians are called not only to believe in Christ but also to demonstrate changed lives through repentance, compassion, generosity, and obedience.
Finally, Rev. Danny highlighted Jesus’ declaration in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This remains both the mission of Christ and the mission of the church today.
Conclusion
Rev. Danny Chiew concluded by reminding the congregation that every believer was once spiritually lost and in need of God’s grace. Just as Jesus intentionally sought Zacchaeus, Christ continues to seek people today through His church and His people.
He encouraged believers to humble themselves, remove prejudice, and intentionally reach out to those around them with the love of Christ. Christians are called not to remain comfortable within church walls, but to embrace God’s heart for the lost.
Rev. Danny reminded the church that true discipleship involves inward transformation followed by outward action. When believers follow the example of Jesus and actively reach out to others with grace and compassion, lives can be changed, communities transformed, and lost souls brought into the kingdom of God.
Take-away Message
Jesus seeks the lost with grace and calls His people to humble themselves, love without prejudice, and live transformed lives that reflect His heart for others.
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