Belonging
Passages (NIV): Luke 19:1-10
Preacher: Mark Kingston
We often talk about wanting more good things to grow in our lives. More peace. More joy. More patience. More love. The Bible calls these things “the fruit of the Spirit”. And that kind of fruit never grows by accident. It grows when you are planted in the right kind of soil.
By soil, I mean the environment we grow in - the conditions around us that shape what develops in us over time. Some soil helps good things grow. Other soil makes growth harder, or twists what grows. Belonging is one kind of soil, and it has enormous power to shape who we become. But not all belonging is the same. There are different kinds of belonging soil, and they grow very different things. See which one is most familiar to you...
One kind of soil is not belonging at all: Some people stop trying to belong anywhere. Maybe they were rejected before. Maybe they learned it was safer to rely only on themselves. Sometimes this leads to loneliness. Sometimes it leads to pride. "I did this on my own. I don’t need anyone." Either way, it is thin soil. Not much grows there.
Another kind of soil is conditional belonging: This is belonging with strings attached. You are welcome as long as you meet the expectations: look right, sound right, keep it together and do not show weakness. This kind of soil grows anxiety and insecurity. There is pressure to perform and fear of being exposed. One mistake can feel like it might cost you your place.
This experience is so common that many of us assume this is just how life works. And because of that, we often assume this is what God offers too. That belief is reinforced when churches become places of conditional belonging, where people feel they must look religious or have their lives together in order to be welcomed and accepted by God and other people.
But there is a third kind of soil, and we see it clearly in the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus in Luke chapter 19. If belonging depended on good behavior, a clean reputation, or having life sorted out, Zacchaeus had no chance. He was wealthy and powerful, but deeply disliked. He was seen as a traitor who had grown rich by hurting others. And yet Jesus chooses him and offers him the great honor of staying with him in his home. Please note that Jesus does this before Zacchaeus apologizes or fixes anything.
Zacchaeus’ story shows us what unconditional belonging looks like.
And look at what grows in that soil. Zacchaeus changes completely and quickly. He stops stealing and gives generously. He puts things right. And joy shows up. Not because he was pressured or shamed, but because Jesus' welcome changed him from the inside out.
But there is more! The fruits of the Spirit does not usually grow when we try to follow Jesus on our own. That is why Jesus never just says, "Follow me privately." He brings people into a family. Zacchaeus life changed in the context of welcome and relationship with others. Why? Well, on our own, it is easy to hide, pretend, or stay guarded. But when we belong in a community shaped by Jesus’ welcome, we are known, supported, and reminded who we are. And that is where real change begins.
So if you want more peace, joy, patience, and love in your life, here are two simple "yeses".
First, say yes to God’s welcome. Remember, Jesus invited Zacchaeus, but he did not force him. Zacchaeus had to climb down from the tree and open the door to Jesus. In the same way, God’s offers His welcome to you, but you still need to receive it.
Second, say yes to God’s family. Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. The Bible is clear about this. We grow best together.
There is one more choice in this story, especially for those of us who are already in church and following Jesus. Note how the crowd respond in the Zacchaeus story: some people watch Jesus and are shocked. They grumble. They preferred belonging to stay clean, tidy, and conditional. They had already decided that people like Zacchaeus didn't belong. But Jesus does something different. He notices the person everyone else has written off….the one who knows they desparately need God. And Jesus extends a welcome - offers a seat at the table.
That choice is still in front of us. When we see someone awkward, messy, or on the edge, we can keep our distance. Or we can move toward them. We can protect our comfort, or we can make room. God will grow our church, not because we are impressive, but because we follow Him in welcoming others just like Jesus did. And remember the impact this had on Zacchaeus! Amazing things can happen when people are offered an unconditional welcome…
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Past Belonging
Looking back, did church ever feel like a place where acceptance had conditions: behave well, believe right, keep struggles quiet? How has that shaped what you expect from God and other Christians now?What Do You Want?
When you think about your life right now, what would you honestly like more of: peace, joy, patience, kindness? And what would you like less of: anxiety, pressure, numbness, fear? Why not tell God your answer in prayer…Known and Welcomed
God knows everything about you: the good, the hurting, the messy, the confused. And He still welcomes you into His family, as you are. Which part of you finds that hard to trust?Fruit from Belonging
In Zacchaeus’ story, his transformation into being generous, honest, and joyful does not come from pressure or shame. It seems to grow out of being welcomed and by belonging, almost like an unexpected gift that comes from staying close to Jesus. What do you notice stirring inside you as you sit with that?Becoming the Welcome
Having received that kind of welcome we get to pass it on to others. Who might God be inviting you to notice, move toward, or make room for in the same way?
