The Journey of Many - Mini Steps

Sermon Quick Summary
The Beatles released a song called Eleanor Rigby with lyrics to others and ourselves experiencing loneliness; we should speak Jesus to people experiencing loneliness. Jesus is the solution for people experiencing loneliness. Let us unpack the Luke 24 biblical scripture on The Road to Emmaus: (1) Two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus; some scholars believe the other disciple with Cleopas was his wife. (2) Women who were followers of Jesus discovered the empty tomb, which was confirmed by Peter and John. (3) For disciples, the events had defied their expectation that the Messiah would come in power to overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s independence. (4) The resurrected Jesus walks with the disciples, but God prevented them from recognizing Jesus because it is not for us to understand God’s timing. (5) Jesus asked Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus questions, listening to draw out their emotions and inviting them to share their hearts, and then patiently spoke through the biblical scriptures that the Messiah would come as a suffering servant before being exalted. (6) Later that evening Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus sit together for a meal; Jesus blessed and break the bread; the two disciples recognized Jesus who then immediately vanished from their sight. (7) Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus, in a process of many mini steps, had revelation that gave them joy, clarity, and hope. Jesus modeled a beautiful approach to companionship in evangelism. First, Jesus walked with them. Second, Jesus listened before He taught. Third, Jesus revealed truth gradually. Fourth, Jesus created a moment of personal encounter.  In our Luke 24 biblical scripture, we see Jesus applying these very same principles of B.L.E.S. S., our church model for evangelism. B is to begin with prayer. L is to listen with care. E is to eat together. S is to serve in love. S is to share your story. The challenge in making disciples is taking the next step despite barriers in making disciples. The barriers are emotional barriers, intellectual barriers, and will to surrender barriers. Begin with prayer with God for guidance in speaking Jesus for sharing the good news. Jesus is alive!

The Beatles released a song called Eleanor Rigby with lyrics to others and ourselves experiencing loneliness; we should speak Jesus to people experiencing loneliness. Jesus is the solution for people experiencing loneliness.
            Eleanor Rigby is a song, although secular, resonates deeply with the human experience of loneliness and spiritual longing.  It reminds us that so many people, perhaps even some of us, are walking through life unseen and unknown. Speaking Jesus is a reality so different from other songs. The ways of Jesus, the power of Jesus, the healing in Jesus, the strength of Jesus, the freedom in Jesus, the love of Jesus is indeed a Kingdom of God reality. Speaking Jesus is a language of truth unlike any other. Speaking Jesus is the language of hope.
            Eleanor Rigby is a hauntingly beautiful song that speaks to the hopelessness of life. The lyrics tell the story of people who live in quiet isolation and desperation. The people long for connection, yet they feel unseen and unknown. First, there’s Eleanor Rigby, a woman who, the song says, “picks up the rice in a church where a wedding has been”. She’s there at the scene of love and celebration, yet she is never a part of it herself. She is described as “wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door”. This is a poetic way of saying she hides behind a mask, presenting one version of herself to the world while suffering behind closed doors.
            Then we meet Father McKenzie, a priest who as the song continues, “writes the words of a sermon that no one will hear”. Father McKenzie is dedicated to his faith but seemingly speaking into the void. The song ends with Eleanor dying alone, and Father McKenzie “wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave”.  This is a stark image of how unnoticed and uncelebrated some lives become.  The song ends with the refrain, “Ah, Look at all the lonely people.”
            People may be searching for something more, but not knowing where to find it.
They are carrying invisible burdens, longing for meaning, and hoping for something to break through the emptiness of their lives. Perhaps you know someone like this, such as a loved one, a coworker, a neighbor. Or maybe this describes you. Maybe, deep down, you feel the weight of a certain ache and are searching for something beyond the daily routine that truly satisfies.
            The good news is that Jesus meets that need. Jesus meets us right where we are. Jesus is the one who truly sees us, who steps into our loneliness, who walks alongside us in our searching. Jesus knows every silent cry, every hidden wound, and every unanswered question. Jesus knows us individually by name.
            Family and friends, let’s Speak Jesus. The lyrics to this song are really a blessing for all the lonely people. When we speak the name of Jesus, we are calling upon Christ, as the One who brings healing to the brokenhearted, sight to the blind, and hope to the weary. When we speak Jesus in our own lives and over others, darkness trembles, chains break, and new life begins. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  
            Family and friends, we should speak Jesus to a world that is spiritually hungry, longing for truth, and searching for meaning. Those us who follow Jesus know that Jesus is indeed the way. Jesus is the one for whom our hearts are truly searching. Yet, the journey to Jesus does not happen in a single moment. The journey to Jesus is a process of discovery through a series of many mini steps.
            No matter where we are on the journey, whether we are searching and seeking, or have been walking with Jesus years, the general pattern is the same.  The way Jesus meets us and invites us to know him more is the same way Jesus has been inviting people to know him for over 2000 years.
           
You are invited to read the biblical Word of the Lord from Luke 24. 
            13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.
            17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along? They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”19 “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
            22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
            25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning him.
            28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread -  and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared.
            32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
           
Let us unpack the Luke 24 biblical scripture on The Road to Emmaus: 

(1) Two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus; some scholars believe the other disciple with Cleopas was his wife.
            Our biblical scripture opens with two disciples walking on a road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. While this passage is often depicted as two men, the biblical text only says they were two disciples (See Luke 24:13). Some scholars suggest it may have been Cleopas and his wife, as Jesus had both male and female followers beyond the Twelve. This is a small detail, but an important pause because biblical times were so patriarchal. Women are often overlooked, so it’s important to be open-minded and to revisit some of the imagery we may automatically assume. What matters most is that they encountered Jesus in an ordinary moment during their journey.
 
(2) Women who were followers of Jesus discovered the empty tomb, which was confirmed by Peter and John.
            On Resurrection Sunday, women discovered an empty tomb. They declared that Jesus was alive. That was then confirmed by Peter and John (See Luke 24:22-24).

(3) For disciples, the events had defied their expectation that the Messiah would come in power to overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s independence.
            Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus on the road remained confused, and uncertain about what to believe. Instead of celebrating, they are weighed down by grief, disappointment, and doubt. For them, the events of the past few days had shattered their hopes. They had believed Jesus was the Messiah, the one who would redeem Israel, but now He was dead. Their long-awaited dreams of freedom and restoration seemed lost. Their expectation was that the Messiah would in power to overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s independence. Jesus had come in a way that defied and doused their expectations (See Luke 24:17-21).

(4) The resurrected Jesus walks with the disciples, but God prevented them from recognizing Jesus because it is not for us to understand God’s timing.
            Then, the unexpected happens. A stranger begins walking with them. The biblical scripture says that God prevented them from recognizing Jesus, which is an important point at which to pause. (See Luke 24:15-16). We know it is Jesus, but they did not recognize Him. This reminds us that it’s not for us to understand God’s timing. There was something more God wanted to do in this encounter. It wasn’t the right time for them to recognize Jesus was with them.
 
(5) Jesus asked Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus questions, listening to draw out their emotions and inviting them to share their hearts, and then patiently spoke through the biblical scriptures that the Messiah would come as a suffering servant before being exalted.
            Instead of revealing Himself immediately, Jesus asks questions to them, drawing out their emotions, and inviting them to share their hearts. As the disciples walk, Jesus listens, and. then He speaks. Jesus walks them through the Scriptures, doing a systematic “through the Bible”, explaining how everything, from Moses to the prophets, pointed to the Messiah’s suffering before His glory. They had been expecting a triumphant ruler, but they had missed the truth that the Messiah would come first as a suffering servant before being exalted.  Jesus patiently reveals that the biblical scriptures they knew had always pointed to this reality. However, notice that even after a complete biblical expose by Jesus himself, they still do not see Jesus for who He is. (See Luke 24:25-27).
 
(6) Later that evening Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus sit together for a meal; Jesus blessed and break the bread; the two disciples recognized Jesus who then immediately vanished from their sight.
            It isn’t until later that evening, when they sit together for a meal, that their eyes are opened. Jesus takes the bread, blesses it, and breaks it. This moment is striking not only because they recognize Jesus.  Jesus, as a guest, takes on the role of host. Normally, the host of the home would break the bread, but here, Jesus gives thanks and offers it to them. Sometimes, this moment is depicted as the disciples recalling the Last Supper. However, it is unlikely Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus was at the Last Supper so they would not have that reference.  Plus, there is no mention of wine to complete the Last Supper reference or imagery. (See Luke 24:28-31). 
            It is possible that they were reminded of the feeding of the 5,000, or maybe it was simply in the way Jesus served them that their eyes were opened. Regardless of the why, in that moment, they recognize Jesus. As soon as they recognize Him, Jesus vanishes from their sight.

(7) Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus, in a process of many mini steps, had revelation that gave them joy, clarity, and hope.
            The biblical scripture says they turn to one another, and in awe, they say, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
As a process of many mini steps, they had a moment of revelation when Jesus broke the bread. They then recognized who Jesus was. It was a moment when everything clicked into place. Their sorrow was replaced with joy, their confusion with clarity, and their despair with hope. We aren’t meant to keep that joy to ourselves. It’s too exciting!  
            Family, just like these disciples, we often move through seasons of doubt, and misunderstanding, before it all clicks.  When we finally do see Jesus for who He is, whether it’s the first time, or the millionth time of getting to know Jesus more, everything changes. This is God’s pattern of revelation. From the first time we meet Jesus, to every time after where Jesus invites us to meet more of Him. Jesus patiently walks alongside us. Speaking truth, and opening our eyes in His perfect timing. Jesus meets us in our doubts, our disappointments, and in our searching. Jesus listens. Jesus teaches. Jesus reveals Himself in ways we don’t always expect.
            The Bible tells us these disciples, who had been weary and uncertain, immediately got up. Luke 24: 33 says within the hour, which literally means “straight away” in the original language. They traveled the seven miles back to Jerusalem to share the good news.
            Now remember that they invite Jesus to stay because night was coming (See Luke 24:28-29). So it was dark! Traveling at night was unusual and even dangerous, but they couldn’t wait. What they had just experienced was too incredible not to go and tell it.

Jesus modeled a beautiful approach to companionship in evangelism.
            Family, the road to Emmaus story is more than just a heart-warming recounting of Jesus’ personal revelation. The road to Emmaus is also more than a story about a post-resurrection sighting that Jesus was alive. The road to Emmaus story is both of those things.
            It’s also a model for how we, as followers of Jesus, are called to walk with others on their journey to faith that includes introducing people to Jesus. Evangelism is not about a single moment, but a process of many mini steps where we listen, walk alongside, and share truth as Jesus did.
            For many, the word evangelism carries a sense of pressure or even discomfort. Some feel unqualified to share their faith, while others hesitate because they don’t want to come across as pushy or offensive. But evangelism is not about forcing people into a decision. It’s about companioning with them on their journey, just as Jesus did on the road to Emmaus.
            Studies show that most people come to faith gradually. It takes multiple conversations, moments of reflection, and encounters with truth before someone recognizes Jesus for who He is. Just as the disciples didn’t immediately recognize Jesus, many people are walking through life unaware that Jesus is right beside them. Our role is to be present, patient, and faithful in helping them take their next step of many.
            Jesus didn’t rush the process, and He didn’t start with a pre-packaged speech. Jesus started with companionship. Let’s notice what Jesus did.

First, Jesus walked with them.
He didn’t stand at a distance and make them come to him. He joined them in their journey. He went to where they were and was with them.

Second, Jesus listened before He taught.
Before offering any answers or teaching, Jesus allowed them to express their doubts and confusion.
 
Third, Jesus revealed truth gradually. 
Jesus didn’t overwhelm them but gently walked them through Scripture to help them see the bigger picture they were missing.

Fourth, Jesus created a moment of personal encounter.  
In breaking the bread, Jesus revealed Himself in a way that was deeply personal to them.

In our Luke 24 biblical scripture, we see Jesus applying these very same principles of B.L.E.S. S., our church model for evangelism.
            These are great guides for us, but when we look even closer at how Jesus interacted with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we see that Jesus exemplified B.L.E.S.S., our church model of evangelism. Every year we revisit B.L.E.S.S. to remind us that we are commissioned to go and make disciples. Jesus BLESSED these disciples on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  Followers of Jesus are called to do the same. Evangelism is not an option.
            B is to begin with prayer. While the text does not explicitly state Jesus prayed before engaging the disciples, we know that throughout His ministry, Jesus always sought the Father’s guidance before stepping into important moments. His presence on the road to Emmaus was intentional, and likewise, our encounters and conversations should be bathed in prayer, as we pray for those God would have us share with.
             L is to listen with care. Jesus started with a question: “What are you discussing as you walk along?” (Luke 24:17). He allowed them to share their grief and confusion before offering any answers. True evangelism begins with listening to people’s struggles and doubts.
            E is to eat together. Jesus joined them at the table. Though they did not yet recognize Him, it was in this intimate setting of sharing a meal that their eyes were opened. Eating together builds relationships and fosters openness, warmth, and “safe spaces.”
            S is to serve in love.  Jesus took on the role of host at the table, breaking the bread and offering it to them. This was normally the role of the host of the home, but here, Jesus served them in a way that opened their eyes to see who Jesus truly was. In the same way, when we serve others like Jesus, our prayer is that they see Jesus through us and gain a better understanding of who Jesus really is.
            S is to share your story. Jesus shared his story in the Scriptures, walking them through Moses and the Prophets, allowing them to see not only how all of history pointed to Him, but how that was God’s plan from the beginning. We too can share our stories as we walk alongside others; stories about the ways God has been at work in our lives as we live into God’s plan for us, allowing God to transform us.
 
The challenge is taking the next step despite barriers in making disciples. The barriers are emotional barriers, intellectual barriers, and will to surrender barriers.
            Family, many of us understand the importance of evangelism, but the challenge comes in actually stepping out and engaging in these conversations as companions. We may fear rejection. We may be uncertain about what to say. We may assume that people aren’t interested. Or we may hit a faith barrier or obstacle.
            These barriers are not something we talk about often. But understanding these barriers helps us respond with wisdom and compassion. We can’t assume everyone’s experience is the same, and we must learn to walk with people in a way that meets people where they are.
            We’ll be unpacking some of the major barriers over the next few Sundays. The story of the Road to Emmaus gives us such a clear picture of the barriers people face in faith and how Jesus responded to them. Let’s briefly touch on them here. As we discuss these common faith barriers, people will come to your mind, or you may remember experiencing these barriers in your own journey. In fact, you may be facing one right now.
            First are Emotional Barriers. Some people have been wounded by life, the church, or experienced personal disappointments that have hardened their hearts toward faith. The disciples on the road were in deep emotional distress. They had placed all their hope in Jesus, but now He was dead. They couldn’t see the resurrection because their grief and disillusionment had clouded their perspective. Jesus didn’t dismiss their pain. He walked with them in it. He asked them questions, giving them space to express their sorrow before offering any answers. Likewise, when we engage with those who have emotional wounds, we must start with compassion and presence and create space for trust and hope to be reborn, and that takes time through many mini steps.
            Second are Intellectual Barriers. There are some people who wrestle with intellectual doubts about Christianity. They may have honest questions about Scripture, science, suffering, or theology that hold them back from belief. How did Jesus respond? He patiently walked them through the Scriptures and reframed their understanding. He recognized their lack of knowledge, connected the dots, and illuminated the truth that had been there all along. When we find we are journeying with those facing intellectual blocks, we are called to do the same. We patiently walk with them through their questions, offer truth with grace, and allow time for God to work in their hearts. This is a process of many mini steps.
            Lastly, there are Will to Surrender Barriers. Some people may be drawn to Jesus but struggle to take the final step of surrender. The disciples on the road weren’t just sad or confused; they were hesitant to believe. Even after Jesus explained everything, they still didn’t believe. It wasn’t until He broke the bread and served them that their eyes were opened, and they believed.
            This teaches us something important: sometimes, understanding alone isn’t enough. A person needs to encounter Jesus personally in a way that touches their soul to see Jesus. Our role is not to force faith but to create space for people to experience Jesus for themselves, just as Jesus did when He sat at the table with the disciples.

Begin with prayer with God for guidance in speaking Jesus for sharing the good news. Jesus is alive!
            Friends, as we move into this new series and draw closer to Easter, we are going to take a deeper look at each of these barriers so we can become more like Jesus as we companion with others.
            Start applications this week. Begin with prayer and ask the Lord these questions. Who is God inviting you to walk along side as a companion? Who needs you to listen, walk with them, and gently point them toward Jesus? How can you be intentional to B.L.E.S.S. and be a companion with someone in their many mini steps?
            Just as Jesus walked with those disciples, recognize and become intentional to walk with those God has placed in our lives. Like Jesus, we must walk in love patience, and truth. What happens when our hearts are aligned with Jesus' heart?
            Communion is a sacred act that reminds us of our many mini steps to Jesus over and over again. It is an invitation to pause, to recognize His presence, and remember His sacrifice. Just as Jesus took on the role of host at the table in Emmaus, Jesus now invites us to His table to allow God's Holy Spirit to open our eyes for who Jesus really is.
            As we take the bread, let us remember His body, broken for us. As we drink from the cup let us remember His blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. As we partake together, our eyes must be open to see Jesus more clearly, keep walking the many mini walk steps with Jesus just as the disciples did, and be compelled to share the good news. Jesus is alive!
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
The Beatles released a song called Eleanor Rigby with lyrics to others and ourselves experiencing loneliness; we should speak Jesus to people experiencing loneliness. Jesus is the solution for people experiencing loneliness.
-The Eleanor Rigby song, although secular, resonates deeply with human experiences of loneliness and need for a spiritual solution. Since Jesus meets that need for others and even yourself, why is it so important for you to speak Jesus to people experiencing loneliness?
(1) Two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus; some scholars believe the other disciple with Cleopas was his wife.
-Since biblical times were so patriarchal, in you applying a scripture to your life today, why is it so important to not overlook women? Why do you need to maintain an open mind and revisit some imagery that you may assume in applying biblical scripture to your life today?(2) Women who were followers of Jesus discovered the empty tomb, which was confirmed by Peter and John.
-See Luke 24:22-24. What does it reveal about the character, will, and ways of God that God sent angels to women from the group of followers to tell the women that Jesus is alive?
(3) For disciples, the events had defied their expectation that the Messiah would come in power to overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s independence.  (4) The resurrected Jesus walks with the disciples, but God prevented them from recognizing Jesus because it is not for us to understand God’s timing.
-What expectations have you had about God’s timing that has not matched the timing of God through a process of transformation through many mini steps?
(5) Jesus asked Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus questions, listened drawing out their emotions and inviting them to share their hearts, and then patiently spoke through the biblical scriptures that the Messiah would come as a suffering servant before being exalted.
-As a disciple following the model of Jesus in his earthly ministry, how must you listen to people drawing out their emotions and listening to them share their hearts. What are your challenges in then patiently speaking with them through the biblical scriptures?
(6) Later that evening Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus sit together for a meal; Jesus blessed and break the bread; the two disciples recognized Jesus who then immediately vanished from their sight.
-Why is it important that only Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus sitting together for a meal is not the Last Super? Why is this an example of Jesus illustrating for you on earth personally eating together? Why must we include more followers of Jesus?
-After the two disciples recognized Jesus, why do you think Jesus moved on to others? Why is this important?
(7) Cleopas and the other follower of Jesus, in a process of many mini steps, had revelation that gave them joy, clarity, and hope.
-When have you had a moment of revelation in recognizing more who Jesus is, and God provided more joy, clarity, and hope?
Jesus modeled a beautiful approach to companionship in evangelism. First, Jesus walked with them. Second, Jesus listened before He taught. Third, Jesus revealed truth gradually. Fourth, Jesus created a moment of personal encounter. 
-Family, as God calls you to companionship in introducing people to Jesus, why is many steps so important? What are the challenges you encounter with each step?
In our Luke 24 biblical scripture, we see Jesus applying these very same principles of B.L.E.S. S., our church model for evangelism.
Jesus exemplified B.L.E.S.S., our church model of evangelism. In B.L.E.S.S., what does each of these letters represent?
The challenge is taking the next step despite barriers in making disciples. The barriers are emotional barriers, intellectual barriers, and will barriers.
-Family, in your calling from God to make disciples, what emotional barriers, intellectual barriers, or will barriers have you encountered?
Begin with prayer with God for guidance in speaking Jesus for sharing the good news. Jesus is alive!
-Who is God inviting you to walk along side as a companion? 
-Who needs you to listen, walk with them, and gently point them toward Jesus? 
-How can you be intentional to B.L.E.S.S. and be a companion with someone in their many mini steps?