Called To Action

We have been called to action

Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV)

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?"

12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

13 But go and learn what this means: ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Trouble in the text/Run the Story

Jesus was walking and he comes across Mathew who was a tax collector.

• One who was considered a traitor to the Jews?

• And he goes to his house.

• Now you would assume would be amazed that he was accepted by this teacher considering he was a sinner.

• He does something amazing and he invites his friends.

Has anything really good happened to you?

• You just can’t help but tell your friends.

• When you watch a good movies eat at good restaurant.

• Matthew it seems is so impressed with Jesus he brings his friends.

• Or Jesus asked him to bring his friends.

God sitting with traitors and people who live willfully in disobedience to God

• The useless. The out cast of society

Now the Pharisees see this and are perplexed.

• It’s not something they would do.

• Nor is it anything they think God would have them do.

• And since they are already having problems with Jesus they ask why in the world is he with them?

This could have been asked in many different tones.

• The curious tone?

• Or the convicting tone.

• Either way here are the leaders of the church.

• This appointed by God to lead the world to him.

• Wondering why he was with Sinners,¨ they didn’t know.

• They seem to have missed the point.

Many today have missed the point. Who have missed the purpose of Jesus coming!

• We get so educated and learned

• We sing many songs,

• attended many bible studies

• That our relationship with him gets so personal

• Our relationship with him becomes so inward

• We forget what Jesus purpose was and the purpose he has for our lives!

• It sometimes looks like many think that salvation ends with them.

Jesus hears their question and answers it.

• He says you know so much about the scripture.

• And you think you got it together.

• Ok let me school you

Matthew 9:12 (NIV)

12"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ’I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

This is an interesting part of the scripture because it tells us a few things

1. Tells us What He came for

a. He came to call sinners not those that don’t need him.

b. There is a great need in this world and that’s a need for a savior.

i. We are sinners

ii. Many don’t think they need a savior

iii. Think they are good people.

iv. That was what the Pharisee thought. They thought they had it all together because they gave their sacrifices

2. Tell us the wrong view the Pharisee had of themselves

a. He points this out when he had a desire for mercy not sacrifice.¨

b. They didn’t show mercy.

i. They did what was easy

Big idea: God loves all people. We need to care for all people. And the only thing that matters is how we treat others and deal with others. If we claim to be right with God but hate our brother there is a problem.

Illustration: The story of the Good Samaritan. He did what was right.

What is the point if you refrain from doing and you don’t live the way I ask?

3. Tells us what we are to do

a. Call others to repentance. But the best sermon is a lived one. More people hear the gospel through our lives backing up what we say. Not what we say and nothing to back it up

b. It’s a living sermon

c. Many accepted Jesus not because he said he was the son of God but because how he lived.

4. As a church we have a few priorities.

a. Love God

b. Lead our neighbors to Christ.

i. If necessary use words

God working in us last year

5. 11 people where saved, recommitted, sanctified last year in some fashion

a. Met Michele (Lesbian who met Jesus) the other day gave me a big hug

b. how many will we have this year

Question: Will we be set up and ready for them?

Question: Will we answer his call

Question: Will we be will to Work out of the box?