Sermon Central
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Lessons From Patches And Wineskins Series
Contributed by Rick Finitzer on Aug 11, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: The New Wine of Salvation bring true and lasting joy. If our wineskins are going to burst it should be because of our Joy spilling out into the world that Christ has made a difference in our heart and life.
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LESSONS FROM PATCHES AND WINESKINS
Mark 2:18-22
“Cynthia and I are into Harley-Davidson motorcycles. I know, I know... it doesn’t fit our image. Who really cares? We stopped worrying about our image years ago. We should be ashamed of ourselves? We aren’t. We should be better examples to the youth? They love it!
...We are having more fun than anyone can imagine (except fellow Harley riders). One of the best things about the whole deal is that those guys and gals down at the bike shop don’t have a clue as to who we are. We have finally found a place in our area where we can be out in public and remain absolutely anonymous. If anyone down there happens to ask our names, we’ll just tell ‘em we’re Jim and Shirley Dobson. Those Harley hogs don’t know them either.”
Chuck Swindoll – Laugh Again
For many of us Chuck Swindoll makes us a little nervous!
You respond by saying:
Isn’t he having just a little too much fun for a Christian?
I think he laughs too loud and tells too many jokes on the radio!
Doesn’t he take anything seriously?
Isn’t he a little too grace oriented?
Shouldn’t he be a little more like John MacArthur?
Chuck Swindoll is a free spirit. His laughter is contagious. The joy he has flows out of a heart that is deeply committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ came to set people free from bondage.
Jesus came to give us His joy!
John 15:11 NIV I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 8:32-36 NIV Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Joy and true happiness are noticed by others around you. Joy is unsettling to the Pharisees and it is going to prompt them to continue to ask questions of Jesus’ followers.
Context:
The Gospel of Mark is an action oriented Gospel.
The word translated: “immediately” or “straightway” is used 42 times
“Just Do It” approach
Mark was written by John Mark the one that Paul and Barnabas parted ways over.
People in that time, like people today were living out their lives on a day to day basis going to work, providing for their family, and raising their children.
The questions remained the same:
Why Am I here?
Where am I going?
What is the meaning of life?
Is there life after death?
There was a buzz in the air throughout Galilee about Jesus.
Jesus was healing people
Jesus was teaching them about God and His plan
This buzz also attracted the attention of the religious elite – The Scribes and Pharisees
This lead to a series of confrontations from Mark 2:1 – Mark 3:6
The healing of the Paralytic brought to Jesus by His 4 friends – Sins forgiven
Controversy about the Sabbath
Healing on the Sabbath
Dinner with Levi (Matthew) and Sinners - right before this passage
Levi had a Divine Appointment with God
Jesus saw Levi (Matthew) sitting in his Toll Booth.
He asks Levi to follow Him – Levi leaves all behind! It is over for him and he follows Jesus.
Levi is in touch with the people in his community. He has heard the buzz on the street about Jesus.
I’m sure he is a wealthy man. Why else would he be doing this?
Maybe he called Don Lapre on “How to Get Rich Quick” by owning your own Toll Booth collection site after watching a late night infomercial!
Instead of “Let’s Do Lunch” Matthew plans a dinner, invites Jesus and he invites all of his friends and business contacts.
Now remember Levi would have received “The Scum of the Year” Award
The Pharisees ask:
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
Mark 2:16d NIV
Jesus didn’t hesitate to give them an answer:
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:17 NIV
The doctor was making a house call in Levi’s home!
This reveals an important lesson for us all:
Sinners do not have to do anything to merit God’s love or God’s concern for them!
He already loves them.
He sent His Son the LORD Jesus Christ to die for them!
