Three Beautiful Words (Part 1)

You were invited

Mark 2:13-17

Scripture

Mark 2:13-17

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Pray

Open up our hearts and eyes

Story

Tell story of first being invited to church

Because my friend invited me to church, I was later invited into new life with Jesus Christ.

My entire life was changed because of three beautiful words, and because of that one friend who cared about me, I ended up leading two of my best friends to Christ with me, and now I am a youth pastor pointing teenagers to this love and life that Christ has for the world. I was invited...

Application

Everyone deserves to be invited

If we are truly following Jesus, then we need to realize that everyone deserves to be invited to him. I bet all of you can think of at least three friends that you would gladly invite to church, but we all know that there’s always that one person in our class that we would rather not see. I’ve heard students tell me lots of excuses: “That’s not the person you want in church,” “That person is so annoying,” or, “I don’t think they’ll even come.”

When we make excuses like this, what we’re really saying is these people don’t deserve to be invited. In the eyes of Jesus, everyone is worth inviting.

To you this invitation doesn’t seem like a big deal, so let me put this into perspective. To the Israelites, tax collectors were hated. They considered them worse than the drunks and prostitutes. Why? Imagine if ISIS had taken over your country, and your next door neighbor decided that they would work for ISIS as a tax collector. These tax collectors were doubling the people’s taxes and taking more than what they should have. Half of that money they were taking from people was financing Rome's military power, and the other half was going straight into the tax collector’s pockets. Tax collectors were traitors and thieves, and since everyone hated them; they hated them right back. To everyone, this tax collector was a garbage human being that didn’t deserve to be near Jesus. But Jesus saw him differently; He saw him as being “worth it.” But why did He see them that way?

Story 2

I think some of the best stories we have ever seen in theater or in books, always have the coolest opening lines. For instance, December 2015, one of the most amazing movies came out called, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and like every Star Wars movie it has one of the most epic opening lines. “In a galaxy far far away....” I don’t know about you but that line instantly hooks my attention. But there’s an even more historical opening line that I’m sure you all know from the old fairy tales: “Once upon a time.” Not only is that opening line historic, but it hooks your attention with four words, whereas Star Wars had to use six. Both openers are so historic and are great at beginning their stories, but what if I told you that there are stories that are being told in the church that use only three beautiful words? Not only can these stories be opened with just three words, but they can finish the story in three words.

Supporting Scripture

Romans 10:15

15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Application 2

There’s power in your story

Everyone was shocked that Jesus would hang out with someone so despicable, but to Jesus the reason was very clear: “I have come for the sick, not the healthy.” If that person is as bad as you say they are, then they need to be invited more than anyone else.

Every week, you come into contact with hundreds of people that are waiting on you to invite them to something better. Whether it’s at school, in sports, or just going to get groceries, someone is waiting to have their story begin with the most beautiful three words.

That is what we are inviting people to: a total life changing story, and their story begins with three beautiful words.

I was invited...

It’s even part of our mission statement “Engage”

Ending question: Who are you inviting?

Pray

Jesus thanks for setting the example of loving and inviting others

Give us the heart and eyes to see the needs of our neighbor

Help us to remember the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to invite