2018-02-07 Mark 2 Existing for the Mission

Mark 2:13–17 CSB

13 Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the toll booth, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him. 15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Our mission should mirror Jesus’ mission.

(CSB) 15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.

15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.

Jesus did not see his place as catering to the moral, but instead he has his mission as loving the lost.

(CSB) 15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.

Illus: Don’t miss the importance of the word tax collector in this passage.

Tax collectors were men who had turned their backs on their home nation to enable taxation by a country who had recently conquered them. They were people who had sold out their friends and family to make a buck or two.

Not only that, tax collectors were people who charged above and beyond what as required… and forced others to pay.

Where most people expected Jesus to spend his time with the moral, those of regard in the synagogue, Jesus bucked the trend and spent time with the rejects.

He used this example to explain his mission. (and in large part determine ours)

Illus: (after saving Zacchaeus one of the biggest cheats around)

(CSB) 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Missions is more than just the job of those who are sent all over the world. It is the job every believer. It is the call of our church.

(CSB) 15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him.

Illus: Growing up I believed there was this elite group of christians called missionaries. They were like the special forces of the church.

I thought that the church put on programs for the church people, but also sent money to take care of the missionaries.

As I have studied scripture, I have come to realize that we are all missionaries.

I believe this is the direction God is leading our church.

1. God is calling us to be missionaries to this city. This is why we are launching “for Vidalia”. Through serving our community we are showing them the love of Jesus Christ which will in turn give us the ability to share the gospel with them.

2. God is calling us to be missionaries to the world. God is calling us to bring the gospel to those who have never heard. We have missionaries living in Dubai who are ready to use us to reach muslims. the question is whether we are willing to go and eat with the “tax collectors” of our world.

(CSB) 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(CSB) 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus’ mission did not sit well with the moral and religious.

(CSB) 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees, saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

16 When the scribes who were Pharisees, saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

One of the greatest delusions the devil gives to the “saved” is to make them believe the church exists for their own wants and desires.

(CSB) 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees, saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

16 When the scribes who were Pharisees, saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Illus: This right here is one of the greatest reasons why the American church is in decline.

We have bought the lie that the church exists for our pleasure.

We have taken the worship of God and had worship wars because deep down we believe that the music exists for out tastes and happiness.

Many pastors have dropped out of ministry because they can’t handle the expectations of ingrown congregations who think their job is primarily to minister to the needs of the church community.

People hop from church to church because their needs aren’t being met.

God designed the church with a blueprint which would change the world… if we returned to God’s blueprint, we could see this city changed, our nation changed and this world transformed.

Here is God’s blueprint.....

Illus: (CSB) 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

(CSB)

11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

You are not the customers of the church, every member is a missionary of the church.

(CSB) 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees, saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

16 When the scribes who were Pharisees, saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Illus: I believe we are measuring the wrong things in church. A good week at church is a week when we have a lot of attenders, the music touches you, you are entertained and learn in the sermon, and then go home generally happy with the show you watched.

What if we stopped seeing ourselves as customers of the church and saw ourselves as the servants of the church.

What could be accomplished with 500 people equipped through the teaching of the church and sent out to serve as missionaries in this community.

How might we see our city transformed?

Ephesians 4:11–12 (CSB) 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

What do we exist for?

(CSB) 17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Deep down when you think of church, does the church exist for you, or does this church exist for God’s mission?

Illus: You know what the answer should be, but deep down, what do you really believe?

Illus:

Matthew 9:36–38 CSB

36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”