Passage: Matthew 9:9-13
Points:
1. Jesus dines with tax collectors and sinners.
2. Jesus desires mercy, not sacrifice.
3. Jesus came to call the sinners, not the righteous.
Personalize
You could call this a “Matthew’s party”. It is a party for tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was hanging out with individuals the “religious” crowd would call the outcast and “those people”. Matthew simply invited the individuals he knew. He was a former tax collector, now a follower of Christ. He wanted his friends and former co-workers to know Jesus for themselves. He opened up his home and threw a party for those shunned by the religious. As disciples, Jesus is calling us to follow his example.
Who will be invited to the party you are hosting? I find that most individuals within churches loose contact with those needing Christ the most. We begin to worship, gather, and fellowship with individuals within the church and we loose touch with individuals who Christ has called us to reach. What will it take for us to reach out to others and to follow the example Matthew and Jesus provide?
Let us begin to look for ways to throw our own party. It will not be Matthew’s Party but _(your name)_ party. We should find ways to reach out to the individuals most “pharisees” would call outcast. Jesus said: ”But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (v. 13) We need to take the risk in building relationships with individuals who need Christ. Let us go and find out what it means to show mercy. Let’s throw a party for those in need of forgiveness and a relationship with Christ.
Prayer
Lord, reveal to us the individuals we need to invite to dine with you. We have often become so busy with “church” stuff that we have forgotten to be the church. May we be true followers by following your example of reaching those in need of forgiveness. Guide us to new relationships and show us how to throw our own party.
CLICK HERE to see a video from Bill Hybel to illustrate this point.
