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“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”Hebrews 12:2

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Religious leaders were always pointing fingers at Jesus’ back, accusing him of being a heretic or doing something that the

Bible clearly says He shouldn’t. So if they aren’t pointing accusing fingers at our backs,

maybe we’re not really following Him.

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4Moral: You are known by the Company you keep

The Donkey and the Potential BuyerAesop’s Fable

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The Company He KeepsMark 2:13-17

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Mark

2:1

3-1

713 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

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Cast of Characte

rsLevi

JJ

PP

Mark 2 17“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Customs agent > Despised by most

folks in town for collaborating with

Romans.Clearly

wanted a different life.

Accepted Jesus’ invitation, then

threw a party so his co-workers could know Jesus, too.

Romans 3 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justified freely by his

grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Their airtight in-or-out world had no room for messy, messed up people.No room for Jesus either.

Thought God was really impressed with their always-being-rightness.

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LIVEDWRONG

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Even our greatest heroes can one day find themselves without fans or friends.Lance ArmstrongFrom cancer-survivor who won the Tour de France an unprecedented seven times to world-class cheater, liar, and hypocrite. LIVESTRONG

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Cast of Characte

rs Who?

JJ

You You & I& I

Mark 2 17“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Religious leaders pointed accusing fingers at Jesus when He openly loved those who knew they were sinners.Jesus wanted to be known by the company He kept.If we remember whom Jesus dared to love abundantly and publicly then...

1Timothy 1 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a

persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I

acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our

Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the

faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15Here is a

trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of

whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown

mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who

would believe in him and receive eternal life.

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“Saul of Tarsus would never have accepted the accusation that he was a sinner until he experienced the grace of God through his encounter with the risen Christ...Redemption from sin begins with understanding, not with condemnation.” Ray Anderson

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Cast of Characte

rs You & I

JJ

WhoWho??

Mark 3 17“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Religious leaders pointed accusing fingers at Jesus when He openly loved those who knew they were sinners.Jesus wanted to be known by the company He kept.If they remember whom Jesus dared to love abundantly and publicly then...

1Timothy 1 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a

persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I

acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our

Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the

faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15Here is a

trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of

whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown

mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who

would believe in him and receive eternal life.

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“It is of no benefit to the Kingdom of God to call someone a sinner; but rather offer the grace of God so that they discover that for themselves.” Ray Anderson

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