NOTES: How To Neighbor, Part 3

How To Neighbor 3: Your Story Matters

Text: Luke 5:27-32

Date: Sunday Oct. 1, 2023

Text: Luke 5:27–32 (ESV) 27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Let’s Connect:

Recap:

Luke 6:27–36 (ESV)27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Today: how to neighbor (those we might think least deserve it) like Jesus?

Text Explained:

Mathew’s Story

*   Matthew personifies the undeserving person, least likely in all the human race to become one of the 12 foundations in the eternal city (Rev. 21:14)

So what do you do after giving your life to Christ, after leaving the life of a sinner?

29 And Levi made him (Jesus) a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

When we are in Christ, we don’t have to hide from our past.

Our past becomes part of God’s creative work of redemption.

Our baggage, our story, is the unique, God-redeemed way we carry the Gospel into the world.

Because Matthew acknowledged his past, many others stopped collecting taxes and started following Jesus.

30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus tells us that his mission is to: call the sinners to repentance!

…our mission is to introduce others to Jesus.

Lets Relate:

Ephesians 2:4–10 (ESV) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Please don’t disregard the usefulness of your redeemed baggage.

Redemption- Romans 8:28 (ESV) “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Some wisdom for preparing and carrying your bags:

Our Challenge:

Like Matthew…

Without shame, let’s neighbor all those God will reach with our story.