Podcasts about this text

There are a lot of resources to help learn how to study the Bible. But which ones? In this episode JC Schroeder discusses his favorite books, from entry level to more detailed resources. He weighs their pros and cons as well as some honorable mentions.

This Text of the Prophets copied by Ben Asher is considered to be the best copy of this portion of Scripture in Hebrew. It has 13 carpet pages, and is currently in Hebrew University. God bless you! Appreciate you listening!

So you want to read the Bible, but you’re not sure how to do it well. What does it really mean? How is the Bible understood?” As Bill Kynes addresses these questions in this article, he emphasizes that “[t]o read the Bible rightly, one must submit to the Master, who alone holds the key to meaning. Jesus Christ and His gospel must guide our understanding of the Bible, even as our reading of the Bible will refine our understanding of Jesus and His work. To read the full article go to https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/How_to_Read_the_Bible_Part2 Recommended Reading; Robert L. Plummer, 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible (Kregel Academic & Professional, 2010) In 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, New Testament Professor Dr. Robert L. Plummer tackles the major questions that persons ask about reading and understanding the Bible. https://www.christianbook.com/questions-about-interpreting-bible-2nd-edition/robert-plummer/9780825446665/pd/44666X?event=ESRCG Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Is There a Meaning in This Text?: The Bible, the Reader, and the Morality of Literary Knowledge The introduction of this burgeoning classic into paperback and the Landmarks in Christian Scholarship collection is much welcomed. Kevin Vanhoozer's Is There Meaning in this Text is the seminal contribution of Evangelical scholarship to the field of Hermeneutics. Vanhoozer lucidly and directly critiques trends in postmodern literary criticism (deconstruction) and thinkers (Ricoeur, Fish), while providing Evangelicals with a critical methodology upon which "texts"--and most especially biblical texts--can be confidently interpreted. https://www.christianbook.com/meaning-bible-reader-morality-literary-knowledge/kevin-vanhoozer/9780310324690/pd/324690?event=ESRCG

Private Lee O'Callaghan He was aged 20, and came from London. Unmarried, he was serving with the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment based at Tidworth.Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Maer, the Commanding Officer of 1PWRR, said:Pte Lee O'Callaghan joined my Battalion in December 2003, and was quickly assimilated into the regimental family. He was highly regarded and known as a hard working, diligent member of the team who could be trusted to finish any task with characteristic good humour. He was an avid football fan and keen supporter of Millwall. As a midfielder player himself he took every opportunity he could to play football, bringing his love for the game from Tidworth to Iraq.Lee came from Bermondsey, London. He joined the army for the excitement and challenge it offered, he excelled in the training and preparations for Iraq and looked forward to deploying on operations and to do the job for which he had trained. Pte O'Callaghan showed the highest standards of professionalism and courage, in a highly volatile situation.The loss of Pte O'Callaghan is deeply felt by all those in the Battalion, but especially so by his friends in B Company. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family and loved ones from all those in his Army family.The Above was fromhttps://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/private-lee-ocallaghan LEE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN' – FAMILY'S PRIDE AS WALWORTH STREET NAMED AFTER IRAQ WAR HERONEWS DESK (28 September, 2017)Young Millwall fan was fatally shot by Shia militiamen in Basra in 2004Shirley and Danny O'Callaghan (left); Lee O'Callaghan (right)A new street in Walworth has been named after Iraq War hero Private Lee O'Callaghan, who was killed in combat in 2004.Brave Lee was fatally shot in the chest on August 9 during clashes with Shia militiamen in the city of Basra.The 20-year-old had been on duty for five months, with one week left before he was due to fly home on leave and be reunited with his family.Last Friday, the O'Callaghan Way street sign was unveiled in the nearly-completed section of Elephant Park, and will link Heygate Street with Wansey Street. It is also located around the corner from where younger brother Danny, and proud mum Shirley O'Callaghan, both work at F A Albin & Sons funeral directors.“He was a funny brother. I looked up to him and he was my inspiration,” said Danny, 29. “Now it's going to be there forever. He's really left his mark on the area.“That spot is exactly where our first home was. A lot of our family lived on the Heygate. My dad [Eugene] came here from Ireland and we had aunties and cousins in the blocks.”Shirley, 58, from Tatum Street, said: “People always come up with these ideas, but you never think they're going to be put into practice. It went through so many stages, but now we can actually see it.”“Lee will never be forgotten. All of his friends who were in the army with Lee come and meet us at the cemetery and come for dinner with us. The army is like a family. They always get in touch without fail.”_The last time one of Lee's family heard his voice was when the young soldier called home a few days earlier to speak to dad Eugene, on his birthday. The whole family, including sisters Gemma and Kerry, had been looking forward to him coming home on leave the following week. Instead, they got a visit from two army officers saying Lee had given his life helping his comrades to safety, after two Land Rovers were destroyed by rockets.Danny and Shirley gave thanks to fellow Millwall fans, Lee Evans and John Davies, who led the campaign with the News to cement Lee's name in the area where he was born and bred.Lee's name was put forward with more than 130 suggestions to name new streets and blocks in the borough over the next fifteen years. The family said a full unveiling and celebration will take place when construction has finished at the other end of O'Callaghan Way.the Above Text was Taken from https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/lee-will-never-forgotten-familys-pride-walworth-street-named-iraq-war-hero/A bench is set to be unveiled at The Den on Saturday in memory of Millwall fan Private Lee O'Callaghan, who sadly lost his life in Basrah, Iraq, in August 2004.The idea of fellow fan Lee Evans - who was also the brainchild behind a street named O'Callaghan Way, on the Heygate Estate in Walworth three years ago - Lee's Dad used to run the Alscott Arms pub in Bermondsey. As a child, Lee was taken to a few away games, which is where his love of The Lions began.A group of friends decided to try and raise money for the bench via supporter forum House of Fun, and also ran a collection in the Executive Boxes here at The Den.One of the group, John Davies, said: "I went into Huski Chocolate's box and Rodrigo, Linus and Mikael [from The Lions' principal partners] pulled me to one side and told me how much they respect the armed services and the sort of work they do - and then said they wanted to pay for the whole bench. True to their word, they paid the whole lot."The bench was made in Belfast and paid for by Huski, with the House of Fun collection - of just under £2,000 - going to other causes, such as Charlie Wynn, the Millwall supporting boxer who suffered life changing injuries, The Evelina Children's Hospital and Demelza Hospice.Ryan Leonard's home kit has been sponsored in memory of Lee for two seasons now, and the VIP Experience - one of the benefits of kit sponsorship - are being given to Lee's family this weekend.The bench will be located by the front of the Barry Kitchener Stand, with the unveiling - by Lions CEO Steve Kavanagh, Ben Thompson and members of the O'Callaghan family - taking place at midday.This Text was taken from https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2019/november2/private-lee-ocallaghan/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/that-millwall-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Intro Please grab a physical bible if possible. A few weeks ago I preached a sermon on Jesus’ authority over every unconquerable and untamable sphere in life. And I tried to make the point that unlike politicians of our day that over-promise and under-deliver, Jesus never ever does so. He has the power and character to fulfill every promise he makes and even beyond our imagination. In our text today, we will see this further demonstrated. But today, we’re not focusing as much on his authority and his power but the kind of people that he pursues for his kingdom. Outline Here’s where we’re heading in our time together: • Context of Jesus’ Mission • Jesus pursues Levi • Levi leaves everything and follows Jesus • Religious leaders have a problem with Jesus’ pursuit of sinners • How we should live? Context: › Before we get to chapter 5 v. 27, look at a few chapters before. Look at some of the headings in your Bible. Remember that in Jesus’ announcement he announces that his kingdom will care for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. • Jesus heals a man with an unclean demons • Jesus heals many • Jesus calls his first disciples (Who were nobody fishermen) • Jesus cleanses a leper • Jesus heals a paralytic Jesus is not moving towards the rich, the powerful, and the attractive. But rather, he’s moving towards the poor, pitiful, the outcast, the unclean, the rejected. All the kinds of people that every society ignores. So now let’s look at the calling of Levi or also known as, Matthew. The Calling of Levi Luke 5:27 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.” First of all, let me direct you that the actions of Jesus were not random but intentional. This language, “went out and saw” is more purposeful. In other words, “He’s seeking out Levi.” Let me remind you what tax collectors were like in that time. Most people hate the IRS but the kind of playful hatred we have for them is nothing like Jesus’ time. 1. They would often take extra money off the top. You see John the Baptist call this out, Luke 3:12–13 ESV 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” So we see right in the Text, that they had a reputation for theft. 2. But even more, they were looked upon as national traitors. For many Jews, freedom from Rome was everything to them. Let’s get the stinking gentiles out of our land. And yet, tax collectors worked for the enemy. They helped the enemy oppress their fellow people and got rich while doing it. So to bring this home, if our country was taken over by another nation. And that nation needed local Americans to collect exorbitant taxes for them, and I volunteered. And all the while, you knew I charged you more than I needed to and got rich while doing it. How would you feel about me? The Jew’s hatred was understandable... In chapter 5, we see Jesus call the first disciples. I can imagine Jesus going up to Levi, the tax collector and Peter is watching and tapping the other disciples and saying, “Check this out. Jesus is going to give it to that traitor!” Only to have his jaw hit the ground when Jesus says, “Follow me.” Whoah, Jesus. Maybe extend mercy by greeting him or maybe even forgiveness to him but join our band of followers? Jesus was extending mercy and fellowship with an enemy of Israel! Think about it, if you were to start a worldwide revolution and were recruiting your core team, who would you target? A despised traitor that everyone hated? Jesus’ pursuit is the opposite of our expectations. Let’s see Levi’s response, Luke 5:28 ESV 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. Let’s look at this phrase carefully. My sense is that this phrase right here is a reflection of spiritual death and rebirth. 1. So he leaves everything which is like a death. 2. He rises up. This is the same word for resurrection. Anisteimi 3. And then, follows Jesus (which is life) So Levi is physically demonstrating something that has happened spiritually on the inside. And please remember, being a christian is being a follower of Jesus. And following Jesus means you are doing the following and Jesus is doing the leading. Not that you are doing the leading and he follows you around like some cosmic genie and you ask him to bless your ideas and leadership. So if you are following Jesus, people should be able to tell that you get your orders from another. This is the basic framework for all Christians. Dying to all that we hold dear. All that we find security in. All that we look to for life. All that we look to for purpose. We leave it all behind and follow Jesus and experience resurrection life now and in the age to come. The Text says, “Leaving everything.” Everything here does not mean all possessions because the very next verse what do we see Levi doing? He’s hosting a huge feast, so he still has money and a home. But if you skip forward to v. 32 Jesus clarifies he’s calling Levi to a spiritual abandonment that will often have a physical element to it. Even though Levi may have held onto his possessions, no longer consider them his but Jesus’. This means they would be at the disposal of Jesus for his mission. And we see later on that he does this very thing. So Levi is leaving his corrupt job but more importantly, he’s leaving his own control. And in great joy, he hosts a great feast at his house in honor of Jesus. › › Let’s look at this feast, The Scandalous Feast Luke 5:29 ESV 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. This Text suggests to me that Levi’s only friends were other tax collector and rejects. Rejects in society tend to connect with each other. He has given his life to follow Jesus and now he wants all of his fellow sinner friends to meet Jesus too! To meet the one that cares for rejects like himself. This was probably a crowd of people that Jesus would normally not be able to reach with his teaching at the synagogues for these people would have been excommunicated. The statement Jesus is making by attending this feast cannot be overstated. Listen to this from Dr. Scott Bartchy, ‌It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of table fellowship for the cultures of the Mediterranean basin in the first century of our era. Mealtimes were far more than occasions for individuals to consume nourishment. Being welcomed at a table for the purpose of eating food with another person had become a ceremony richly symbolic of friendship, intimacy and unity. In v. 30, we see the Pharisees have big issue with Jesus doing this. If we piece together all this historical context, it makes sense. Jesus was having table fellowship with traitors! Friendship, intimacy, and unity to them! PAUSE Let me ask, What kind of picture do you have in your mind of Jesus here? What is he like? Is he frowning at everyone? Making sure anyone who watches knows he does not condone their lifestyle? PAUSE If we keep reading in Luke we see that this was not an isolated event, Jesus became known for doing this, Luke 7:34 ESV 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Luke 15:1–2 ESV 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” My sense from these passages and more is that Jesus smiled at them. He was warm. He laughed hard. He was able to see their brokenness and sinfulness, but also see that they still were made in the image of God. For the first time in many years, someone looked at them, truly. My Jesus filled that room with warmth and life. › It seems like the scene changes and later on the Pharisees are speaking to Jesus’ disciples, Luke 5:30 ESV 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” The Great Physician Jesus’ hears about their grumbling and responds and gives us one of his purpose statements in Luke, Luke 5:31–32 ESV 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.” The logic is very simple, a child can understand. A doctor must spend time with the sick, not the healthy. With this pandemic going on, it would be insanity if all the doctors flew to the areas where there was no infection. Jesus is using this obvious logic. Since he’s the great physician, his pursuit and focus are those who are sickest. In saying this, Jesus is not affirming that the Pharisees were righteous. But Jesus is playing by the categories of the Pharisees since they consider all of Jesus’ new friends as sinners. The Pharisees didn’t think they were sinners. Didn’t think they needed Jesus. We see the heart of many Pharisees exposed, Luke 18:9–12 ESV 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ So the church is not made up of the righteous, it’s made up of repentant sinners. It’s not made up of those who think they’re good, it’s made up of people who know they’re not. It’s not made up of people who are righteous enough for God to accept them, it’s made up of people who are accepted because Jesus’ righteousness has come down and covered them! The paradox is that those that society considered outside the bounds of salvation or even friendship were the very people Jesus came for. What does this mean that he calls sinners to repentance? This word, repent is one we have highlighted before but worth revisiting because we all can easily forget what we’re saying. When we repent, we’re not merely saying we’re sorry. Or admitting we did something wrong. The word, μετανοέω The root word of it is, νοέω It’s the Greek word that means, your understanding, thinking, perception. Meta compounded means change or turning. So that means your understanding, thinking, perception has changed. It’s turned directions. So when we repent to God we are expressing to him that we are fundamentally changing our mind about our own control. We are humbling ourselves and admitting we are wrong and believing God’s way is the best way. And when you change the way you think, it changes the way you live! So Levi and his friends are being called to radically change their thinking about everything, especially God. They are called to reject their own control. Their very purpose for living. Their values. Their desires. A radical reorientation of theirselves, the world, and God. You may have repented once before on some specific day, Christian? But are you still repenting today? Repentance is not a single event only. It’s a daily, moment by moment heart posture. Are you continually declaring your wrongness and Jesus’ rightness. And asking him to radically change the way you think about everything? Gospel Call For those who need to come to the great physician for the first or the millionth time, The British preacher, Charles Spurgeon made these observations with some edits in the 1800’s: What is his medicine? It his own blood. Unlike other physicians, who give bitter potions to their patients, the great Physician drank all the medicine himself. But you will ask, “What is his fee?” He gives healing “without money and without price.” Who can access this medicine? Anyone who trusts him, Christ presents a free and complete cure. And you will ask, “What are his hours?” Any hour, and every hour, by night or by day. But you will say, “Where can I find him?” Just wherever you are sitting or standing now, you can find him if you will but breathe this prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” If you trust him with your soul, Jesus will cure you. This is the great hope for us sinners. Christ Jesus is the great physician who drinks our spiritual sickness so that he can offer the cure to anyone who will have him. How should we now live? Two responses: 1. Seek after the Sick What Jesus has done to us, he wants to now do through us. As those who have received the great cure to the soul, we ought to seek after the sick and introduce them to the great physician. Two ditches I must warn you about: The Ditch of Compromise On one side of the ditch you have Christians who have embraced the call to reach the lost by going to them. But they have done so in such a manner that they are not salt anymore but have lost their saltiness. Instead of influencing the world, they’ve become like the world. Furthermore, they never preach the gospel. They may alleviate temporary suffering but have neglected eternal suffering. I’ve seen this happen a lot over the years with many dear friends. And I too went through a season doing the same. The Ditch of Avoidance On the other side, you have Christians that are rightfully fearful of compromising and becoming corrupted by the world. But then, they wrongly respond by avoiding the world completely and isolating themselves in Christian bubbles. They forget they are sent into the world like Jesus was. They my lob gospel grenades at sinners without ever sharing a table or actually befriending sinners. They go out and preach and then go home and check off the box. They will never ever be accused of being a friend of sinners. OR PROBABLY for many of you, you want to love the lost but due the busyness of life, you just find yourself essentially not in relationship with the sick. Jesus’ purpose in v. 31-32 is very relevant for us in our circles who have access to so much theological knowledge. Some of you are like doctors who have received the best training in the world and yet, instead of spending time helping the sick, you just hang out with other doctors. You’re like doctors during this pandemic who are just spending time with other doctors, filling your days just talking about the newest procedures on how to help the sick without every helping the sick. Criticizing other doctors who are on the field and not doing it quite right. You’re reading doctor blogs and tweeting about doctors stuff. You’re always learning more but rarely using it for their good. On the contrary, Jesus seeks Levi out. He gets his hands dirty. He pursues him. This is a common pattern in Jesus’ ministry. He will often pursue and go where the sinners are. And ultimately, that’s what Jesus does in his incarnation. He is sent by the father and leaves the privilege and purity of heaven and enters our brokenness and filth. This is one of the reasons why we included the phrase, “Especially those far from God” in our mission statement. We didn’t want to forget the emphasis of Jesus’ ministry and the easiest people to neglect. This is important point for us to consider. Who are you seeking out that is sick and rejected? If you are committed to seeking the sick, allow me to make one implication and one challenge: 1 Implication: Your inner pharisee will be exposed and you will grow deeper into the gospel Your inner Pharisee will be exposed. Loving the lost regularly will undoubtably expose you to great heartache, disappointment, and even betrayal. What this will do is test your belief in the Gospel. It will give you a glimpse of how insufferable we were to God. It will cost you to enter into the fellowship of his suffering. And rejoice in the gospel much more deeply. Loving the Lord doesn't always automatically result in seeking the sick but loving the Lord and knowing the gospel will sustain you in seeking the sick. 1 Challenge Pray and Pick a Person Who is someone in your life that you can specifically to seek after? Is there someone you know that is rejected and the most unlikely to become a Christian? Who is completely alone and feeling isolated that you can reach out and bring hope to them now and even more so, eternal hope? Get creative by the Spirit, and enlist your DNA and MC to help support you in this pursuit. › Second response and I conclude on this. 2. Rejoice in the Great Physician Aren’t you glad Jesus came for the sick? That he came for sinners? Aren’t you glad Jesus doesn’t say, I have not come for the sick but for the healthy! The attractive. The pure. The competent. Praise God he comes for the sick, like me and like you. And since he did, let’s go find those who need healing also! __ Response

Intro Please grab a physical bible if possible. A few weeks ago I preached a sermon on Jesus’ authority over every unconquerable and untamable sphere in life. And I tried to make the point that unlike politicians of our day that over-promise and under-deliver, Jesus never ever does so. He has the power and character to fulfill every promise he makes and even beyond our imagination. In our text today, we will see this further demonstrated. But today, we’re not focusing as much on his authority and his power but the kind of people that he pursues for his kingdom. Outline Here’s where we’re heading in our time together: • Context of Jesus’ Mission • Jesus pursues Levi • Levi leaves everything and follows Jesus • Religious leaders have a problem with Jesus’ pursuit of sinners • How we should live? Context: › Before we get to chapter 5 v. 27, look at a few chapters before. Look at some of the headings in your Bible. Remember that in Jesus’ announcement he announces that his kingdom will care for the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed. • Jesus heals a man with an unclean demons • Jesus heals many • Jesus calls his first disciples (Who were nobody fishermen) • Jesus cleanses a leper • Jesus heals a paralytic Jesus is not moving towards the rich, the powerful, and the attractive. But rather, he’s moving towards the poor, pitiful, the outcast, the unclean, the rejected. All the kinds of people that every society ignores. So now let’s look at the calling of Levi or also known as, Matthew. The Calling of Levi Luke 5:27 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.” First of all, let me direct you that the actions of Jesus were not random but intentional. This language, “went out and saw” is more purposeful. In other words, “He’s seeking out Levi.” Let me remind you what tax collectors were like in that time. Most people hate the IRS but the kind of playful hatred we have for them is nothing like Jesus’ time. 1. They would often take extra money off the top. You see John the Baptist call this out, Luke 3:12–13 ESV 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” So we see right in the Text, that they had a reputation for theft. 2. But even more, they were looked upon as national traitors. For many Jews, freedom from Rome was everything to them. Let’s get the stinking gentiles out of our land. And yet, tax collectors worked for the enemy. They helped the enemy oppress their fellow people and got rich while doing it. So to bring this home, if our country was taken over by another nation. And that nation needed local Americans to collect exorbitant taxes for them, and I volunteered. And all the while, you knew I charged you more than I needed to and got rich while doing it. How would you feel about me? The Jew’s hatred was understandable... In chapter 5, we see Jesus call the first disciples. I can imagine Jesus going up to Levi, the tax collector and Peter is watching and tapping the other disciples and saying, “Check this out. Jesus is going to give it to that traitor!” Only to have his jaw hit the ground when Jesus says, “Follow me.” Whoah, Jesus. Maybe extend mercy by greeting him or maybe even forgiveness to him but join our band of followers? Jesus was extending mercy and fellowship with an enemy of Israel! Think about it, if you were to start a worldwide revolution and were recruiting your core team, who would you target? A despised traitor that everyone hated? Jesus’ pursuit is the opposite of our expectations. Let’s see Levi’s response, Luke 5:28 ESV 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. Let’s look at this phrase carefully. My sense is that this phrase right here is a reflection of spiritual death and rebirth. 1. So he leaves everything which is like a death. 2. He rises up. This is the same word for resurrection. Anisteimi 3. And then, follows Jesus (which is life) So Levi is physically demonstrating something that has happened spiritually on the inside. And please remember, being a christian is being a follower of Jesus. And following Jesus means you are doing the following and Jesus is doing the leading. Not that you are doing the leading and he follows you around like some cosmic genie and you ask him to bless your ideas and leadership. So if you are following Jesus, people should be able to tell that you get your orders from another. This is the basic framework for all Christians. Dying to all that we hold dear. All that we find security in. All that we look to for life. All that we look to for purpose. We leave it all behind and follow Jesus and experience resurrection life now and in the age to come. The Text says, “Leaving everything.” Everything here does not mean all possessions because the very next verse what do we see Levi doing? He’s hosting a huge feast, so he still has money and a home. But if you skip forward to v. 32 Jesus clarifies he’s calling Levi to a spiritual abandonment that will often have a physical element to it. Even though Levi may have held onto his possessions, no longer consider them his but Jesus’. This means they would be at the disposal of Jesus for his mission. And we see later on that he does this very thing. So Levi is leaving his corrupt job but more importantly, he’s leaving his own control. And in great joy, he hosts a great feast at his house in honor of Jesus. › › Let’s look at this feast, The Scandalous Feast Luke 5:29 ESV 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. This Text suggests to me that Levi’s only friends were other tax collector and rejects. Rejects in society tend to connect with each other. He has given his life to follow Jesus and now he wants all of his fellow sinner friends to meet Jesus too! To meet the one that cares for rejects like himself. This was probably a crowd of people that Jesus would normally not be able to reach with his teaching at the synagogues for these people would have been excommunicated. The statement Jesus is making by attending this feast cannot be overstated. Listen to this from Dr. Scott Bartchy, ‌It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of table fellowship for the cultures of the Mediterranean basin in the first century of our era. Mealtimes were far more than occasions for individuals to consume nourishment. Being welcomed at a table for the purpose of eating food with another person had become a ceremony richly symbolic of friendship, intimacy and unity. In v. 30, we see the Pharisees have big issue with Jesus doing this. If we piece together all this historical context, it makes sense. Jesus was having table fellowship with traitors! Friendship, intimacy, and unity to them! PAUSE Let me ask, What kind of picture do you have in your mind of Jesus here? What is he like? Is he frowning at everyone? Making sure anyone who watches knows he does not condone their lifestyle? PAUSE If we keep reading in Luke we see that this was not an isolated event, Jesus became known for doing this, Luke 7:34 ESV 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Luke 15:1–2 ESV 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” My sense from these passages and more is that Jesus smiled at them. He was warm. He laughed hard. He was able to see their brokenness and sinfulness, but also see that they still were made in the image of God. For the first time in many years, someone looked at them, truly. My Jesus filled that room with warmth and life. › It seems like the scene changes and later on the Pharisees are speaking to Jesus’ disciples, Luke 5:30 ESV 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” The Great Physician Jesus’ hears about their grumbling and responds and gives us one of his purpose statements in Luke, Luke 5:31–32 ESV 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.” The logic is very simple, a child can understand. A doctor must spend time with the sick, not the healthy. With this pandemic going on, it would be insanity if all the doctors flew to the areas where there was no infection. Jesus is using this obvious logic. Since he’s the great physician, his pursuit and focus are those who are sickest. In saying this, Jesus is not affirming that the Pharisees were righteous. But Jesus is playing by the categories of the Pharisees since they consider all of Jesus’ new friends as sinners. The Pharisees didn’t think they were sinners. Didn’t think they needed Jesus. We see the heart of many Pharisees exposed, Luke 18:9–12 ESV 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ So the church is not made up of the righteous, it’s made up of repentant sinners. It’s not made up of those who think they’re good, it’s made up of people who know they’re not. It’s not made up of people who are righteous enough for God to accept them, it’s made up of people who are accepted because Jesus’ righteousness has come down and covered them! The paradox is that those that society considered outside the bounds of salvation or even friendship were the very people Jesus came for. What does this mean that he calls sinners to repentance? This word, repent is one we have highlighted before but worth revisiting because we all can easily forget what we’re saying. When we repent, we’re not merely saying we’re sorry. Or admitting we did something wrong. The word, μετανοέω The root word of it is, νοέω It’s the Greek word that means, your understanding, thinking, perception. Meta compounded means change or turning. So that means your understanding, thinking, perception has changed. It’s turned directions. So when we repent to God we are expressing to him that we are fundamentally changing our mind about our own control. We are humbling ourselves and admitting we are wrong and believing God’s way is the best way. And when you change the way you think, it changes the way you live! So Levi and his friends are being called to radically change their thinking about everything, especially God. They are called to reject their own control. Their very purpose for living. Their values. Their desires. A radical reorientation of theirselves, the world, and God. You may have repented once before on some specific day, Christian? But are you still repenting today? Repentance is not a single event only. It’s a daily, moment by moment heart posture. Are you continually declaring your wrongness and Jesus’ rightness. And asking him to radically change the way you think about everything? Gospel Call For those who need to come to the great physician for the first or the millionth time, The British preacher, Charles Spurgeon made these observations with some edits in the 1800’s: What is his medicine? It his own blood. Unlike other physicians, who give bitter potions to their patients, the great Physician drank all the medicine himself. But you will ask, “What is his fee?” He gives healing “without money and without price.” Who can access this medicine? Anyone who trusts him, Christ presents a free and complete cure. And you will ask, “What are his hours?” Any hour, and every hour, by night or by day. But you will say, “Where can I find him?” Just wherever you are sitting or standing now, you can find him if you will but breathe this prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” If you trust him with your soul, Jesus will cure you. This is the great hope for us sinners. Christ Jesus is the great physician who drinks our spiritual sickness so that he can offer the cure to anyone who will have him. How should we now live? Two responses: 1. Seek after the Sick What Jesus has done to us, he wants to now do through us. As those who have received the great cure to the soul, we ought to seek after the sick and introduce them to the great physician. Two ditches I must warn you about: The Ditch of Compromise On one side of the ditch you have Christians who have embraced the call to reach the lost by going to them. But they have done so in such a manner that they are not salt anymore but have lost their saltiness. Instead of influencing the world, they’ve become like the world. Furthermore, they never preach the gospel. They may alleviate temporary suffering but have neglected eternal suffering. I’ve seen this happen a lot over the years with many dear friends. And I too went through a season doing the same. The Ditch of Avoidance On the other side, you have Christians that are rightfully fearful of compromising and becoming corrupted by the world. But then, they wrongly respond by avoiding the world completely and isolating themselves in Christian bubbles. They forget they are sent into the world like Jesus was. They my lob gospel grenades at sinners without ever sharing a table or actually befriending sinners. They go out and preach and then go home and check off the box. They will never ever be accused of being a friend of sinners. OR PROBABLY for many of you, you want to love the lost but due the busyness of life, you just find yourself essentially not in relationship with the sick. Jesus’ purpose in v. 31-32 is very relevant for us in our circles who have access to so much theological knowledge. Some of you are like doctors who have received the best training in the world and yet, instead of spending time helping the sick, you just hang out with other doctors. You’re like doctors during this pandemic who are just spending time with other doctors, filling your days just talking about the newest procedures on how to help the sick without every helping the sick. Criticizing other doctors who are on the field and not doing it quite right. You’re reading doctor blogs and tweeting about doctors stuff. You’re always learning more but rarely using it for their good. On the contrary, Jesus seeks Levi out. He gets his hands dirty. He pursues him. This is a common pattern in Jesus’ ministry. He will often pursue and go where the sinners are. And ultimately, that’s what Jesus does in his incarnation. He is sent by the father and leaves the privilege and purity of heaven and enters our brokenness and filth. This is one of the reasons why we included the phrase, “Especially those far from God” in our mission statement. We didn’t want to forget the emphasis of Jesus’ ministry and the easiest people to neglect. This is important point for us to consider. Who are you seeking out that is sick and rejected? If you are committed to seeking the sick, allow me to make one implication and one challenge: 1 Implication: Your inner pharisee will be exposed and you will grow deeper into the gospel Your inner Pharisee will be exposed. Loving the lost regularly will undoubtably expose you to great heartache, disappointment, and even betrayal. What this will do is test your belief in the Gospel. It will give you a glimpse of how insufferable we were to God. It will cost you to enter into the fellowship of his suffering. And rejoice in the gospel much more deeply. Loving the Lord doesn't always automatically result in seeking the sick but loving the Lord and knowing the gospel will sustain you in seeking the sick. 1 Challenge Pray and Pick a Person Who is someone in your life that you can specifically to seek after? Is there someone you know that is rejected and the most unlikely to become a Christian? Who is completely alone and feeling isolated that you can reach out and bring hope to them now and even more so, eternal hope? Get creative by the Spirit, and enlist your DNA and MC to help support you in this pursuit. › Second response and I conclude on this. 2. Rejoice in the Great Physician Aren’t you glad Jesus came for the sick? That he came for sinners? Aren’t you glad Jesus doesn’t say, I have not come for the sick but for the healthy! The attractive. The pure. The competent. Praise God he comes for the sick, like me and like you. And since he did, let’s go find those who need healing also! __ Response

Kevin Vanhoozer joins the team for a conversation about his latest book Hearers and Doers: A Pastor's Guide to Making Disciples through Scripture and Doctrine. Kevin is the Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a prolific author. In Hearers and Doers, Kevin draws the connection between doctrine, discipleship and pastoral ministry for spiritual wholeness.Is discipleship an optional part of Christianity? Tune in for this fascinating conversation about the cultural secularization of the idea of wellness (as opposed to the biblical definition), and its relationship to discipleship.Show NotesC.S. Lewis institute - http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/Is There a Meaning in This Text? By Kevin VanhoozerBiblical Authority After Babel by Kevin VanhoozerThanks to our friends of Lexham Press, we're giving away copies of Hearers and Doers. Register for the opportunity to win one!

Dr. Carr continues “Luke: The Gospel for Everyone” Series. In this sermon Dr. Carr explores what happens right after the miraculous Christmas story in Jesus’ family. 1. Consider the Importance of This Text 2. Consider the Irony of this text 3. Consider the Instruction of This Text 1. A Lesson for the Home 2. A…

Luke 12:13-21 - The Text is simple yet profound. Earthly life is temporary (though we need things in this life to live) yet no one will take their bank account with them in the after life.  This Text begs, no it demands that we view our life in light of this reality.  Life is made up of moments and whom we choose to serve, worship and revere as most important in those moments that become years eventually display our true love.  We will all face God and have to give an account for our lives and no one on their death bed ever says, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office." This Text forces us to see our lives in light of eternity.