February 6th, 2022
by Mike DePope
by Mike DePope
![](https://storage2.snappages.site/6J4GBT/assets/images/6796981_1921x693_500.jpg)
A Gospel for Sinners
Week of February 6, 2022
True Story from Someone on the Outside:
My father (Tom) and I live our lives by the old adage, “play hard, work hard”, and boy do we live up to the phrase.
We are NOT “church” people. Even though he was raised Italian/Catholic (and I inherited those traits) we don’t go to church on Sunday mornings, which is fine by me because I’m certain I don’t belong there.
Tom and I are closer than close. We are “brothers”, best friends, and also father/son. The order here is intentional. I work for Tom – I live for Tom – I would walk through the gates of hell for Tom.
But now he’s dead. All of my eggs were in his basket. F---! I can’t cope. The only thing I know to do is to drink (and snort) myself to death. Ramp it up. I don’t want to be here. I want to be with him. But I’m too much of a chicken-shit to end things myself. So, drugs and alcohol are my means to an end - eventually they’ll get me to wherever he is. I don’t care about anything or anyone else.
But for f---’s sake, it isn’t working. Something inside of me keeps saying, “live… you have work to do”.
– Chris*
My father (Tom) and I live our lives by the old adage, “play hard, work hard”, and boy do we live up to the phrase.
We are NOT “church” people. Even though he was raised Italian/Catholic (and I inherited those traits) we don’t go to church on Sunday mornings, which is fine by me because I’m certain I don’t belong there.
Tom and I are closer than close. We are “brothers”, best friends, and also father/son. The order here is intentional. I work for Tom – I live for Tom – I would walk through the gates of hell for Tom.
But now he’s dead. All of my eggs were in his basket. F---! I can’t cope. The only thing I know to do is to drink (and snort) myself to death. Ramp it up. I don’t want to be here. I want to be with him. But I’m too much of a chicken-shit to end things myself. So, drugs and alcohol are my means to an end - eventually they’ll get me to wherever he is. I don’t care about anything or anyone else.
But for f---’s sake, it isn’t working. Something inside of me keeps saying, “live… you have work to do”.
– Chris*
Reflection Questions:
- Reflect on how you may view the author if you saw them in the deepest part of their sin. Now reflect on how you would view them sitting next to you at church or in core group. What is different? Why is that different?
- What is a setting in your life that you can have more grace for sinners?
Opening Prayer:
O Divine Creator, remind us that we are all created in your image and that the Body of Christ is made up of rebels, outsiders, and sinners. Help us face our fears and biases that lead us to exclude or dismiss others. And, give us the courage to face our own sin and feelings of unworthiness. Thank you for Chris, for his willingness to share, and for the work you are doing in his life. Amen
O Divine Creator, remind us that we are all created in your image and that the Body of Christ is made up of rebels, outsiders, and sinners. Help us face our fears and biases that lead us to exclude or dismiss others. And, give us the courage to face our own sin and feelings of unworthiness. Thank you for Chris, for his willingness to share, and for the work you are doing in his life. Amen
*Throughout the series, Luke: A Gospel for Rebels and Outsiders, we will be featuring the voices of real people in our congregation who have felt (or continue to feel) like an outsider.
Read Aloud:
Luke 4:14-19
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue as he normally did and stood up to read. The synagogue assistant gave him the scroll from the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to liberate the oppressed,
and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Luke 5:27-31
Afterward, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him. Then Levi threw a great banquet for Jesus in his home. A large number of tax collectors and others sat down to eat with them. The Pharisees and their legal experts grumbled against his disciples. They said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.”
Luke 4:14-19
Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue as he normally did and stood up to read. The synagogue assistant gave him the scroll from the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to liberate the oppressed,
and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Luke 5:27-31
Afterward, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at a kiosk for collecting taxes. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
Levi got up, left everything behind, and followed him. Then Levi threw a great banquet for Jesus in his home. A large number of tax collectors and others sat down to eat with them. The Pharisees and their legal experts grumbled against his disciples. They said, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.”
Engaging Scripture:
Let’s pause before we think about how this passage makes us feel or how it applies to our context. This section can help ground your group in talking about what is written and consider its impact on the original audience.
The passage Jesus reads from in Isaiah (Isa 61:1-2) is a prophecy and he goes on to say, in Luke 4:21, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” indicating that the prophecy is, in fact, about him. What does the passage list as the things he was sent to do?
How does the story about Levi demonstrate the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus’ work?
In both sections of scripture this week, we see Jesus reaching out; first to those in the synagogue within earshot and then to a group at a banquet that included tax collectors and others. How did that physical act of Jesus reaching out represent God's plan for all people?
Let’s pause before we think about how this passage makes us feel or how it applies to our context. This section can help ground your group in talking about what is written and consider its impact on the original audience.
The passage Jesus reads from in Isaiah (Isa 61:1-2) is a prophecy and he goes on to say, in Luke 4:21, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” indicating that the prophecy is, in fact, about him. What does the passage list as the things he was sent to do?
How does the story about Levi demonstrate the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus’ work?
In both sections of scripture this week, we see Jesus reaching out; first to those in the synagogue within earshot and then to a group at a banquet that included tax collectors and others. How did that physical act of Jesus reaching out represent God's plan for all people?
Application Questions:
- Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. Perfect people don't need jesus/the church/the gospel, sinners do; and we are all sinners. We see Levi “leave everything” and move towards Jesus and the author of the opening true story contemplates that choice in a way as well. Have you ever felt like your sin of choice was your only choice?
- Chris’ inner thought of “live…you have work to do” (in the story above) is compelling. Church, CoreGroups, and daily devotions are part of that work. How do you keep the work in the forefront when the desire to sin is oftentimes stronger?
- A painful reality is that sin can be a means to cope with the brokenness of the world. It is a dark, deceptive, numbing temptation that pulls us away from God. Yet, in the readings this week, we see Jesus fighting through that sin to show God's will. The truth is that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to rescue us from the destruction of sin. What are some things we can do to keep that truth on our minds and in our hearts?
Closing Prayer:
O Holy God, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.**
O Holy God, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.**
Taking it Further (Challenge for Rebels):
Check these out to take the heart of the sermon and our discussion further this week.
Reach out to someone in your life who may see themselves as a sinner, invite them to dinner or to church.
Have a conversation with your family about sin. Talk about the unbalanced relationship between our sin and the forgiveness of the church, and how that encourages us to sin as little as we can.
Be a sounding board for someone who needs to share. We all have pasts and maybe someone close to you needs to unload some of theirs.
Check these out to take the heart of the sermon and our discussion further this week.
Reach out to someone in your life who may see themselves as a sinner, invite them to dinner or to church.
Have a conversation with your family about sin. Talk about the unbalanced relationship between our sin and the forgiveness of the church, and how that encourages us to sin as little as we can.
Be a sounding board for someone who needs to share. We all have pasts and maybe someone close to you needs to unload some of theirs.
** Taken from thirdmill.org, Prayers of Confession and Pardon
Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides
Recent
Jesus is Our Home Base // M-Note 7.20.24
July 20th, 2024
A Vital, Relevant Future for the Church // M-Note 7.13.24
July 13th, 2024
Remember the Gap: Hanging a Flag on the 4th of July // M-Note 7.5.24
July 5th, 2024
Why do we talk about Jesus? // M-Note 6.29.22
June 28th, 2024
Investing in Youth Ministry // M-Note 6.22.24
June 21st, 2024
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 3Explore - Week 4God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23SENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 10Lent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 13Lent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17The Evening Service is BACK!!! // M-Note 3.10.23Lent Devotional Day 18Lent Devotional Day 19Who Is Jesus: Week 2 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 20Lent Devotional Day 21Lent Devotional Day 22Lent Devotional Day 23The Most Important Sunday of the Year // M-Note 3.17.23Who Is Jesus: Week 3 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 24Lent Devotional Day 25
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments