NOTE: If you missed this week’s message, click here to listen or watch.
Talk about your experience on Sunday morning.
- How did God speak to you during worship and/or teaching this week?
- What have you been reflecting on and/or praying about in response to this week’s service?
Opener…
- Jeff talked about people who we sometimes might think “don’t deserve God’s grace.” What are some examples of this in our culture today? Who are some people that some might think “don’t deserve God’s grace?”
Read Mark 2:13-17 together.
- What stood out to you as you read this story together? Why?
- Tax Collectors were among some of the most hated people on the planet in the first century. So what does this story reveal to us about the person and message of Jesus Christ, as we see him including Matthew in his inner circle?
- How do you think Jesus’ followers would have felt as Jesus invited Matthew to become one of his disciples?
- What are some ways that we as Christians today can sometimes be exclusive like Jesus’ followers may have been in their day? (i.e. cliques, being judgmental, avoiding & shunning people, hating certain people groups). What do you think Jesus would have to say about these behaviours?
The Pharisees criticized Jesus for being so inclusive, exclaiming “Why does he eat with such scum?!” (V16)
- How does religion (man’s attempt to find God’s approval through moral effort) make us judgmental, smug and pretentious towards other people (especially those who are different than us)?
- How does knowing God’s grace and Gospel message (the truth of what God has accomplished for us in Jesus Christ) make us inclusive and open to people that are different than us?
- Religion says “Change, and you can join.” Jesus says, “Join, and I will change you.” What do you think about this statement? Do you agree? Why or why not?
- Why is it that we so often think that people must first change their behavior if they want to follow Jesus?
- What makes it so dangerous to think that we get to decide who is worthy of God’s grace and who isn’t?
Jesus said, “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.”
- How does “thinking we are righteous” disqualify us from Jesus’ saving power in our lives? Practically speaking, what does it look like to “think” we are righteous and to try to earn God’s approval? Give practical examples.
- Why does Jesus make it a prerequisite to “know” that we are sinners in order to experience his grace and saving power in our lives? Practically speaking, what does it look like to “know” we are sinners?
- Jeff said “the fact that you feel disqualified is exactly what qualifies you.” What does that mean to you?
- In what ways have you potentially felt spiritually disqualified? From God? From the church?
What practical next steps do you feel Jesus calling you to take in response to this week’s teaching? Share it with the group, and spend some time praying for one another.
