2 Minute Read
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Sunday School @ 9:30 am | Worship Service @ 10:30 am | Prayer @ 5:30 pm
Announcements/Reminders
- NOW - September 5 - Spaghetti and meat sauce drive for the Manna House
- August 12 - Wednesday Evening - Embracing Exile book introduction
- August 22 - Clothes Closet
- August 23 - NDI Meeting at 2:30 pm
Sermon Notes for 08/09/2026
SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:12-17
Jesus causes His critics to reevaluate how they model their faith.
Mark 1 - Four of Jesus' disciples have been called: Andrew, Peter, James, and John. They witnessed Him cast out evil spirits, heal the sick, and preach in every town they came across.
Mark 2:1-12 - Jesus is preaching in a packed house. Four men are desperate for their paralyzed friend to be healed. Jesus heals the man and forgives his sins... this got the Pharisees' attention.
Jesus calls Levi (a.k.a. Matthew)
- A tax collector
- Most likely, Andrew, Peter, James, and John would have done business with him in the past
- Tax collectors were commonly disliked among their Jewish brethren, as they worked for the Romans
The Meal
- Levi invites Jesus and his followers to a meal at his home
- Other tax collectors and disreputable sinners were there
- The Pharisees asked, "Why does Jesus eat with such scum?"
Jesus came "not to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." (v.17)
Jesus rose above His critics and loved those who were deemed unlovable. We must do the same! We all fall short of God's glory. We are all saved by grace alone!
How are we modeling this kind of faith to those who need to see it?