Embrace The Mess

Opening Question:
Share a time when someone showed you unexpected kindness or hospitality. How did it make you feel?

Key Takeaways:
1. Jesus brings a new kind of kingdom fueled by forgiveness, not performance.
2. In Jesus' kingdom, every person is valuable - no exceptions.
3. Jesus calls people by name, not by reputation.
4. Grace is contagious and has the power to transform lives.
5. Jesus invites us to His table before we even knock.

Discussion Questions:
1. The sermon mentions that "Gospel people obey God to get God." How does this differ from obeying God to get things or blessings?

2. Reflect on the story of Levi (Matthew). How does Jesus' approach to Levi challenge our assumptions about who "belongs" in God's kingdom?

3. The pastor says, "Hurry is the violence of the soul." How does this resonate with your life? In what ways does hurry impact your ability to see and value others?

4. How does understanding that we're all "unclean" and in need of Jesus' grace change the way we view and treat others?

5. The sermon states, "Grace doesn't just forgive your past. It rewrites your future." How have you experienced this in your own life?

6. Discuss the difference between seeing people as "projects" versus seeing them as valuable individuals made in God's image. How can we cultivate the latter perspective?

Practical Applications:
1. This week, intentionally slow down in one area of your life (e.g., commute, meal times, interactions) to be more present and aware of others around you.

2. Identify someone in your life who you may have judged or categorized unfairly. Pray for them and look for an opportunity to show them kindness.

3. Reflect on how you've experienced God's forgiveness. Write down ways this can motivate you to extend grace to others.

4. As a group, brainstorm practical ways to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment in your church or community.

5. Challenge yourself to have a meaningful conversation with someone you might normally avoid or overlook.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your unreasonable hospitality towards us. Help us to see others as you see them - valuable, loved, and worthy of grace. Give us the courage to slow down, to invite others to your table, and to be agents of your transformative love in this world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

In a world that often values merit, performance, and social status, we encounter a revolutionary message that turns these notions upside down. This message introduces us to a kingdom unlike any other – a kingdom fueled by forgiveness, marked by unreasonable hospitality, and led by a King who sees beyond our labels and reputations.

At the heart of this kingdom lies a profound truth: no one gets in by merit. We all come by mercy. This realization is transformative, changing not just how we view ourselves, but how we perceive and interact with others. It's a shift from trying to earn God's favor through good behavior or religious observance to understanding that we are invited into relationship with Him solely because of His grace.

Consider the story of Levi, a tax collector in first-century Palestine. To understand the significance of Jesus' interaction with Levi, we must first grasp the depth of corruption and societal disdain associated with tax collectors of that time. These weren't simply government employees doing their job; they were seen as traitors and extortionists, profiting from their own people's subjugation to Rome. They were barred from religious life, socially exiled, and spiritually dismissed.

Yet it was to this man that Jesus extended a simple, life-changing invitation: "Follow me." In those two words, Jesus demonstrated a new kind of kindness – one where every person is valuable, without exception. He called Levi by name, not by reputation, affirming his worth beyond his past actions or societal status.

This encounter challenges us to examine our own quick judgments and prejudices. How often do we categorize people based on superficial observations or preconceived notions? Whether it's road rage towards a stranger, eye-rolling at a difficult coworker, or avoiding eye contact with someone experiencing homelessness, we all have moments where we fail to see the inherent value in every human being.

Jesus' approach disrupts our cultural norms and comfortable routines. It asks us to slow down, to interrupt our convenience, and to extend unreasonable kindness. As Dallas Willard poignantly stated, "Hurry is the greatest enemy of spiritual formation." Or as John Mark Comer puts it even more strikingly, "Hurry is violence on the soul." In our rush, we often miss opportunities to see people as Jesus sees them – as valuable individuals created in God's image, each with a unique story and purpose.

The story doesn't end with Jesus' invitation to Levi. We see a beautiful picture of transformation as Levi immediately leaves everything behind to follow Jesus. This isn't mere behavior modification; it's a complete identity shift. Levi goes from being defined by his occupation and reputation to being known as a follower of Jesus, later even renamed Matthew – meaning "gift of the Lord."

But perhaps the most radical aspect of this new kingdom is seen in what happens next. Jesus doesn't just call Levi; He sits down to eat with him and other "tax collectors and sinners." In the religious and cultural context of the time, this was more than bad manners – it was a complete upending of the established order.

The religious leaders of the day believed that holiness needed to be protected, that associating with the "unclean" could spread moral corruption like a disease. But Jesus reverses this flow. Instead of becoming unclean by association, His presence brings cleansing and healing. As He states, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

This new kind of table that Jesus establishes is one where grace pulls out a chair before you even knock. It's a place where no one earns their seat, where the most unlikely candidates are welcomed with open arms. It's a radical picture of inclusion that challenges our own tendencies to create exclusive circles or to hesitate in reaching out to those different from us.

The implications of this message are far-reaching. If we truly embrace this kingdom perspective, it will change how we view not only others but ourselves. We'll begin to see that grace doesn't just forgive our past – it rewrites our future. Like Levi/Matthew, who went from outcast tax collector to author of the first book of the New Testament, our encounters with Jesus can lead to complete life transformations.

This doesn't mean we abandon all wisdom in our associations. The apostle Paul still warns that "bad company corrupts good character" (1 Corinthians 15:33). But it does mean we're called to live on mission, with eyes and hearts focused outward, ready to step into the messiness of other people's lives. We do this knowing that it's Jesus' presence, not our own righteousness, that brings healing and life.

The challenge before us is clear: How far will we go to see someone come to know Jesus? Will we allow our lives to be interrupted for the sake of His name? Will we make space in our busy schedules, our comfortable routines, our carefully curated social circles for those who might not naturally "fit"?

It's important to remember that Jesus didn't invite people to a better belief system – He invited them to Himself. And He asks us to do the same. This isn't about seeing people as projects to be fixed or converted. It's about seeing them as Jesus does – human beings made in God's image, with unique gifts and purposes, created to bring good into the world.

As we reflect on this radical kingdom, may we be inspired to see ourselves and others through Jesus' eyes. May we recognize that He sees beyond our flawed lives to the image of God waiting to be completed in us. And may we be emboldened to extend unreasonable hospitality, knowing that the table is always ready, with chairs being pulled out for those who have yet to arrive.

The invitation stands: Will you come to the table? And once you've experienced the transformative power of Christ's unreasonable hospitality, who will you invite to join you there?