1. Authentic Followers of Christ Salt and Light Mark 2: 13-17

2. MK 2:13-17
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

3. First thing we need to remember
where we all came from.
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?"
Before we judge others we need to acknowledge what God has done for us.

4. We also have to remember
why Jesus came.
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

5. Jesus called a tax collector

6. We also have to remember why Jesus came.
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

7. The challenge for the church today
is that we need to be a hospital.

8. It is important for us to remember that Jesus came for the sick on both sides of town

9. We also need to remember that no-one is beyond God’s love
While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples:

10. They were horrified when Jesus ate with sinners – but God was well pleased
They couldn’t stand the thought of mixing with such people – but it’s all that Jesus thought about
They were totally opposed to that which Jesus was fully committed.

11. Huge challengers that must make us think about
Let’s remember these things as high priority
Where we have come from – we are all sinners who need saving
Why Jesus came – as his followers we need to have the same vison
What our calling is – to minister in Jesus’ name – we are all hospital workers
The Danger of Judging others - rather than ministering to them
Huge challengers that must make us think about
what we do and why

12. in fact - just the opposite
Being sick doesn’t disqualify any of us from coming to church or even serving within the church
in fact - just the opposite
because we are sick – we need to come and to serve.