Weekly "Call To Worship" Encouragement

Luke chapter 5:

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

We have a wonderful and blessed fellowship of believers here in Bellevue.  We want to share the good news, we would love for more people to join us in worshipping the Lord.  I mentioned during my last call to worship that 90% of guests/visitors come to church because someone invited them.

Well, who should we invite?  And will they accept the invitation?  I really believe that it is more likely that the person will come if you are more than just acquaintances.  It would be good to expand our network of relationships and friendships.  Where should we look for opportunity for friendship, for relationship?  I went through the gospel of Luke and compiled a list of categories of people that Jesus interacted with; this should open our eyes and help us see that the fields are indeed ready for harvest.

As we saw above, Jesus interacted with tax collectors and sinners.  He also interacted with fishermen, sick/diseased people, religious authorities, the hungry, those in need of teaching, military personnel, widows, grieving people, people curious about Jesus, women, sinful women, people who give dinner parties, people from other countries, rich people, poor people, people who love money, people who are confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, children, disabled people, people in power, people with no power, people who questioned Jesus’ authority, people who questioned if we should pay taxes, people who asked questions, criminals, traitors, disloyal people, people who persecuted him and killed him.

As we are called to worship, I hope this is food for thought.  First, who do we know that needs Jesus?  Who has God brought into proximity with us?  Who can we reach out to?  Second, let us have hearts of joy and thanksgiving that Jesus, the great physician came to heal us and call us to repentance and a saving relationship with Him.  Let’s pray.

Father in Heaven, we are so thankful that you love the whole world, with all sorts of people, so much that you sent your Son Jesus, our savior.  We needed a doctor Father and you sent the best, the great physician.  Lord, we want to take up our cross and follow you; help us to be like you.  Help us to reach out to those around us, lovely or not, healthy or not.  By your Spirit Lord, empower us to share your love and invite people into our lives.  We are so thankful to be here to worship you this morning, we pray that it is pleasing to you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.