This week our sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee captures the compassion and power of Christ in the calling and conversion of Levi. In contrast to the prideful pack of self-righteous Pharisees around him, Levi humbly admits his sin and places His faith in Jesus the Great Physician. Likewise, we are to confess, repent, and leave everything to follow Christ, while remaining compassionate towards other sinners. 

Tyler’s Main Points

• Jesus came for those who know they are sick with sin.

• Jesus is worthy of leaving everything behind to follow Him.

• Jesus’ conversion of the sinner is a cause for worship and for witness.

Key Takeaways

• Oftentimes, professing Christians continue to live in sin during the week only to masquerade on Sunday like they are something they are not.

• The calling of Levi shows how Jesus came not only to call sinners, but the worst of sinners. No sin is too big to be forgiven. No heart is too hardened to be changed. There’s no one beyond the saving reach of Jesus Christ.

• The right response to Christ’s coming and calling is to take off your mask, admit your need, and come to the Great Physician for salvation, healing, and restoration.

• Jesus calls us to not only authenticity, but to repentance.

• We must not fall prey to the trap of trying to hold onto Jesus while still holding onto sin.

• Sin deceives us and deepens our appetite for it, while starving our souls of what Christ alone can offer.

• Levi found fullness in Christ because he was unwilling to let everything go. Levi’s worship and witness did not end with this single banquet, but continued with a life of transformation and testimony of the Gospel.

• As long as someone is unwilling to admit their sins, they will remain dead in their sins.

• We become “accidental Pharisees” when we show contempt rather than compassion towards sinners and focus on the sins of others over our own sins.

• As warned in 1 Peter 5:5, pride is always an invitation to God’s opposition. God will not allow you to thrive while you boast in your self-righteousness.

• If you see signs of self-righteousness welling up within you, humbly confess your sins to the Great Physician and receive His grace.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• In what ways are you prone to hide your sins or masquerade as someone you are not rather than confessing and repenting of your sins to follow Christ in freedom?

• How will you live a life of worship and witness this week in response to your salvation in Christ?

Discuss with your community group:

• Review Hebrews 12:1-2 together. In what ways are you falling prey to the trap of trying to hold onto Jesus while still holding onto sin and other hindrances?

• In what ways do you view other sinners with contempt rather than compassion? How are you prone to focus on the sins of others rather than your own?

Passages Referenced
Luke 5:27-32; John 3:30; Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalms 16:11; 1 Peter 5:5. 

Worship Set List

Life Defined, I Exalt Thee, Worthy of More, In Christ Alone, Run to the Father