Embrace the Mess

Josh Harbin
June 29^th, 2025
Mark 3:13-17

“Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. ¹⁴ 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.
¹⁵ 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.
¹⁶ 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?”
¹⁷ 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.” —Mark 2:13–17 (NIV)

Jesus is inaugurating a

kind of Kingdom.

Gospel-centered, unreasonable hospitality starts with recognizing that in Jesus’ Kingdom, no one gets in by

. We all come by

Reveal Answer

.

This is a

Kindness — where Every Person Is Valuable. No Exceptions.
Jesus calls people by

Reveal Answer

, not by

Reveal Answer

.

Grace is

.

A

Kind of Table. A table where

Reveal Answer

pulls out a chair for you before you even

Reveal Answer

.

doesn’t just forgive your past—it

Reveal Answer

your future.

We

to see others the way

Reveal Answer

sees them.

Small Group Study Guide

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?

1. Reflect on the story of Levi (Matthew). How does Jesus’ approach to Levi challenge our assumptions about who “belongs” in God’s kingdom?

2. 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?

3. How does understanding that we’re all “unclean” and in need of Jesus’ grace change the way we view and treat others?

4. The sermon states, “Grace doesn’t just forgive your past. It rewrites your future.” How have you experienced this in your own life?

5. 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.

1. 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.

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

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

4. 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.