Jesus calls sinners. This was radical news! Everyone thought that God only wanted righteous people. Jesus turns this upside down. Jesus calls sinners.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

I love baptisms! And I love camp! I’m so proud of our team—the camps they put on for your kids are the gold standard!

I also love the Global Leadership Summit, which we are hosting this week, on Thursday and Friday. There is still time to register—information is in your handout. So far, over 600 people are registered here, but I’ve got to tell you something. Every year, when the Summit ends, I look around our auditorium and think, “Why didn’t we fill this place up? This is so good!” I want to challenge you to invite your boss or your employees. One medical office is closing their practice for two days and bringing all 70 people who work there! I promise you won’t regret it if you come. I hope to see you Thursday and Friday.

When you came in you were given one of these “Join a Team” cards. We’re getting ready for the launch of our new Saturday night service on September 9. It takes hundreds of volunteers to make church happen every weekend—we’d love for you to be one of those. You will get more than you give—that’s the way serving works—you always get more than you give. And you’ll make some friends and get more connected here. We’re going to give you a minute to look this over and fill it out, then you can drop it in the offering when it comes by.

Music while they fill out the cards: 1 minute.

Offering here.

Introduction

This is the Summer Bible Series and we’re working our way through the gospel of Luke, the gospel for everyone. I’m calling it the gospel for everyone because Luke, more than any other gospel writer, emphasizes Jesus’ love for the outcasts, those on the margins of society. And that is clearly seen in today’s story, the calling of Levi, the tax collector. Here’s the story.

Luke 5:27–32

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 l