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                                                                                                                                                            5 Friday > 7/17
                                                                                                                                                                   Jesus did it
                                                                                                                                                                   on purpose.



                                                                                                                                                                       oW Would you answer if
                                                                                                                                                                   Hsomeone asked you about your
                                                                                                                                                                   purpose on earth? what about jesus—
                         “Jesus is God spelling Himself out
                                                                                                                                                                   what was his purpose on earth? does
                                           in language
                                                                                                                                                                   it affect yours? how so?
                               that men can understand.”
                                                                                                                                                                   “For the Son of Man has
                                              —s.d. gordon
                                                                                                                                                                   come to seek and to save
                                                                                                                                                                   the lost.” —luke 19:10


                                                                                                        4            Jesus came for you. Trust that.               read luke 19:1-10, stopping to think
                                                                                                                                                                   about verse 10.
                                                                                                                                                                   �  why was it a big deal that jesus
                                                                                                                                                                     spent time with Zacchaeus,
                                                                                                                                                                     a tax collector?
                                                                                                         Thursday > 7/16                                           �  do you know people who seem
                                                                                                                                                                     unlikely to be saved? how would
                                                                                                         it’s not a popularity contest.                              you use this passage to counsel a
                                                                                                                                                                     friend who feels too sinful to
                                                                                                              hen Was the last time you visited a hospital? how would you describe   follow jesus?
                                                                                                         wyour emotions in light of what you saw? what do you think would lead   �  what was jesus’ purpose in coming
                                                                                                        someone to work in such an environment?                     to earth?
                                                                                                                                                                   �  why is it important that jesus
                                                                                                                                                                    stayed focused on his purpose?
                                                                                                         When jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are
                                                                                                                                                                   jesus never ceases to amaze us in the
                                                                                                        well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one.  I didn’t
                                                                                                                                                                   way he interacted with people. he
                                                                                                        come to call the righteous, but sinners.” —Mark 2:17
                                                                                                                                                                   refused to let the world influence the
                                                                                                        read Mark 2:13-17 and contemplate what Jesus said in verse 17.  way he acted. in today’s passage, the
                                                                                                        �  who were the people jesus spent time with in these verses? why is that   crowd complained when jesus went
                                                                                                                                                                   to stay with a sinful tax collector.
                                                                                                          important? what does it say about his attitude toward us?
             DoN’T you uNDeRSTAND?
                                                                                                                                                                   after all, why would jesus associate
                                                                                                        � who are the “sick” ones jesus referred to in verse 17?
                                                                                                                                                                   with someone who got his money by
                                                                                                        � why was it surprising that jesus called on levi to follow him?
             JeSuS CAMe FoR you!                                                                        � do you see yourself as sick or well? why is it better to admit our sickness?  cheating others?
                                                                                                                                                                     the fact of the matter is that we
                                                                                                        �  do you regularly confess your sins to god, asking for his mercy and
                                                                                                                                                                   are just like Zacchaeus. while we
                                                                                                          forgiveness and admitting your need for him?
                                                                                                                                                                   may not be rich or cheat people out
                                                                                                                                                                   of money, we too have sin that needs
                                                                                                        those who are privileged to grow up with christian parents in christian
                                                                                                        churches often forget the truth taught in today’s lesson. if we have received
                                                                                                        salvation through jesus christ, we need to remember that we have done nothing
                                                                                                                                                                   need the salvation that only jesus
                                                                                                        to deserve it. in fact, jesus came to us because we were sick and sinful. he came   to be forgiven. as sinners, all of us
                                                                                                                                                                   gives. he knows the particular sins in
                                                                                                        because we needed healing and forgiveness.                 our own lives, yet he extends grace.
                                                                                                          every person on earth needs one thing from jesus—mercy. remembering   after we receive this grace, we should
                                                                                                        this should keep christians humble and grateful. we should see non-christians   feel compelled to extend it to others.
                                                                                                        with compassion, since we are dependent on the same mercy. jesus did not only   the good news is that no matter how
                                                                                                        come for people who are moral, popular, athletic, or smart, for there is no one   sinful and lost a person may be, jesus
                                                                                                        who is righteous (rom. 3:10). he came to show his love and his mercy to sinners   came “to seek and to save the lost”
                                                                                                        like us, no matter what our background. he reaches out to the least deserving—  (luke 19:10). and his purpose is now
                                                                                                        to the people like us, like you. he loves you. it doesn’t matter who you are or   our purpose.
                                                                                                        what you’ve done.
       24  |  jul 2009  ec magazine                                                                                                                                       ec magazine  jul 2009  |  25
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