What's Your Label?
Mark 2:13-17 (NLT)
13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
From the sermon..."We look at each other and put labels on each other…some labels are not meant to hurt…like seasonal resident or Villager…but sometimes when we give a label it does hurt…on the surface there is nothing harmful about the label…progressive or conservative. But I have seen these labels used in the most hurtful ways…and then sometimes we give a label and we mean for it to hurt…there is no mistaking that when we call someone a failure what we mean by that…we also give ourselves labels…as an excuse for why we can’t do something but we hurt ourselves..."
- What labels have you given others? Why did you give others those labels?
- What labels have other given you? How did the labels make you feel? Do you still carry these labels?
- What labels have you given yourself? Why did you give yourself these labels? Do you still carry them?
Jesus was all about and is all about helping people lose their labels and discover that the only label they need is "loved".
- What is one thing you can do today to help other people know they are love?
- What is something you can do to be more like Jesus? To get out into the world?
- Have you put the Pot Luck on your calendar yet?
Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m. — Christian Life Center
As we prepare to celebrate World Communion Sunday and our connection with people around the world, join us for a pot-luck dinner (bring a dish for sharing that serves 10 people), great fellowship, and a Mission & Outreach Fair. We will have information about our projects, along with inspiring stories about the difference God is making in people’s lives around the world through our Outreach & Mission. Bring a dish to share, an expectant heart, and don’t forget to bring a friend! For more information, contact Donna & Jonathan Baker at jonbaker@comcast.net.
