Hillside Missionary Church
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Luke 5:27-39 ESV
In this passage of God’s Word we see Jesus call Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him. He does so immediately, forsaking his comfortable way of life. The religious leaders see Jesus associating with Levi and his friends and do not approve. In this story, we see two different attitudes: one that is willing to forsake everything to follow Jesus, and another that is unwilling to change. By taking a look at these contrasting attitudes, we too can learn how to follow Jesus better. The religious leaders of the time showed these signs:
1.A bad attitude towards evangelism
Luke 5:29-32, Matt. 28:19-20
2.Having to portray yourself as religious
Luke 5:33-35, 1 Cor. 9:20-22
3.Holding onto the old
Luke 5:36-39, 2 Cor. 5:17, Is. 43:19
Reflection Questions
1. Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut right now? Why or why not?
2. The religious leaders of that day had a difficult time with someone claiming to be close to God, but then also hanging out with sinners. Have you ever, or do you currently, struggle with having a bad attitude towards a certain type of person or evangelism in general? Why or why not?
3. The religious leaders of that day typically would have always portrayed themselves in a very religious way, and thus struggled when Jesus didn’t. Have you ever, or do you currently, struggle with having to portray yourself in a religious way? Why or why not?
4. The religious leaders of that day would have struggled with Jesus’ message because they were holding unto their way of doing things. Have you ever, or do you currently, struggle with holding onto old habits, traditions, or adding unto God’s Word? Why or why not?
5. The religious leaders really struggled with their attitude towards Jesus’ mission. What practical step(s) can you take to better align your attitude with God’s mission? Who can keep you accountable to that?