Mark 2
Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our series on Mark.
In Mark chapter 2, Jesus walks past a tax collector — one of the most despised men in town — and says two words: Follow me. No conditions. No get-his-act-together required. Just an invitation.
Then Jesus goes to his house for dinner. And the religious leaders lose it.
Jesus gravitates toward exactly the people everyone else avoids, which reveals the nature of the gospel: Jesus only heals people who know they're sick. Which means the real danger isn't being too far gone. It's thinking you're already fine.
If you've been a Christian long enough to forget what it felt like to need saving, this message will challenge you. And if you're not sure Jesus would want anything to do with you, this one's for you, too.
Key Moments
00:00 Welcome
1:10 Memorial Day Prayer & Church Announcements
4:52 Scripture Reading: Mark 2:13–17
6:26 Truth #1: Jesus Loves People We Love to Hate (Levi the Tax Collector)
15:09 Levi Becomes Matthew: The Power of Transformation
18:21 Truth #2: The Temptation to Talk About People Behind Their Backs
23:46 Truth #3: Jesus Only Heals Those Who Know They're Sick
26:27 The Tree Story: Remembering the Weight of What You Were Saved From
31:44 Closing: Living in the Tension of Sickness and Healing
Community Group Questions
What is something you did for someone else this week that required a cost?
Read Mark 2:1-12. What motivated Jesus to respond to the man who was paralyzed? Jesus restores this man twice. What does the order of Jesus' healing reveal about his priorities for this man and the people gathered there?
Why do you think Jesus makes this event about both forgiveness and healing? How does this track with Jesus' mission?
Read Mark 2:13-28. In calling a tax collector to be his disciple, how does Jesus challenge societal norms and expectations? Who are the spiritual “untouchables” in your world?
What is Jesus saying about new forms of spiritual practice in verses 18-22? Why is this an issue, and can it still be an issue today?
What does Jesus mean in saying, "Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath"? (verse 27)
What was the most convicting part of the message this week for you? The passage has much to say about the transformative power of faith. Where does your faith need to grow these days?