Following Jesus with Nuance: Loving the One

The heart of following Jesus is not about drawing lines between “us” and “them,” but about stepping into the messiness of real lives with compassion, humility, and a willingness to meet people where they are. Jesus modeled this by spending time with outsiders—those far from God, the broken, the misunderstood—and inviting them into God’s family. He did not require them to clean up or conform before extending love and relationship. Instead, he called them to follow him, trusting that transformation would come as they journeyed together.

This approach is not just a historical footnote; it’s the ongoing mission for every follower of Jesus. The early church wrestled with the tension between insiders and outsiders, learning that the gospel is not about enforcing rules or demanding conformity, but about removing unnecessary barriers so that all can encounter Christ. The call is to be “all things to all people,” as Paul wrote, not by compromising the truth, but by embodying the love and grace of Jesus in every context.

Living this way is messy. It means welcoming people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and baggage into our community. It means risking discomfort and relinquishing control, trusting that God is at work in the chaos. The mission is always for the lost to be found and the dead to be made alive—not just through programs or events, but through the daily, relational work of loving our neighbors as ourselves.

This is not a task for a select few, but the shared calling of the whole church. Every follower of Jesus is invited to participate in this mission, to move beyond self-focus and embrace the outward movement of God’s heart. The greatest news ever—that Jesus brings forgiveness, grace, and new life—is too good to keep to ourselves. As we follow Jesus, we are compelled to go after the one, to enter into the mess, and to trust that God will bring transformation as we walk together.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus meets people where they are, not where we wish they would be. He dined with tax collectors and sinners, not to affirm their choices, but to show them the heart of God and invite them into a new way of living. This challenges us to move toward those who are far from God, not with judgment, but with genuine love and presence. [40:22]
• 2. The early church learned that following Jesus is not about enforcing religious conformity, but about removing barriers so that all can come to faith. They realized that demanding outsiders become insiders before following Jesus was a burden even they could not bear. Instead, they called people to follow Jesus first, trusting that transformation would follow. [43:41]
• 3. The “us versus them” mentality is antithetical to the way of Jesus. Our calling is not to win battles against people, but to win people to Jesus. When we focus on loving and reaching the one who is lost, we align ourselves with the heart and mission of Christ. [46:49]
• 4. Being “all things to all people” requires humility, flexibility, and a willingness to enter into the messiness of others’ lives. Paul’s example shows that we do not compromise our convictions, but we adapt our approach so that we might reach as many as possible. This is the nuance and tension of authentic discipleship. [49:33]
• 5. The mission of the church is always for the lost to be found and the dead to be made alive. This requires every follower of Jesus to move outward, to love, invite, and invest in those far from God. It will be messy, uncomfortable, and unpredictable, but it is the very place where God’s grace and transformation are most powerfully displayed. [59:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:34] - Desire to Know and Follow Jesus
• [28:32] - Repetition of the Call to Follow
• [31:28] - The Shepherd of Our Souls
• [34:28] - Persistent Pursuit of Jesus
• [37:38] - Jesus and the Outsiders
• [39:08] - Mercy, Not Sacrifice
• [40:10] - Jesus Calls the Outsiders
• [41:17] - The Great Commission and Early Church
• [43:21] - Removing Barriers for the Gentiles
• [45:33] - The Us Versus Them Mentality
• [47:06] - Paul’s Transformation and Mission
• [49:03] - Becoming All Things to All People
• [52:14] - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
• [53:13] - Vision: Thinking About the One
• [56:20] - Embracing the Messiness of Church
• [59:22] - The Mission: Lost Found, Dead Made Alive
• [60:18] - Upcoming Series: Family Matters
• [61:22] - Reflecting on the Mission
• [64:11] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Matthew 9:10-13 (NIV) — > While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
> On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Acts 15:19 (NIV) — > “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV) — > Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 9, who does Jesus choose to spend time with, and how do the religious leaders respond to this?
2. According to Acts 15:19, what decision did the early church make about welcoming Gentile (non-Jewish) believers?
3. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, what does Paul say about his approach to reaching different groups of people?
4. The sermon described Jesus as meeting people “where they were at” rather than where others wished they would be. What are some examples from the sermon of how Jesus did this? [[40:22]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to eat with tax collectors and sinners, even though it upset the religious leaders? What does this reveal about his priorities? [[39:23]]
2. The early church decided not to make it difficult for Gentiles to turn to God. What barriers do you think they were removing, and why was this important? [[43:41]]
3. Paul says he became “all things to all people” to win some for Christ. What does this look like in practice, and how does it differ from simply compromising one’s beliefs? [[49:33]]
4. The sermon talked about the “us versus them” mentality being the opposite of Jesus’ way. Why is this mentality so tempting for churches, and what are the dangers of it? [[46:49]]

Application Questions

1. Jesus met people in the middle of their mess, not after they had cleaned up their lives. Is there someone in your life right now who you find it hard to accept or approach because of their “messiness”? What would it look like to move toward them with compassion this week? [[40:22]]
2. The early church removed unnecessary barriers for outsiders. Are there any “rules” or expectations—spoken or unspoken—in our church or small group that might make it hard for new people to feel welcome? How could we change that? [[43:41]]
3. Paul adapted his approach to reach different people without compromising the gospel. Think of a specific person or group you know who is far from God. What is one practical way you could adapt your approach to better connect with them? [[49:33]]
4. The sermon said, “The mission is always for the lost to be found and the dead to be made alive.” Who is “the one” in your life right now—someone who is far from God? What is one step you can take this week to reach out to them? [[59:22]]
5. The “us versus them” mentality can sneak into our thinking. Have you ever caught yourself thinking of someone as “them” instead of someone Jesus loves? How can you shift your mindset to be “for” them instead? [[46:49]]
6. The sermon warned that living this way is “messy, uncomfortable, and unpredictable.” What fears or hesitations do you have about entering into the messiness of others’ lives? How can you trust God more in those moments? [[56:20]]
7. The pastor said, “Every follower of Jesus is invited to participate in this mission.” What is one way you can move beyond self-focus and join in God’s outward movement this month? [[59:45]]