Seeing Beyond: Embracing Transformation Through Christ
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to FX Sunday at The Point, a special day where families come together to worship and experience the joy of Jesus. Today, we focus on the story of Levi, also known as Matthew, a tax collector who was disliked by many. Despite his profession, Jesus saw something special in Levi that others did not. Jesus invited Levi to follow Him, recognizing his true worth and potential. Levi responded by leaving everything behind and hosting a grand banquet to celebrate his new life in Christ. This story teaches us that Jesus sees beyond our flaws and mistakes; He sees our true selves and calls us to follow Him. The Pharisees, who were critical and judgmental, missed out on the joy and transformation that Jesus brings because they couldn't see beyond Levi's past. Jesus reminds us that He came not for the righteous, but for the sinners, to bring healing and repentance. Today, we are encouraged to see ourselves and others through Jesus' eyes and to celebrate the new life He offers.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus Sees the True You: Jesus looks beyond our external actions and sees our true selves. He recognizes our potential and worth, even when others do not. This is a powerful reminder that our identity is not defined by our past mistakes or societal labels but by how Jesus sees us. [28:07]
2. The Call to Follow Jesus: When Jesus called Levi to follow Him, it was an invitation to a transformed life. Levi's immediate response to leave everything behind and follow Jesus shows the radical change that occurs when we truly encounter Christ. This call is extended to each of us, inviting us to live a life modeled after Jesus. [29:20]
3. Celebrating New Life in Christ: Levi's decision to host a grand banquet symbolizes the joy and celebration that comes with accepting Jesus' invitation. It’s a reminder that following Jesus is not a burden but a reason to rejoice. Our lives should reflect this joy and be a testament to the transformative power of Christ. [30:39]
4. The Danger of Judgmental Attitudes: The Pharisees missed out on the joy and transformation that Jesus brought because they were focused on Levi's past and their own self-righteousness. This serves as a warning against judgmental attitudes that prevent us from seeing the true worth in others and experiencing the fullness of God's grace. [33:32]
5. Jesus Came for the Broken: Jesus' mission is to heal the broken and call sinners to repentance. He did not come for those who consider themselves righteous but for those who recognize their need for Him. This is a comforting truth that no matter our past, Jesus offers healing and a new beginning. [35:20]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:13] - Introduction to FX Sunday
[26:57] - The Story of Levi
[28:07] - Jesus Sees the True You
[29:20] - The Call to Follow Jesus
[30:39] - Celebrating New Life in Christ
[33:32] - The Danger of Judgmental Attitudes
[35:20] - Jesus Came for the Broken
[36:42] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Luke 5:27-32 (NIV)
> "After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Levi's profession before he followed Jesus? How did people generally feel about tax collectors? [26:57]
2. What did Jesus see in Levi that others did not? [28:07]
3. How did Levi respond to Jesus' invitation to follow Him? What did he do to celebrate his new life? [30:39]
4. How did the Pharisees react to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners? What was Jesus' response to them? [33:32]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him? What does this say about Jesus' view of people? [28:07]
2. What does Levi's immediate response to Jesus' call tell us about the impact of encountering Jesus? [29:20]
3. How does the grand banquet hosted by Levi symbolize the joy of accepting Jesus' invitation? What can we learn from this celebration? [30:39]
4. What lesson can we learn from the Pharisees' judgmental attitude towards Levi and Jesus' response to them? [33:32]
#### Application Questions
1. Jesus sees beyond our flaws and mistakes. How can you start seeing yourself and others through Jesus' eyes this week? [28:07]
2. Levi left everything behind to follow Jesus. Is there something in your life that you need to leave behind to fully follow Jesus? What steps can you take to do this? [29:20]
3. Levi celebrated his new life in Christ with a grand banquet. How can you celebrate and share the joy of your faith with others in your community? [30:39]
4. The Pharisees missed out on the joy and transformation Jesus brought because of their judgmental attitudes. Are there any judgmental attitudes you need to let go of to experience the fullness of God's grace? [33:32]
5. Jesus came for the broken and the sinners. How can you reach out to someone who feels unworthy or broken and share the message of Jesus' love and healing with them? [35:20]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt judged by others. How did it affect you, and how can you ensure you don't make others feel the same way?
7. Jesus' mission was to heal the broken and call sinners to repentance. How can you be a part of this mission in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to help others find healing and a new beginning in Christ? [35:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Sees Beyond Our Flaws
Jesus looks beyond our external actions and sees our true selves. He recognizes our potential and worth, even when others do not. This is a powerful reminder that our identity is not defined by our past mistakes or societal labels but by how Jesus sees us. Jesus' interaction with Levi, a tax collector despised by many, exemplifies this truth. Despite Levi's profession and the negative perception others had of him, Jesus saw his true worth and invited him to follow Him. This invitation was not based on Levi's past but on the potential Jesus saw in him. [28:07]
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt judged by others based on your past or external actions. How does knowing that Jesus sees your true worth change your perspective on that experience?
Day 2: The Call to Follow Jesus
When Jesus called Levi to follow Him, it was an invitation to a transformed life. Levi's immediate response to leave everything behind and follow Jesus shows the radical change that occurs when we truly encounter Christ. This call is extended to each of us, inviting us to live a life modeled after Jesus. The decision to follow Jesus is not just a one-time event but a daily commitment to live according to His teachings and example. Levi's story reminds us that following Jesus requires us to leave behind our old ways and embrace a new life in Him. [29:20]
Matthew 16:24 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 3: Celebrating New Life in Christ
Levi's decision to host a grand banquet symbolizes the joy and celebration that comes with accepting Jesus' invitation. It’s a reminder that following Jesus is not a burden but a reason to rejoice. Our lives should reflect this joy and be a testament to the transformative power of Christ. When we experience the new life that Jesus offers, it should naturally lead to a celebration and a desire to share this joy with others. Levi's banquet was not just a personal celebration but an opportunity to introduce others to Jesus and the new life He offers. [30:39]
Psalm 30:11-12 (ESV): "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!"
Reflection: How can you celebrate the new life you have in Christ today? Think of a specific way you can share this joy with someone else.
Day 4: The Danger of Judgmental Attitudes
The Pharisees missed out on the joy and transformation that Jesus brought because they were focused on Levi's past and their own self-righteousness. This serves as a warning against judgmental attitudes that prevent us from seeing the true worth in others and experiencing the fullness of God's grace. When we judge others based on their past or external actions, we not only harm them but also hinder our own spiritual growth. Jesus calls us to look beyond the surface and see people as He sees them, with love and compassion. [33:32]
James 4:11-12 (ESV): "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Reflection: Think of someone you have judged harshly in the past. How can you begin to see them through Jesus' eyes and extend grace to them today?
Day 5: Jesus Came for the Broken
Jesus' mission is to heal the broken and call sinners to repentance. He did not come for those who consider themselves righteous but for those who recognize their need for Him. This is a comforting truth that no matter our past, Jesus offers healing and a new beginning. Levi's story is a powerful example of this mission. Despite his past as a tax collector, Jesus called him to a new life, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of His grace. This truth should encourage us to come to Jesus with our brokenness and trust in His power to transform our lives. [35:20]
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
Reflection: What areas of brokenness in your life do you need to bring to Jesus today? How can you trust Him to bring healing and transformation in those areas?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Because we get to spend time showing our kids, the next generation, that church is a place filled with joy. Amen? And when they connect joy with Jesus, everything changes today. And we're excited about that, kids. So we're going to talk about Jesus today. Would that be okay? Are you all with me?" [10:13](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus always sees. And this is important, kids. I want you to remember. Jesus always sees. He sees what others don't. Because he looks and he sees the true person. Jesus sees the true you. He doesn't see all the things that you might have done that were wrong or all the moments when you were insecure or wondered what was going to happen in life and didn't have faith. Jesus sees the true you. Check it out. And when Jesus sees the true us, pretty cool things happen." [28:07](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When Jesus said, come follow him, come follow me, what Jesus was saying is, I see how special and important you are, and I want you to live your life like I live my life. And so he said to Levi, come and follow me. And all of a sudden, when Jesus saw the true Matthew, everything changed for Matthew." [29:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When Jesus shows up, we learn that he is a good reason to have a party. Did you know that? Jesus is a good reason to have a party. And do you know why? He's a good reason because he sees the real you. He sees the best you and he wants you to live your life after him." [35:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belong to their sect, they complained to the disciples. Why do you eat and drink code? Why do you have a party with tax collectors and sinners? Because you know what? These folks, the party poopers, everybody say party poopers on three, one, two, three. They couldn't see the real Levi because all they saw was the things they wanted to see. And the truth is their vision of others meant that they weren't looking inside of their own hearts." [33:32](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Here's the truth kids. I want you to hear this. Okay. Everybody listening. This is really important. All right, kiddos, everybody, all your eyes. I want to see all your eyeballs. I want to see a bunch of eyeballs. Adults, you're not sleeping yet. Good. I see your eyeballs too. This is the most important part, right? Because when Jesus shows up, we learn that he is a good reason to have a party. Did you know that? Jesus is a good reason to have a party. And do you know why? He's a good reason because he sees the real you. He sees the best you and he wants you to live your life after him." [35:20](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Heavenly father, we're grateful for this story of Levi, a person who struggled in life, who made wrong choices. But Jesus, when you came along, you saw the real Levi. You saw past all of the brokenness, past all of the shame, past all of the wrong choices and sin, and you invited him to come follow you. God, may we hear that call in our lives today. May we know you as a God who comes in and sees the real us past our own sin, shame, and brokenness today. And hear your words that you say, I have come to call people who are broken and hurting and lost. I've come to call the sick so that they can be healed. God, might we find our healing, our best life in you today by saying yes, to you, Jesus." [36:42](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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