Romans 3:21-26 by Dave Hering [ 48:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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This week, I wanted to linger a bit in the precious reality that Pastor Danny presented to us last week, which was for many, perhaps, the first time they might have heard that God is God-centered.

Another way to say that is that God ultimately does everything that he does for His own glory, His own fame, His own pleasure, His own delight.

Yet another way to say that is that God loves Himself more than He loves anyone or anything that exists, or is yet to exist, or is real or is not real.

And yet another way to say this is that God loves himself more than He loves us at Haverhill Community Church.

Danny took the time last week to observe God’s God-centeredness in 3 areas and texts:

• Creation from Genesis 1 and Isaiah 43:7,
• Exile from Genesis 3:23-24, and
• Redemption from Ephesians 5:25-32.

I wonder how each of you received that.

I personally think that this concept is the most beautifully illuminating and eye-opening truth that I have ever heard.

It has entirely changed my orientation in the way I understand life and the Bible.

And it is no small matter for us here at Haverhill Community Church.

As our shepherd Danny has been recasting our vision in this new season, this distinctive is forging our new direction.

We need to appreciate that most Christians in America today do not believe such a truth.

We also need to appreciate that most Christians and non-Christians in the Haverhill area do not believe such a truth.

Therefore, I do not want to take for granted the timing of this opportunity to teach you.

Instead, I would like to peer into a very important biblical text that undergirds and further supports Danny’s subject last week on the God-centeredness of God.

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Mark 2:13-17   13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.  14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.  15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

After Jesus called Levi (aka Matthew), a Jewish tax collector on behalf of Rome, to follow him, his first impulse in the story is to invite his buddies to a party of behalf of Jesus. This is remarkable because Levi never took an evangelism seminar or Alpha training, and because Jesus actually went and reclined with them. This was a very shady and sketchy cast of characters to dine with, yet this dinner party demonstrates the very bottom-line of what Christianity is: Heaven invading Earth; the Holy coming to be among the unholy.  Can this be so?  Jesus has come and has chosen to spend time with people like you and like us!  Stunning to think that God still wants to be around us!  Beautiful is His saving us and shaping us into His image!

Mark 2:13-17 by Danny Ovalle [ 1:00:15 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download