Building Friendships
Sermon Audio
Sermon Notes
Today we’re continuing our series called Cultivation, and it’s all about reaching people far from God. It’s about reaching people far from God, especially in a tough soiled city like East Orlando. East Orlando’s considered a tough soiled city to plant a church, and we want to teach you what we know about reaching people far from God in this tough soiled city we’re in. Now one of the things I know about our city is that people are wanting relationships. People in our city are wanting relationships, and it’s not an introvert extrovert thing either. I know introverts and extroverts have some differences but this isn’t one of them. I mean as a child introverts get put in timeout and they’re like ‘Yay! Quiet time.’ But an extrovert’s like, ‘I hate solitary confinement’...An introvert gets asked what game they want to play and they’re like ‘Solitary.’ But an extrovert’s like, ‘Can I play too?’...An introverts favorite room is the bathroom because they’re left alone. But an extrovert talks or snapchats while they’re in the bathroom... There’s a lot of differences between introverts and extroverts, but the need for relationships isn’t one of them, because everybody needs relationships. Everybody needs relationships. The bible teaches us in Genesis 2:18 that “it’s not good for us to be alone,” and countless studies have been done to prove this to be true, to prove that everybody needs relationships.
Now if everybody needs relationships, it means everybody needs to make friends. The bible teaches that too. It teaches that everybody needs relationships, and everybody needs to make friends. So if you’re not a Christian, we don’t view you as an enemy, we view you as a guest, a neighbor, a potential friend. It’s why we give you a gift as a 1st time guest. Enemies don’t show up to a cage fight with gifts saying, “I’m gonna knock you out! Here’s a frosty and solar eclipse glasses.” Enemies don’t do that, they don’t exchange gifts in a cage fight. The church isn’t a cage fight, we don’t view you as an enemy, we view you as a guest, a neighbor, a potential friend. It’s why we give you a gift. It’s because the bible teaches us to make friends. For those of you who are Christians, we’re to make new friends, and invite our existing friends, to know the greatest of friends, which is Jesus. We’re to make new friends, and invite our existing friends, to know the greatest of friends which is Jesus, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about today. So let’s turn our bibles to Mark 2:13-17 and get into it. The title of today’s message is Building Friendships. We need to build friendships, not projects. To reach people far from God we need to build friendships, not projects. We need to treat people like people, not projects.
Context:
Here’s your context. Last week we learned in Mark 4 that there’s different kinds of soil, different kinds of people and cities, and each of those soils, each of those people and cities are gonna have different receptivity’s to the gospel. Some soils, some people and cities are gonna be more receptive to the gospel than others, and so your 1st step in the cultivation process is to identify the soil. You need to identify the soil of the people and city you’re trying to reach, because once you know the soil you’ll know how to reach that soil. If people are receptive to the gospel, you can share the gospel. If they’re not receptive, you need to cultivate their hearts, you need to start loving them in ways that’ll help soften up their tough soiled hearts. Your 1st step in the cultivation process is to identify the soil. The 2nd step is to make friends with people...It’s to make friends with people, and that’s exactly what Jesus is doing in Mark 2, so let’s check it out.
The Word:
Mark 2:13-17 states this, “He went out...” He went out, meaning Jesus went out. He went out to make some new friends. He doesn’t wait for the people to come to him, he goes to the people. He went out, and like I said last week in a tough soiled city like East Orlando we can’t expect people to come to us, we have to go to the people. We can’t expect to just throw out a street sign and have people flocking to our doors. A church that’s been around a while, a church that’s been cultivating hearts and has some presence in the city, they can do that. But we’re a new church, a young church, a church that hasn’t had much presence in the city yet for people to know we exist, which means we can’t expect people to come to us, we have to go to the people. Let me put it like this. We’re not allowed to put out our church sign throughout the week, which means the only time people know we exist is when we put out our sign for 4 hrs on a Sunday morning. Now there’s 168 hrs in a week, which means 164 of those 168 hrs nobody knows we exist, nobody knows a church is even here. So what’s this tell us? It tells us we can’t expect to grow our church by church signage, especially when our signs are only out there 4 hrs a week. If we already had a lot of presence in this city we could do that, but we don’t so we can’t expect people to come to us, we have to go the people. Like Jesus, we have to go out...We have to go out...We need to build friendships, not projects. To reach people far from God we need to build friendships, not projects. We need to treat people like people, not projects...Jesus went out.
Again vs. 13, “He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him...” Okay so clearly Jesus is establishing some presence in the city, he’s becoming more known in the city. Why? Why’s his name becoming more known? I’ll give 3 reasons. The 1st is because Jesus ‘went out.’ It’s because Jesus went out, and notice it says he went out ‘again.’ He went out ‘again,’ meaning he went out to make friends more than once. In fact if you study Mark 1 you’ll see the phrase ‘went out’ or its equivalent at least 4-5 different times which tells us he went out repeatedly, and as a result the crowd starts coming to him. He went to the people, but now the people are coming to him. Jesus’ name is being made known because he’s repeatedly going out to the people, and if we want to make his name known in our city we have to do the same. We have to go to the people and we have to go again. We have to be a constant presence in the lives of the people in our city. We have to keep loving the few so we can love the many. It’s one of our codes at City Awakening. It’s to love the few, so we can love the many, meaning we want to love a few people so well that they can’t ignore the love of Jesus for their lives. We want to be a constant loving, cultivating, presence in their lives. We want to go out, and go again.
The 2nd reason Jesus’ name is being made known is because of his grace. It’s because of his grace, it’s because he’s healing people, he’s doing some miraculous things, he’s pouring out his grace. We’ll talk more about this in a few weeks when I talk about the necessity of prayer and God’s grace in reaching those who are far from God. But for now I want you to know Jesus’ name is being made known because of God’s grace. It starts with Jesus going out to the people, but he’s also pouring out his grace on the people. He went out, and he poured out his grace.
The 3rd reason Jesus’ name is being made known is because the people are telling their friends about Jesus. Jesus is making friends with people, he’s pouring out his grace on people, and now the people are telling their friends about Jesus. It happens all throughout Mark 1-2. I’ll give you one example. In Mark 1:40-45 Jesus makes friends with a guy suffering from leprosy, he heals the guy, and the guy starts telling everybody about Jesus. Vs. 45 states this, “He went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.” So Jesus makes friends with the guy, he heals the guy, and now the guy starts telling everybody about Jesus. The text even states the guy ‘went out.’ Just like Jesus went out this guy went out. The text says he went out to talk freely, to spread the news about Jesus. He went out to do what we as Christians should be doing after having experienced the saving grace of Jesus. We’re to go out and tell others who are far from God about Jesus. Like I said last week, it’s not preach the gospel and use words if necessary. It’s preach the gospel and use words because words ARE necessary. We can’t expect people to know about Jesus, if we’re not willing to talk about Jesus. We can’t expect people to know about our church, if we’re not willing to talk about our church. Are you talking about Jesus like the people in the text are talking about Jesus?..Are you talking about Jesus like the people in the text are talking about Jesus?..When was the last time you talked about Jesus to someone who’s far from God, or even gave them a simple invitation to come to church so they can hear about Jesus?..We’ll never grow as a church or gain momentum as a church, if we’re not willing to talk about Jesus and our church. Jesus is making friends with people, he’s pouring out his grace on people, and the people are talking about Jesus with their friends. We’re about to see all this happen in greater detail next.
Again vs. 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...’” Levi was a tax collector who was despised by the Jews. He was despised because he worked for the Romans, and because tax collectors could pretty much charge whatever tax rate they wanted. The Roman’s didn’t care what they charged as long as they got their cut, and a lot of times tax collectors would rip people off by charging higher taxes than needed. So the Jews would’ve viewed Levi as a wealthy, hated, despised, outcast. But let’s see how Jesus handles this wealthy, hated, despised, outcast Levi.
Again vs. 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.’” It’s an invitation. Jesus gives wealthy, hated, despised, outcast Levi an invitation. It’s an invitation to follow him, it’s an invitation to become friends. Jesus goes out again. He goes out again. It’s not Levi who goes to Jesus, it’s Jesus who goes to Levi. He goes out again and gives Levi an invitation to become friends. How’s Levi respond?
Vs. 14b, “And he rose and followed him.” He accepts the invitation. Levi accepts the invitation to follow Jesus, he accepts the invitation to become friends; I love what happens next.
Vs. 15, “And as he reclined at the table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.” Many tax collectors and sinners were “reclining with Jesus.” I love it, I love this part of the text, and for several reasons. 1st I want you to notice Jesus is ‘reclining.’ He’s reclining, and in particular he’s reclining at a dinner table. It’s a sign of friendship. Back then if you shared a meal with someone it was a sign of friendship, and because Jesus and Levi are now friends, they’re sharing a meal together, their reclining at the dinner table together. The 2nd thing I want you to notice is Levi’s co-workers and friends are reclining with them. His co-workers, his friends, other tax collectors and sinners are reclining with them, which tells us Levi’s inviting his friends to get to know Jesus so they can become friends with Jesus too. It’s everything we’ve been talking about. Jesus makes friends with us, and we’re to make new friends, and invite our existing friends, to know the greatest of friends, which is Jesus. Levi’s doing that, he’s inviting his co-workers and friends, other tax collectors and sinners to recline with him and Jesus at the dinner table, and the fact that Jesus is even willing to recline with these tax collectors and sinners tells us how Jesus views them. He doesn’t view them like the Jews viewed them, he views them as friends or at least as potential friends. It’s like I said before, if you’re not a Christian we don’t view you as an enemy, we view you as a guest, a neighbor, a potential friend. As Christians we shouldn’t hate those who are far from God, we should love those who are far from God. We shouldn’t avoid those who are far from God, we should be willing to go to, make friends with, and recline at the table with those who are far from God. Jesus reclined with those who are far from God. He didn’t sin like those who are far from God, but he was willing to recline with those who are far from God.
The 3rd thing I want you to notice is where Levi invites his friends to come. He invites them in his home...He invites his friends to meet Jesus in his home. This is exactly where some of you might need to begin with the people you’re trying to reach. It’s not to invite them to church, it’s to invite them to your home. It’s to invite them to your home and to do things that both your Christian and non-Christian friends can enjoy so they can rub shoulders with each other. I mean Levi grabs some oak wood, smokes some brisket and burnt ends, pulls out the lazy boy recliners, and invites his friends over to meet Jesus and other Christians in his home. The text says Jesus’ disciples are their too. So Levi’s having a party, he’s doing something both his Christian and non-Christian friends can enjoy together. Reaching people far from God isn’t always about inviting people to church or a bible study. Sometimes the cultivation process needs to begin in your home. Sometimes it’s about just chilling and having fun with people. I think we forget that sometimes. I think we forget that Jesus was willing to chill and have fun. I mean he went fishing, boating, barefoot skiing, cloud surfing when he ascended into heaven, and I think he was messing with his friends when he appeared to them in the upper room with the doors locked. I can’t prove it, but if I were Jesus I’d jumped out and scare the heck out of my friends. But Jesus knew how to have fun too. He knew how to make new friends, and how to relax and have fun with those who are both far and near to God. Jesus is reclining at the table with both. We need to build friendships, not projects. To reach people far from God we need to build friendships, not projects. We need to treat people like people, not projects.
Again vs. 15, “And as he reclined at the 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.’” I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, meaning he came to reach those who are far from God, not those who are near to God. Jesus loves both, but his purpose in coming to this world was to reach those who are far from God, not those who are near to God. He came to make new friends...Jesus came to make new friends...He came to reach those who are far from him, so he could invite them into an everlasting friendship with him. Alright so let me give you 3 things, 3 take aways, then I’ll close.
Take Away #1 = Make New Friends: The gospel should cause us to want to make new friends. The gospel teaches us that despite our sin and because of our sin, Jesus came to make friends with us, to lay his life down for us, so we can become his friends. The gospel teaches us that though we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and if Jesus was willing to make friends with us when we were far from God, then we should be willing to make friends with others who are far from God. But how? How do we make new friends with those who are far from God? Do what you love to do, but do it in a place where those far from God are doing it...Do what you love to do, but do it in a place where those far from God are doing it. If you like to read, join a non-Christian book club. It’s a place where you can hear other people’s views and have gospel conversations. If you like to play or coach sports, then play or coach sports in a non-Christian league. If you like to workout, then workout in a gym and get to know the people in the gym. If you like to larp, then larp your little heart out for Jesus. Just make sure it’s in a place where those far from God are larping. Do what you love to do, but do it in a place where those far from God are doing it, because o reach those far from God, you have to be with those who are far from God...To reach those far from God, you have to be with those who are far from God. Jesus chose to be with those who are far from God. He chose to be with Levi, with other tax collectors and sinners, and he chose to be with us. The gospel should cause us to want to make new friends.
Take Away #2 = Invite Your Existing Friends: The gospel should cause us to want to invite our existing friends to know the greatest of friends, which is Jesus. When you experience the grace of Jesus, it should cause you to want others to experience that grace too. We saw this happening in the text. Jesus made friends with people, he poured out his grace on people, and the people started telling others about Jesus. It’s because when you experience the grace of Jesus it should cause you to want others to experience that grace too. But again, you need to identify the soil. If your friends are receptive to the gospel, then share the gospel with them or give them an invitation to come to church so they can hear the gospel. But if they aren’t receptive, then invite them in your home. Like Levi invite them in your home, and do things both your Christian and non-Christian friends can enjoy so they can rub shoulders with each other. For example we have a lot of guys in our church who like eating BBQ and watching UFC fights. It’s one of the reasons why I love our church. It’s BBQ, UFC, and Jesus. But what if instead of us eating BBQ and watching fights on our own, one of you men stepped up, organized us, and opened up your home so we can do this together and invite our non-Christian friends to join us? Some of you ladies enjoy a ladies night out. Well what if you did a ladies night, a movie night, a game night together and you invited your non-Christian friends to join you?..Who do you know that’s far from God, and what are some things you can do in your home that both your Christian and non-Christian friends would enjoy doing together?..Levi had friends who were receptive enough to come to his home and meet Jesus. You have friends who are receptive enough to hear the gospel, come to church, or at least begin the cultivation process in your home. Who are those friends?..
Take Away #3 = Treat People Like People, Not Projects: The gospel teaches us to treat people like people, not projects. Jesus didn’t come to build projects, he came to build friendships. Jesus didn’t come to build projects, he came to build friendships, and we have to be careful not to mix that up. In our desire to reach those who are far from God, we have to be careful not to treat people like they’re our little missional projects, because they’re not. They’re not a project. They’re real people, with real lives, real hurts, pains, joys, and struggles. They’re not our missional project. People want to know that you love them, not that you’re building a missional project out of them. Jesus didn’t come to build projects, he came to build friendships, and we need to do the same. We need to build friendships, not projects.
The Big Idea:
Let’s get to the big idea. Here’s the big idea. We need to build friendships, not projects... To reach people far from God we need to build friendships, not projects. We need to treat people like people, not projects...Look as I said earlier everybody needs relationships. Everybody needs relationships, everybody needs friendships. In fact there was a study done to prove this during World War I & II. What happened was a lot of parents died during those wars which left a lot of kids as orphans. So they put the kids in orphanages, and as soon as they did this many of the kids started slowing in development and even dying. The mortality rate was close to 100%. They couldn’t figure out why, so they brought in some pediatricians and psychologists to help, and what they discovered was children die unless they’re loved. Children die unless they’re loved, unless they’re held, unless they have relationships. So they encouraged the nurses to take off their masks and to start holding the kids. As soon as they did this, the children stopped dying and started living. They stopped dying and started living. It’s because they needed relationships...A lot of people in East Orlando are dying inside. They’re dying emotionally, physically, and spiritually. They’re dying inside, and they’re wanting relationships. Our church and missional community groups can be a place that provides them with those relationships. Our church and missional community groups can be a place that provides them with the greatest of relationships, the greatest of friendships, which is a friendship with Jesus.
If you’re not a Christian, we want to invite you to have that relationship because Jesus didn’t come to make you his enemy, he came to make you his friend. He said in John 15:13 that there’s no greater love than to lay your life down for your friends, and that’s what he did for us. He lived, died, and rose again for the sins of his friends, and he invites you to become one of his friends. Just like he invited Levi to be his friend, he invites you to be his friend. So repent of your sins, believe Jesus was God who came to live, die, and rise again for your sins, and you’ll receive the forgiveness of sins, an everlasting friendship with him, and be surrounded by a church community full of friends. Repent of your sins and accept that invitation today. For those of you who are Christians, there’s no doubt East Orlando’s considered a tough soiled city that’s far from God. In fact we’re ranked the 9th most unchurched city and 6th most dechurched city in America. We’re the 9th most unchurched city and the 6th most dechurched city, which means we can’t expect people to come to us, we have to go to the people. Jesus was willing to go out, and we have to be willing to go out. We have to be willing to make friends with people, love people, chill with people, cultivate the hearts of people, even recline with people at the table in our homes. We have to be willing to go out, and go again. We’re not trying to build a mega-church project, we’re trying to build friendships. So let’s go out and build friendships, not projects. Let’s go out and treat people like people, not projects. Let’s go out and make new friends, and invite our existing friends, to know the greatest of friends which is Jesus..Let’s go out and make new friends, and invite our existing friends, to know the greatest of friends which is Jesus.