Jesus shows us that if our priorities are to match Jesus’ priorities, then our priorities need to be on saving life.

Mark 3:1 (NIV) 1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Page 332 of The Story, top of the page.

Who is the most important person in church?

Mark 3:2 (NIV) 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Mark 3:3 (NIV) 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

Mark 3:4 (NIV) 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

Exodus 20:8–10 (NIV) 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the L ORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

Numbers 15:32–36 (NIV) 32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, 34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. 35 Then the L ORD said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” 36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the L ORD commanded Moses.

Mark 3:5 (NIV) 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

What is the priority? What is God’s priority? What should then be the church’s priority?

Matthew 3:4 (NIV) 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Page 321 of The Story, middle of the page

1 Corinthians 9:22 (NIV) 22 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.

What if they don’t know who Jesus is? What if they don’t know how to worship like we have taught ourselves to do?

John 4:23 (NIV) 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. Page 328 of The Story, bottom of the page

John 4:24 (NIV) 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Who did Jesus teach the essence of Christian worship? A woman who was living with a man, who had five previous divorces?

Matthew 3:1–2 (NIV) 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” page 322 of the Story, middle of the page

Matthew 3:3 (NIV) 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”

Matthew 3:4 (NIV) 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) 7 But the L ORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The L ORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the L ORD looks at the heart.”

Matthew 3:5–6 (NIV) 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Top of page 322 of The Story

What is more important to God, what you look like on the outside, or what your heart causes you to do on the inside?

Matthew 3:13 (NIV) 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. Top of page 322 of The Story

Matthew 3:14 (NIV) 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Matthew 3:15 (NIV) 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

Matthew 3:16–17 (NIV) 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 4:1 (NIV) 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

We think: “Well if I just repent, and submit to God to fulfill all righteousness, then things are going to get better.”

James 1:2–3 (NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:4 (NIV) 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:5 (NIV) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

John 3:16 (NIV) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Middle of page 327 of The Story

John 3:17 (NIV) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:18 (NIV) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

But will they be welcome here? Here in Jesus’ house? Here in our worship? Here in our Sunday School? Here in our youth group?

1.God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and truth. (notice, it doesn’t say anything about dress code) 2.Jesus came to be savior of the WHOLE world, not just those that have two parents, good grades, and are great marriage prospects.

Matthew 9:11 (NIV) 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” page 331, of The Story, toward the bottom of the page.

Matthew 9:12–13 (NIV) 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Because we are all sinners, and our sin has made us sick, and the only Doctor who can heal the effects of sin is the savior— who is Christ the Lord.

Please Lord, we pray, change our church culture to be one that cares more for saving the lost than servicing the saved. Amen