According to Luke, chapter 5

 Not “the Beautiful People” …Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him… Luke 4:42 …vast crowds came to hear him preach…But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:15-16 The Pharisees and their teachers complained bitterly… “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Luke 5:30 Jesus Refused “Celebrity Status”

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt Luke 5:12-13 While He was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy; when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him.

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt Luke 5:17ff One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem… Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

Leper “Contagious” Dirt Paralytic “Chronic” Dirt Tax Man “Ultimate” Dirt But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

 No “Christian Fortress”

 Dangerous and risky.

 No “Christian Fortress”  Dangerous and risky.  Christians unafraid of non-Christians "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." Matthew 15:11

 Being “Christ-Like”

 “Touching” the “Dirty”

 Being “Christ-Like”  “Touching” the “Dirty”  NOT Rolling in a Pig-Pen

 Being “Christ-Like”  “Touching” the “Dirty”  NOT Rolling in a Pig-Pen  Offering Redemption “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”

 No “Christian Fortress”  Dangerous and risky.  Christians unafraid of non-Christians  Being “Christ-Like”  “Touching” the “Dirty”  NOT Rolling in a Pig-Pen  Offering Redemption Self- Righteous Helpless

 Have we admitted we need Jesus Christ? Self- Righteous Helpless

 Have we admitted we need Jesus Christ?  Do we love the pagans?

 Have we admitted we need Jesus Christ?  Do we love the pagans?  Do we have a passion to share Christ?

 Have we admitted we need Jesus Christ?  Do we love the pagans?  Do we have a passion to share Christ?  Can we leave our comfort zone? “Healthy people don’t need a doctor”

 Have we admitted we need Jesus Christ?  Do we love the pagans?  Do we have a passion to share Christ?  Can we leave our comfort zone?  Are we teaching our kids to do the same? based on current trends only 4% of the today's youth would become Christians

 The “Masses”?  He was immensely popular… He was exciting… Spoke with authority. Exercised authority They were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. Luke 4:32

 The “Masses”?  He was immensely popular… He was exciting… Spoke with authority. Exercised authority In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of a filthy demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" Luke 4:33-34 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. Luke 4:35 And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, "What is this message? For with authority and power He commands filthy spirits…" Luke 4:36

 The “Masses”?  He was immensely popular… He was exciting… Spoke with authority. Exercised authority Mostly a curiosity “Food!”A “miracle worker”Never a dull moment!