CALLED TO SERVE PART 3 OF 12

TEXT- MARK 2:13-17

INTRODUCTION

Today is our theme day when we emphasize the 1994 theme and goals of our church.

This year our theme is, "The Serving Church" and our theme verse is found in Mark 10:45 which says, "for even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

The main goal of our church this year is that every member of our church will discover some way that they can serve the lord in our church and community.

So far this year we have seen God bless our church with people being baptized and joining our Sunday school and church.

We also began a new ministry this year called C.A.P. which stands for Community Assistance Program and was designed to find and recommend ways that our church as a whole could serve the Lord in our community.

In emphasizing our theme this year I have been preaching from the book of Mark on the first Sunday of each month.

The Gospel of Mark is a book that shows us many ways that Jesus served God while he was here on earth.

Last month we learned that one element in serving God involves being baptized as Jesus was baptized.

Today our text is found in Mark 2:13-17 and the title of my message is, "Called To Serve."

As we study this passage we find Jesus calling Matthew the tax collector to serve him.

How timely this study is with April 15th only a month away.

A businessman who was near death asked that his remains be cremated and the ashes be mailed to the internal revenue service with the following note attached: "Now you have it all."

Mark Twain used to say that the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector is that the taxidermist only takes your skin.

In biblical times a tax collector was one of the most hated people in the Jewish community.

First many people considered them traitors because they sold themselves in order to work for the Roman government.

Each tax collector purchased from Rome the right to collect taxes.

Second many people considered them thieves because they would usually collect more taxes than the government required and would keep the excess for themselves.

This would often involve cheating, intimidation, bribery, and taking advantage of those who were poor and powerless.

As a result the tax collector was considered both a social and spiritual outcast.

There are three ways we should respond to our call to service found in this passage.