Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection
Rich Wilkerson Jr., a pastor and author, sheds a light on every Christian’s responsibility to reach the world, seek the lost, and rescue sinners with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at Rich Wilkerson Jr., a pastor and author, sheds a light on every Christian’s responsibility to reach the world, seek the lost, and redeem sinners with Jesus’ shocking message of the gospel of grace, which he calls “the gospel of grace.” In Friend of Sinners, we learn the following:
- The fact that, by following his example, we might have the same firm conviction and compassion for the lost that he had
- The fact that His message of scandalous grace cannot be exaggerated
- And the fact that we all need Jesus equally.
The Bible refers to Jesus as a sinner’s best friend. What exactly does this mean? In Friend of Sinners, Rich Wilkerson Jr. demonstrates to readers the significant ramifications of the fact that Jesus names us “friends” not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who he is, not because of who we are or what we have done. While on earth, Jesus saw that people needed to feel like they belonged before they would be motivated to conduct appropriately. He realized that the force inside him was bigger than the evil surrounding him, and as a result, he loved without reservation.
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Friend of Sinners Study Guide: Why Jesus Cares More about Relationship Than Perfection
According to the Bible, Jesus was called a variety of names by different individuals. Many religious leaders of the day were envious of his success and sought to discredit him in the eyes of the public, so they stated all kinds of insane things about him to achieve this goal. They murmured to one other that he was an illegitimate son. They said he was possessed by a demon and demanded that he be executed. They reported him to the Roman authorities on the grounds that he was a rioter and a menace to public order.
- shows how one of their nicknames for Jesus was accurate in this five-session video Bible study (DVD/digital videos offered separately).
- friend of tax collectors and sinners,” he says (Luke 7:34).
- The name “friend” is still used today by Jesus to refer to us, not because of our characteristics or deeds, but because of who he is.
- In Rich’s example, we might have the same firm conviction and compassion for the lost as Jesus had by following his example and imitating him.
Among the tools included in the Friend of Sinners Study Guide are video discussion questions, Bible investigation, and personal study and reflection activities to be used in between sessions. The following sessions are scheduled:
- Lost and Found
- Comfortably Uncomfortable
- How to Be Great
- Missed Message
- Weight Shift
- Lost and Found
Developed to be used in conjunction with the Friend of Sinners Video Study (sold separately). Paperback is the preferred binding style. Thomas Nelson is the author and publisher. Published:04/10/2018ISBN:9780310095705 Pages:112 Weight:0.25lbs Dimensions: 8.30 h x 5.40 w x 0.40 d
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Religion Book Review: Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationships Than Perfection by Rich Wilkerson Jr. Thomas Nelson, $16.99 trade paper (240p) ISBN 978-0-7180-3270-8
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Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection
MISSING MESSAGE IN CHAPTER 1 MY WIFE, DAWNCHERÉ, surprised me with a wonderful present for my twenty-seventh birthday a few years ago. I was completely unprepared. Now, let me preface this story by stating that DawnCheré is a big fan of unexpected shocks. She enjoys being surprised, but she enjoys it even more when she can organize surprises for others. I, on the other hand, despise being caught off guard. I have an obsessive-compulsive need to be in command of my life. I prefer to have a well-thought-out strategy.
- DawnCheré came home from work and brought me a box, so that was nice.
- “What — did you wrap yourself up, girl?” I inquired of her.
- “Open the package and have a look inside.
- She had developed and printed a piece of paper for the inside of the envelope.
- I was ecstatic.
- Finally, a surprise that I can get a little excited about!
- We talked about it on a daily basis.
Their tunes were sung by us.
DawnCheré had meticulously planned and organized the evening’s events.
We had made the decision to forego the opening act, and she had everything planned out flawlessly so that we could travel directly from our romantic supper to the arena, arriving just in time for the headliner to perform.
Over tacos, salsa, and chips, we had a good time laughing and enjoying one other’s company.
arrived, we realized we had to begin moving in order to make it on time.
We were having a good time with each other.
This was going to be the most incredible evening of my life.
We were surprised to see that the parking lot was completely empty.
“I have a feeling something is awry,” DawnCheré said.
“Let’s park the car and walk into the house.” Our suspicions were realized as we got out of the car and proceeded to go all the way up to the Bank Atlantic Center front doors.
The foyer had been abandoned, the doors had been shut, and the lights had been turned out.
“I’m quite aware of what people say.
And then I was on the verge of yelling, “These are not labeled as BankAtlanticCenter.
That’s more than an hour away!
“This is the worst surprise I’ve ever had,” she said.
You are not permitted to cry on my birthday.
I’m not that oblivious to others’ feelings.
Obviously, we were unable to attend the concert that evening.
But, at the very least, it was a memorable evening – although for the wrong reasons.
Even now, it remains one of our favorite tales to share with other couples.
Have you ever been distracted from the primary point?
Bank United Center is a financial institution.
For DawnCheré and myself, failing to get the message simply resulted in us being unable to attend a performance.
Jesus came to the planet with a specific message to share with others.
Despite this, it is far too simple to overlook it.
Even the most well-intentioned, good-hearted, and spiritually inclined individuals sometimes fail to recognize it.
The difficulty is that if we ignore God’s message for a long enough period of time, we will find ourselves in a situation that we did not expect to be in, and we will not be pleased with the outcome.
Some individuals believe that Jesus came to preach about doing good deeds.
It is therefore about changing one’s conduct when one follows Jesus.
Others believe Jesus came to build a religion that is more holy than thou, akin to a country club.
Others, on the other hand, believe that Jesus was only a philosopher.
He had done nothing to deserve what had happened to him.
“It always seems to happen.
His message was conveyed by his martyrdom.
The list of differing viewpoints goes on.
Apocalyptic prophecy is attributed to him, with some claiming he thought and taught the end of the world was approaching.
The more I learn about Jesus and hear his teachings, the more persuaded I am that those points of view, as well as others like them, are incorrect.
He didn’t come to establish a religious group or a clique of any kind.
The message of Jesus is significantly more straightforward than any of those notions, while also being lot more powerful.
I don’t want to lose out on what Jesus was here to say, and I’m sure you don’t want to miss out on it either.
What was he trying to communicate to us during his three and a half years of wandering around a small country in the Middle East?
Is it possible to forgive others?
What was the reason for his death and resurrection?
Perhaps Jesus’ claim to be God has left you feeling a little uneasy.
That’s OK with me.
We are all on a voyage of discovery as we learn more about God, life, and ourselves.
But even if you aren’t sure where you stand on Jesus or the Bible, the vast majority of people would agree that, for whatever reason, Jesus lived a life that had a particularly significant impact.
The human heart resonates with his lessons and his tale, for whatever reason, for whatever cause.
For some reason, people continue to pray in his name, and they continue to report that their prayers have been answered.
So, what was his message?
The answer might surprise you.
Jesus and the Gangster To answer the question, I want to look at a little story in the gospel of Matthew.
They present in gritty, compelling detail a man consumed with a message.
This brief story reveals much about Jesus’ message and mission.
One of my favorite movies growing up was calledThree Ninjas.
He trained them and gave them ninja names.
I’m not sure why the last one got such a lame name, but those kids were amazing.
I always wanted a ninja name.
But his occupation did require a non-Hebrew name.
At some point, however, he became known by a Greek name, Matthew.
There was an important reason for that, which I’ll get to in a bit.
He was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples and one of the authors of the New Testament.
Much earlier, though, before he met Jesus, he was not a nice person.
Matthew was the quintessential bad guy.
He was blatantly and intentionally and famously bad.
Before he met Jesus, Matthew was a tax collector.
Back then, a tax collector wasn’t the robe-wearing equivalent of an IRS employee.
Matthew the tax collector was not a man to be trifled with.
He was like all threeGodfathermovies in one person.
The Roman army was notoriously brutal and barbaric.
They would often kill many of the men, rape the women, and enslave the children.
After conquering a new territory, the Roman government would impose taxes on the local subjects.
His job was to collect taxes from his own people to give to Rome.
And here’s the kicker: tax collectors were required to turn in a certain amount of money to Rome, but they could keep anything they collected above that.
They were traitors, thieves, and bullies.
This was the reason Matthew went by his Greek name.
Matthew had been born into the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people — but he didn’t care about it.
As a result, he abandoned his previous identity as Levi the Jew and assumed the persona of Matthew the tax collector.
Matthew the extortionist is a person who extorts money from others.
Consider the following scenario: a foreign force has launched an attack against your country.
Then they take over your life and dominate it with an iron grip.
The person you used to barbecue steaks with in your backyard has suddenly become your adversary.
He takes what he wants from you and your loved ones with the full support of the conquering nation at his side.
You tell me what to do.
Is that someone you’d like to spend time with?
Is that someone you would put your trust in with something important to you?
The fact that Jesus made friends with people like Matthew is all the more surprising in this context.
He shaped their lives by including them in his tale.
As Matthew himself reported his interaction with Jesus, we have the following.
“Follow me and become one of my disciples,” Jesus instructed him.
The following night, Matthew hosted a supper party for Jesus and his followers in his house, along with a large number of tax collectors and other unsavory offenders.
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people do not require the services of a physician; ill people do.” Then he went on to say, “Get to know the significance of the following passage from the Bible: ‘I want you to demonstrate kindness, not give sacrifices.’ Rather than calling those who believe they are virtuous, I have come to call those who are aware of their own guilt and sin.” (Matthew 9:9–13, new translation) It is important to note that Jesus did not provide Matthew with an application to complete.
- For the first three months, he did not place him on probation.
- Moreover, he did not even guide him through the sinner’s prayer.
- Jesus, are you serious?
- What makes you think this gangster is qualified to be your disciple?
- A textbook sinner, Matthew the would-be Roman was the definition of wickedness, and he served as a model for those who would one day be brought before the judgment seat of the Messiah.
- And Matthew was right after him.
- We read it so fast and carelessly at times, but when you take the time to comprehend who this man was, the consequences are mind-boggling to contemplate.
“How come your instructor eats with such scum?” they inquired of him (verse 11 NLT).
When a celebrity or high-profile person speaks about Jesus these days, religious people often respond with outright hostility.
Have you seen his music videos?
Plus, he’s married for the third time!
He can’t possibly understand what God is like.” They frequently use Bible texts that appear to support their judgemental posture – verses about fruit, verses about purity, and, more often than not, verses about damnation.
As for the need for holiness, I understand it.
I’m joking, of course, but my point is serious.
Jesus went out of his way to befriend a notorious criminal.
If it doesn’t fit into our current paradigm, we’ll need to find a new one.
People’s ability to follow Jesus can be made more difficult by us at times.
Someone who is just beginning to follow Jesus will not have the faith, actions, or vocabulary of someone who has been in a relationship with Jesus for years, and this is something we should not expect.
Someone approached me after I finished preaching at a church a few weeks ago and said hello.
He spoke out in a loud voice, “That was just incredible, guy!
It was the most wonderful praise I’d ever received.
The fact that he was completely unaware of what he was doing was my favorite part.
He was completely unaware that the F-word is not normally spoken in church.
In religious circles, people tend to search for external indicators that we are qualified to serve God, yet Jesus repeatedly shatters this paradigm in his teachings.
He locates us and invites us to follow him wherever he goes.
And it’s for this reason that I believe Matthew’s story is such an excellent illustration of Jesus’ teachings.
Rich Wilkerson owns the copyright to this work.
All intellectual property rights are retained.
The publisher has granted permission for this excerpt to be reproduced or reprinted in its entirety without written permission from the author. Unless otherwise specified, excerpts from this website are offered purely for the personal use of users to this website by Dial-A-Book Inc.
Friend of Sinners: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfec.
| Authors: | Wilkerson Jr., Rich |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Thomas Nelson |
| BISAC/Subject: | REL012120,REL012040,REL012070,REL067040 |
| ISBN: | 9780718032715,Related ISBNs:025986095703, 0310095700, 0718032705, 0718032713, 1400207975 |
| Classification: | Non-Fiction |
| Number of pages: | 240, |
| Audience: | General/trade |
Pastor and author Rich Wilkerson Jr. sheds a light on every Christian’s responsibility to reach the world, seek out the lost, and redeem sinners with the shocking message of the gospel of grace, which Jesus preached on the cross. Every student membership to LightSail gives access to up to 6,000 high-interest, Lexile-aligned book titles as part of the package. Individual copies of other titles are also available for purchase.
Watch the power of
Students Must Be Immediately Engaged Classrooms are reading in minutes because to the simple and easy design. Increase your reading time by orders of magnitude. Students like the LightSail experience and naturally spend more time reading as a result of their participation. Increase the rate of literacy development. Students who read 25 minutes a day on LightSail have Lexile progress equivalent to two years or more in a single year. LightSail Education is a complete Lexile Rand standards-aligned literacy platform and digital e-book library that includes a comprehensive digital e-book collection.
LightSail provides a 2,000 or 6,000 title bundle with its student memberships, depending on the subscription level.
Friend of Sinners Study Guide: Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship.
| Authors: | Wilkerson Jr., Rich |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperChristian Resources,Thomas Nelson |
| BISAC/Subject: | REL012120,REL067000,REL012070 |
| ISBN: | 9780310095712,Related ISBNs:025986095710, 025986095727, 0310095719, 0310095727, 9780310095712 |
| Classification: | Non-Fiction |
| Number of pages: | 112, |
| Audience: | General/trade |
Rich Wilkerson, Jr. shines a spotlight on every Christian’s calling to reach the world, seek the lost, and redeem sinners with the shocking truth of Jesus’ gospel of love in this five-session video study. Synopsis: Every student membership to LightSail gives access to up to 6,000 high-interest, Lexile-aligned book titles as part of the package. Individual copies of other titles are also available for purchase.
Watch the power of
Students Must Be Immediately Engaged Classrooms are reading in minutes because to the simple and easy design. Increase your reading time by orders of magnitude. Students like the LightSail experience and naturally spend more time reading as a result of their participation. Increase the rate of literacy development. Students who read 25 minutes a day on LightSail have Lexile progress equivalent to two years or more in a single year. LightSail Education is a complete Lexile Rand standards-aligned literacy platform and digital e-book library that includes a comprehensive digital e-book collection.
LightSail provides a 2,000 or 6,000 title bundle with its student memberships, depending on the subscription level.
Friend of Sinners (Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection)
Rich Wilkerson Jr., a pastor and author, sheds a light on every Christian’s responsibility to reach the world, seek the lost, and redeem sinners with Jesus’ shocking message of the gospel of grace, which he calls “the gospel of grace.” The Bible refers to Jesus as a sinner’s best friend. What exactly does this mean? In Friend of Sinners, Rich Wilkerson Jr. demonstrates to readers the tremendous ramifications of the fact that Jesus calls us friends not because of who we are or what we have done, but because of who he is: Jesus calls us friends because of who he is.
- He realized that the force inside him was bigger than the evil surrounding him, and as a result, he loved without reservation.
- It is impossible to overstate the importance of his message of scandalous grace.
- It is currently available in paperback under the title Friend of Sinners (Why Jesus Cares More About Relationship Than Perfection), written by Rich Wilkerson Jr.
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Friend of Sinners by Rich Wilkerson (Jr)
People needed to feel like they belonged before they would want to behave. Jesus understood this. Dr. Rich Wilkerson Jr., pastor and author, emphasizes God’s call to every Christian to follow Jesus’ example by going out to the world, finding the lost, and changing sinners with the shocking gospel of grace! Rich Wilkerson Jr., a pastor and author, sheds a light on every Christian’s responsibility to reach the world, seek the lost, and redeem sinners with Jesus’ shocking message of the gospel of grace, which he calls “the gospel of grace.” The Bible refers to Jesus as a sinner’s best friend.
In Friend of Sinners, Rich Wilkerson Jr.
While he was on this planet, he realized that individuals needed to feel like they belonged before they would desire to act properly.
By following his lead, we may have the same strong convictions and compassion for the unfortunate as he had for those who had lost their lives.
Embracing the reality that we all need Jesus equally and placing our confidence in him to bring transformation to people’s hearts will enable us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and to see the glory of God in our own lives and those around us.