Shift into a Life of Adventure Real People (part 5) Get your head straight and shift into action mode. 1 Peter 1:13 WSV Major Adventure Takes Major Commitment After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’? Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:27-32 NIV, NLT * Take My Opportunity The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and to get the treasure, too! Matthew 13:44 NLT Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. Luke 19:6 NLT Another serious problem ... Riches are sometimes ...put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. ...People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born. Ecclesiastes 5:13-15 NLT * Assess My Starting Point I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough. Luke 5:32 NLT * Invite My Friends Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff? ...Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Matthew 9:10-1 Msg, Luke 5:30 NLT Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, “Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.” I didn't come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners. Matthew 9:13 CEV * Go for the Outstanding You are to stand out from the crowd in everything you get into. “Stand out as outstanding, like I do.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 WSV Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports. Out at sea you saw God in action, saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean... his impressive works on the deepest seas. Psalm 107:23-24 Msg NLT Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV Come along with me. Live My life. Matthew 9:9 Msg CPV God has put us together as Ridgewood to: Get Out the Good News Gladly Glorify God Grow More and More Godly Give Our Gifts Generously Gain Genuine Grace-Filled Friendships