Resetting the Bar

📖 Sermon — Accidental Pharisees, Week 3 (Mark 2:13–17)

Pastor Esther preaches on avoiding raising the bar higher than Jesus.

Main Question:

How do we avoid raising the bar higher than Jesus?

1️⃣ Recognize How High Your Bar Is

Everyone has standards—some good, some excessive. The Pharisees created standards so high that only the most devout could belong .

Modern parallels:

• “Sunday Christians” who are casual in faith

• Highly devoted Christians who look down on them (Esther admits she struggles with this)

• Standards based on lifestyle, education, politics, or appearance

Everyone has an “other”—people they avoid or exclude .

2️⃣ Know We Are All Sinners in Need of God

Jesus redefines “sinners” and “righteous”:

• Sinners = those who know they need God (positive)

• Righteous = the self‑righteous who think they don’t need saving (negative)

Key theological points:

• No good deed can earn God’s approval

• Faith itself is a gift from God

• Everyone breaks God’s law—no one is exempt

Example: A church member was appalled to see someone smoking after service. Jesus would say the church is for the sick, not the well .

3️⃣ Jesus Welcomes Outcasts First

Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a despised tax collector, before Levi repents or makes amends .

Why Levi responded immediately:

• He knew he needed saving

• He knew he was hated

• He knew he was sinful

Jesus welcomes:

• Tax collectors

• Sinners

• Outcasts

• People society rejects

And He calls them before they “clear the bar.”

4️⃣ Application: Welcome the Outcasts

Pastor Esther challenges the church:

• Identify one “other” in your life this week

• Do one concrete act of welcome (text, coffee, sit together, say hello)

• Don’t wait for them to meet your standards—Jesus didn’t wait for you

🌟 Main Point