Me and My Gang
In this series we will look a the kind of people Jesus likes to hang out with. We need look no further than the flawed but friendly disciples of Jesus Christ to understand exactly how God views each of us. Often we think that to be a part of Jesus’ gang, we have to earn His respect and clean up our ways. However, as we look at the people that God chose to be in His inner circle, we get an idea of God’s grace and His New Covenant with us that is based not on what we can do for Him, but rather on what He has done, and desires to continue to do, for each of us as we choose to be a part of His gang.

  • April 19 – Me and My Crooked CPA -- Outline
Of all the people that Jesus could invite to join His gang, Matthew, a tax collector, would be the least likely. Not only was he hated by most of the culture around him, but he also hung out with a pretty tough gang. A couple of truths come out of this choice of friend for Jesus. First, Jesus meets us right where we are. And the second truth is that Jesus wants to hang with everyone who is real about their lives. Jesus doesn’t even bother with those of us who think we have it all together, for we are too blind to see that we need Him and His friendship.

  • April 26 – Me and My Pessimist -- Outline
Jesus had in his gang had a pessimist named Thomas. The few times we get to see this guy in action in the New Testament, he is always seeing the glass half empty. Jesus did not have to invite Thomas to be with Him and His Gang and yet He did. Jesus loves to have pessimists and skeptics in His gang. The beauty of Thomas was that he was authentic and honest. He had true doubts and questions. He even worried that bad things would happen by following Jesus. And Jesus had room for him. Jesus loves the authentic person who questions everything about Him and His Gospel, for Jesus knows that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Question God all you want, but do it honestly and genuinely.

  • May 3 – Me and My Angry Commuter -- Outline
As we look into the Bible, we find Peter right in the middle of Jesus’ gang. Peter was a speak first, ask questions later kind of guy. He probably had a pretty colorful vocabulary if you crossed him. Peter remains a pretty brash, passionate, speak your mind, no nonsense kind of good ol’ boy the whole time he is with Jesus. And Jesus never once asks him to change who he is. Peter shows us that Jesus does not count our mistakes or our ignorance against us. Peter made one of the biggest mistakes of all – denying that he knew Jesus three times. And yet Jesus accepts Peter in the midst of that betrayal and does not hold it against him. God continually tells us if we choose to be in the gang, we are not condemned for our mistakes, but forgiven.

  • May 10 – Me and My Women -(Mp3 not available)- Outline
Jesus is the first leader in history that included women in His gang and elevated their status from that of property to be used or worked for the good of men, to humans of equality with similar gifts to men and great strengths that allow for the feminine balance to the masculine perspective. We will celebrate Mary and Martha and the woman taken in adultery, and Jesus’ own mother, Mary.