Title

Who Is Drawn To Your Church?

Scripture
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
(Luke 15:1)
Devotional
Think about the people who were drawn to Jesus: the poor, the outcast, the sick, the mentally and physically infirmed, the demon-possessed, the worldly sinners. Most of the religious that came to Christ came judging or condemning Him and His ministry. There were a few who came honestly questioning, such as Nicodemus, (1) but for the most part it was the tax collectors and the sinners that drew near to hear Him.
We need to ask, who comes to hear Him at my church? Does He speak there? I am afraid that many of our churches are filled with those found in verse two of our text, "The Pharisees and scribes (who) complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them.'"(2) The Bible strongly indicates and I am personally convinced that if Christ is lifted up and glorified in the Church, He will draw all people to Himself. (3) Let's look around and ask, "Who is welcome to my church?" Who is being drawn to Christ?

(1) John 3:1, (2) Luke 15:2, (3) John 12:32
Thought For The Night
“Now, while the instruments play, please shake hands with two people who aren't in your clique.” Cartoonist Bret Legg, Leadership Magazine
 
Evening Text
Luke 15:1: Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
 
Looking for Answers
Evening Study Guide
Defining:  We are to reach out to those in need of the Savior. “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,” Acts 10:34 KJV.
 
Referencing: “The Son of Man… ‘a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children,” Luke 7:34-35.
 
Applying: We, by our old nature, are drawn toward those who are pleasing to our senses: the beautiful, the kind, and the wealthy. Our new nature should in like manner be drawn toward the homely, that nasty neighbor, and the poor. These attributes do not make a person evil or good, they simply make them people who need the Lord. Be no respecter of persons, and reach out to those in need of Christ.