Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Introduction:
Paradigm shifts:
Paradigm shift, is the term first used by Thomas Kuhn in his influential 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions to describe a change in basic assumptions within the ruling theory of science. It is in contrast to his idea of normal science.  Since this time the term has been used in non-scientific contexts and widely applied to many other realms of human experience
“A paradigm is what members of a given community share in their assumptions and beliefs that determine how they live and expect others to live.”
It is how they see and evaluate themselves, those around them and the world.
There are a number of competing
A revolution begins to occur when we encounter anomalies which cannot be explained by our previously held or accepted paradigm .  These “anomalies may be ignored or brushed aside and not dealt with.
But progress or growth cannot be made until we “see” and “understand these anomalies and adjust our thinking to them.   We must adjust our  worldview  to this information  and allow the implications to impact our lives.
When enough significant anomalies have accrued against a current paradigm, the scientific discipline is thrown into a state of crisis, according to Kuhn. During this crisis, new ideas, perhaps ones previously discarded, are tried. Eventually a new paradigm is formed, which gains its own new followers, and an intellectual “battle” takes place between the followers of the new paradigm and the hold-outs of the old paradigm.
Let me illustrate!
The piezoelectric properties of quartz were discovered by Jacques and Pierre Curie in 1880. The first quartz crystal oscillator was built by Walter G. Cady in 1921. In 1923, D. W. Dye at the National Physical Laboratory in the UK and Warren Marrison at Bell Telephone Laboratories produced sequences of precision time signals with quartz oscillators. In 1927 the first quartz clock was built by Warren Marrison and J.W. Horton at Bell Telephone Laboratories.[2][3] The next 3 decades saw the development of quartz clocks as precision time standards in laboratory settings; the bulky delicate counting electronics, built with vacuum tubes, limited their use elsewhere. In 1932 a quartz clock was able to measure tiny weekly variations in the rotation rate of the Earth.[4] The National Bureau of Standards based the time standard of the US on quartz clocks between the 1930s and the 1960s, when it went to atomic clocks.  The wider use of quartz clock technology had to await the development of cheap semiconductor digital logic in the 60s.
The world’s first analog quartz wristwatches were developed in 1967: the Beta 21 revealed by the Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH) in Neuchâtel Switzerland.
In 1969, Seiko produced the world’s first quartz wristwatch, the Astron.[7] The inherent accuracy and low cost of production has resulted in the proliferation of quartz clocks and watches since that time.  Quartz timepiece production has emerged most notably in Hong Kong and Japan. Many traditional European clockmakers, particularly in Switzerland, Germany, France and Russia have continued to produce the less-accurate but still-popular geared timepieces.
Luke 5:27-32 is just such a paradigm shift!
Luke 5:27-32 “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.”" NIV
This passage challenges our commonly held views and practices!
Let’s take a look!
1.    Jesus associated with non-religious people!
Jesus…
“Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him.”
“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.”" NIV
Levi was a custom-house official.
Two types of revenue collectors:
1.  Tax collector: collected real estate and income taxes and the poll tax.
2.  Custom house official: duty on imports, exports, toll variable taxes on an unlimited variety of things with much abuse and graft.
Associated with oppression and injustice.
Jews who worked directly with the heathens of Rome.  He sat in the Roman custom-house at the cross-roads between countries and at the port between the domains of Antipas and Philip.
Matthew would be lumped together with prostitutes, gamblers, thieves and dishonest businessmen who lived hard and lawless lives.  He would be viewed as a licensed robber.
According to the religious leads of his day there would be no hope for him and he was excluded from all religious fellowship.  He was viewed as unclean and unfit.
But Jesus initiated this relationship and called Matthew to follow him.
Jesus does not merely forgive sinners.  He actively associates with them.  He calls sinners to repentance and to share in his mission of reaching out to irreligious people!  Christ delights in transforming those others viewed as irredeemable.
The Pharisees…
Complained
Their view of what God required of them was separation not only from sin but from sinners.
1 Corinthians 5:9-10 “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.” NIV
Christ’s  life demands a shift in our thinking!
Luke 5:32 “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”" NIV
HIS MISSION STATEMENT!  Jesus reached out to all types of needy people.
The down and outers.
The up and outers.
Those with religious and political status (Nicodemous)
Those who were rejected and the objects of social gossip.
Those who were unclean and untouchable.
Many religious people think we have to choose absolute separation if one
The tragedy is that for so many Christians, the longer they are believers the narrower their circle of friends becomes.
There was no compromise in his life!  They said there was!
Matthew 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”" NIV
Luke 7:34 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”‘” NIV
Genuine friendship!  Christ brought sinners to God through genuine friendship!
Luke 7:36-50
Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”" NIV
Luke 4:18-19 “”The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”" NIV
John 3:17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” NIV
John 20:21 “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”" NIV

2.    Matthew left everything and followed him

Matthew instantaneously and comprehensively decided to follow Christ.
The primary relationship for Matthew became his relationship with Christ.
3.    Matthew threw a party to introduce his friends to Christ.
Jesus had a different way of doing things!  “Why do you do things differently?
Luke 7:36-50
John 2:1-2 “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, “and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.” NIV
Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” NIV
Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”" NIV
Luke 10:17 “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”" NIV
Revelation 19:7-10 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” NIV
Apps:
1.    What is the “signature” of my personal demeanor?
2.    Ever thought about throwing a party for Jesus?
Christmas tea?
Super Bowl party.
Steak feed.
3.    What do you think about Oakbrook throwing a party for the subcontractors and our neighborhood?