Send me a text message.

Sermon Title: The Day Grace Came to My Table

Big Idea: The grace of Jesus isn’t reserved for the worthy, it’s extended to the undeserving. Matthew’s story reminds us that when grace shows up, it changes your seat, your story, and your view of others.

I. Grace Finds You Where You Are

“He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth...” (v.9)

• Jesus sees Matthew in his sin, not after he cleans up.
• Grace is the unmerited favor of God. His loving initiative to reach out, forgive, and restore sinners, not because of their worthiness, but because of His own mercy and purpose.
• Tax collectors were sellouts profiting off their own people under Roman rule.
• But grace doesn’t wait at the temple it walks into your workplace.
• Punchline: “Jesus didn’t die for the cleaned-up version of you.”

II. Grace Doesn’t Just Forgive You. It Repositions You
“Follow me. And he rose and followed him.” (v.9)

• “Follow Me” isn’t just about direction… it’s about identity.
• In one moment, Matthew goes from collecting for Caesar to walking with Christ.
• He left the table of the empire for the table of the Kingdom.

The call wasn’t conditional. It was catalytic.

Forgiveness that doesn’t lead to transformation or discipleship is “cheap grace.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer in The Cost of Discipleship…

Cheap grace is:

“Grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” – Bonhoeffer

• It desires forgiveness without repentance.
• It seeks comfort without conviction.
• It tells people they’re “saved” but doesn’t call them to follow.

Costly grace is:

“Is the gospel which must be sought again and again… It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.”

• It begins with forgiveness, but moves into transformation.
• It involves denying self…taking up the cross and actually following like Matthew did.

"The grace that calls you will also move you."

III. Grace Makes Space for the Unlikely

“As Jesus reclined at table… many tax collectors and sinners came…” (v.10)

• Matthew didn’t just follow, he hosted.
• He throws a party for people like him because grace throws open the doors.
• Jesus didn’t just “allow” these people in. He was comfortable with them.

Reclining was intimate, not formal

In first-century Jewish culture:

• To recline at the table wasn’t casual. It was communal.
• It symbolized acceptance, peace, and friendship (not just tolerance).
• You didn’t recline with people you found unclean, awkward, or beneath you.

This is not condoning the sin! It means he loves you so much, that he will get in it to lead you out of it.

The Pharisees were confused because grace disrupts religious gatekeeping.

IV. Grace Rebukes the Self-Righteous and Heals the Sick
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick...” (v.12)
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice...” (v.13)

• Jesus flips the Pharisees' critique into a classroom.
• They know the scriptures, but they don’t know the heart of God.
• Grace is not just about forgiveness; it’s about healing, restoring, and rewiring the soul.

Tim Keller: “The gospel is not for the morally upright. It’s for those who finally admit they’re not.”

Support the show

Contact Charlie

Instagram: DM me @thecharliemitchell

Thank you for listening!

May you be covered in His dust.

Send me a text message.

READ Part 5: Scripture Shapes Reality, Not the Other Way Around
Podcast: The Charlie Mitchell Teachings Podcast
Series: READ – Rediscovering the Power of Scripture
Episode: 4 of 5

Scripture References:

• Romans 12:1-2
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• 1 Samuel 3
• Psalm 1
• John 1
• Mark 4

Episode Summary:

This week, we move deeper into our READ series with a challenging question: What is shaping your reality, God’s Word or everything else?

In this episode, Pastor Charlie dives into the power of Scripture not just to inform, but to form. To reshape your inner world. To create resistance to the default settings of culture, trauma, or algorithm-fed identity.

If Romans 12 says we’re either being conformed to the world or transformed by the renewing of our minds, then reading the Word isn’t just for inspiration, it’s for reformation.

This message unpacks:

• Why reading Scripture daily is how we stay woke to reality
• How God’s Word forms you at the subconscious level
• The difference between biblical reading and social media scrolling
• The danger of information without formation
• Why formation requires repetition, meditation, and submission
• What it means to "become the good soil" from Mark 4

Key Quote:

“Most of us aren’t formed by the Bible. We’re informed by it, but formed by the timeline.”

Action Steps:

• Identify your current sources of formation (screens, habits, music, etc.)
• Commit to 15 uninterrupted minutes with Scripture every morning this week
• Ask: What is God trying to form in me through this Word today?

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 12:1-2 - Bible Gateway
• Mark 4: The Parable of the Sower
• Join the mailing list at BeMaroon.com for more teaching and tools

Support the Work:
If this episode blessed you, share it with a friend and leave a rating. You can also support the work of Maroon House and Charlie Mitchell Teachings by becoming a monthly partner here.

Support the show

Contact Charlie

Instagram: DM me @thecharliemitchell

Thank you for listening!

May you be covered in His dust.

Send me a text message.

How Reading the Bible Transforms Your Life

Episode Overview:

In this message, Pastor Charlie Mitchell explores how the Bible is not just for reading—it’s for transformation. Using Romans 12:1-2 as the foundation, he unpacks how our habits, culture, and surroundings constantly shape us, often without us even realizing it. But through intentional engagement with Scripture, we can be formed into the image of Jesus and participate in God’s story of redemption.

Key Takeaways:

1. Your Lifestyle is Your Worship

• Romans 12:1 – Our everyday lives—our habits, conversations, and actions—reflect our response to God.

• Worship isn’t just about Sunday services; it’s about how we live daily.

• Just as powerful stories draw us in, the Bible calls us to step into God’s story and live it out.

2. The World is Shaping You—Whether You Realize It or Not

• Romans 12:2a – “Do not be conformed to this age.”

• The culture around us is constantly shaping our identity, beliefs, and behaviors.

• Our habits, communities, and environments form us, often making us unknowingly reflect the world instead of Jesus.

3. Reading the Bible is Counter-Formation

• The Bible actively pushes against the mold of the world, reshaping us into Jesus’ image.

• Luke 6:39-40 – “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

• The goal isn’t just to read Scripture but to be shaped by it, just as Jesus was.

4. Transformation Requires Renewing Your Mind

• Romans 12:2b – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

• True transformation is an ongoing process that involves changing our thoughts, desires, and behaviors.

• Reading the Bible isn’t just about gaining knowledge—it’s about changing who we are.

5. The Bible is the Primary Force of Transformation in Your Life

• Dallas Willard: “We come to the Scripture as part of our conscious strategy to cooperate with God for the full redemption of our life.”

• The Scriptures help us resist the cultural tide and allow God to reshape our identity and purpose.

• If we allow life to passively shape us, we’ll drift away from Jesus. Instead, we must intentionally immerse ourselves in the Word.

Practical Steps for Transformation:

1. Commit to a Daily Bible Reading Habit – Set a specific time each day to engage with Scripture.

2. Surround Yourself with People Who Point You to Jesus – Your community shapes you more than you realize.

3. Evaluate Your Habits – Are they forming you into the image of Christ or the world?

4. Be Intentional About Who and What Influences You – Social media, TV, and conversations all shape your thinking.

5. Pray for Transformation – Ask God to renew your mind and help you embody His Word in daily life.

Final Thoughts:

The will of God isn’t a mystery—it’s that we become more like Jesus. But we can’t discern God’s will if we aren’t submitted to His Word. The Bible is more than a book; it’s an invitation to transformation.

Subscribe & Share:

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Charlie Mitchell Teachings Podcast and share it with someone looking to deepen their faith.

Follow Pastor Charlie for More Content:

📍 YouTube.com/thecharliemitchell

📍 www.bemaroon.com

Support the show

Contact Charlie

Instagram: DM me @thecharliemitchell

Thank you for listening!

May you be covered in His dust.