MONEYBALL AND THE ODD GENERAL MANAGER

•    unconventional approach to picking players for team
•    mercy as Jesus chooses a “roster of misfits”

VALUABLE DISCIPLE, UNEXPECTED SOURCE

•    cost of following miracle-working Messiah great
•    tempted to look past or down on those society detests
•    Jesus saw Matthew - potential gospel-writer, not just tax-gatherer
•    to follow, Matthew had to leave lucrative profession behind
•    no going back for Elisha when called by Elijah

RELIGIOUS RESISTANCE TO “THE WRONG CROWD”

•    feasting with friends: Jesus wants your home for His pulpit
•    Pharisees (“separated ones”) wouldn’t associate with low-lifes
•    are we too “respectable” to become available to / friends with “rejects”?

MISSION OF MERCY: THE PERFECT NEED NOT APPLY

•    church a hospital for sinners, field hospital after battle
•    no one so healthy spiritually as to not need Great Physician’s care
•    mercy turns God’s crank more than burnt offerings
•    Paul “worst of sinners” yet shown mercy as an example for others
•    Jesus came into world to save/call sinners, not those trusting self-righteousness

A LITTLE NOISE BY GOD’S GRACE

•    notable success of Christian rapper Lecrae getting attention
•    reconstruct perspective: emptiness of drugs-sex-money-fame
•    music a tool helping others come to know God