Outlaw Church
The Outlaw Jesus Christ: Week One
Who are we? We're Outlaws. Saddle Up! For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 This ministry was built to bring the gospel of Jesus to the unchurched, the needy, the broken, the hurt, and the unloved. We believe in ministering to people right where they are and simply show that Jesus loves them. Jesus was considered an outlaw to many. He didn't advance his ministry in a temple, he advanced it on the streets with those who needed to hear about Him. Jesus was crucified for speaking the truth that He was the Son of God. This is a true non-denominational, no-legalistic, no frills, all-about-Jesus ministry! What makes us different? We're trying to develop a Culture for the Kingdom! What To Expect A great worship experience full of jeans, shorts, skirts, suits, and whatever else people feel like wearing. We don't care what you wear, we just want you there. Expect a welcoming atmosphere where you will experience God for around 75 minutes. Our Vision An inclusive gathering of people committed to salvation and doing Christ's work in the world.
Locations & Times
Woodmen Life Building
239 New York St, Bristol, VA 24201, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
The Outlaw Jesus Christ
Week One
Jesus was an outlaw.
When I say this, what I’m really isolating is more cultural than state or federal laws. Jesus wasn’t a criminal, but he was treated like one. The laws I’m referring to are more or less Christian and that’s my point. I define an outlaw Christian as someone who is no longer willing to hide their grief, scars, questions, doubt, or anger from God or from each other. It’s on those particularly taboo topics that we need to break the law. I’m not saying let’s break all the laws, as the Bible clearly states to obey the laws of the land. The laws that I isolated- they are really, really hurting us and they’re damaging our lives. They result in shame, secrecy, and loneliness. And they’re not good for us.
If there is one Bible verse that sums up Outlaw Church, it’s Romans 6:14.
‘For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.’
What does that mean, under grace? It means
1-Jesus’ blood covers ALL sins.
Wait, did I say ALL sins? Yes, I certainly did. Jesus died as the ultimate sacrifice so that if we believe He is Lord and accept Him as our savior, we’ll be saved from death and eternal separation from God.
So, you may ask how His death makes Him an Outlaw? Let’s discuss a few instances of what made Him so controversial. Why did they want to kill him in the first place?
Jesus hung around on the edges of society in the rural areas coming into the city every now and again. He was seen somewhat as a drifter. He taught, performed miracles, and just generally upset the religious ministers and priests of His time.
2-Jesus changed everything!
· Jesus turned everything upside down.
· Jesus was a first century myth buster.
Some people love it when myths get busted, but some people simply refuse to hear the truth. They prefer ideas that are comfortable and popular and feel good emotionally. This was the state of mind of the religious when Jesus called them out. We see that a lot today: people who are so comfortable in their own beliefs that the sheer mention they could be wrong sends them into a panic.
Jesus didn’t come to save the priests; He came for the sinners. Remember the woman at the well? She asked Him why a Jew would even talk to her, a Samarian. He knew she wasn’t married and had had multiple husbands. He didn’t care about her sins up to that point. He told her to ‘Go and sin no more’. She believed in Him, called Him Lord, and He forgave her. What about the lepers? The blind? Jesus healed on the sabbath which ultimately led to His arrest and execution. He attracted the broken, the lost, and the hurt. The righteous in His time were jealous and angry someone could call themselves Son of God and savior.
He knew what was coming and yet He did it anyway. He healed. He led people to His father. He taught them all while knowing he was a lamb being led to the slaughter.
Matthew 26:55, CSB: "At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn't arrest me."
3-Jesus was an Outlaw.
Jesus knew the priests and religious people of the day saw him as dangerous. He knew they saw him as a radical and someone disrupting their rules and ways of doing things. Jesus was a social revolutionary. Jesus was breaking certain laws- religious laws. Jesus, He was helping people on the Sabbath. According to the law, that was not permitted, but Jesus questioned it: is this law that we’re following life-giving? Is it spiritually fruitful for human beings? In that incident, the answer was, well, Sabbath rest is important but not if someone is in trouble. We need to be helping them. Jesus called us to question. These instances prove Jesus was an outlaw. The church saw him as such, the rulers saw him as such, and the elite saw him as such. Do you know who didn’t? Those who followed him. Those who embraced His love and accepted His death as their salvation.
Jesus was an outlaw before birth. He died an outlaw. He died beside of two criminals not priests.
‘And when they came to the place called The Skull (or calvary), there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.’ – Luke 23:33 (NASB)
I want us to think of someone. Think of the person on earth you love the most. Would you die for them to save them? I’m going to let that hang in the air a minute.
Now, I want you to imagine Jesus, walking to the cross, the burden of splintered wood upon his back. His flesh torn to shreds. Every step taken He was mocked, spat upon, and cursed. Still, He died for the same people who tortured and killed Him. If He did that for those who didn’t love Him… just imagine. Imagine how much He loves you and me.
All He wants is a relationship with us. He wants us to know Him. To pray to Him. To trust in Him. To turn away from all the junk in our lives and let His blood wash us clean.
Week One
Jesus was an outlaw.
When I say this, what I’m really isolating is more cultural than state or federal laws. Jesus wasn’t a criminal, but he was treated like one. The laws I’m referring to are more or less Christian and that’s my point. I define an outlaw Christian as someone who is no longer willing to hide their grief, scars, questions, doubt, or anger from God or from each other. It’s on those particularly taboo topics that we need to break the law. I’m not saying let’s break all the laws, as the Bible clearly states to obey the laws of the land. The laws that I isolated- they are really, really hurting us and they’re damaging our lives. They result in shame, secrecy, and loneliness. And they’re not good for us.
If there is one Bible verse that sums up Outlaw Church, it’s Romans 6:14.
‘For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.’
What does that mean, under grace? It means
1-Jesus’ blood covers ALL sins.
Wait, did I say ALL sins? Yes, I certainly did. Jesus died as the ultimate sacrifice so that if we believe He is Lord and accept Him as our savior, we’ll be saved from death and eternal separation from God.
So, you may ask how His death makes Him an Outlaw? Let’s discuss a few instances of what made Him so controversial. Why did they want to kill him in the first place?
Jesus hung around on the edges of society in the rural areas coming into the city every now and again. He was seen somewhat as a drifter. He taught, performed miracles, and just generally upset the religious ministers and priests of His time.
2-Jesus changed everything!
· Jesus turned everything upside down.
· Jesus was a first century myth buster.
Some people love it when myths get busted, but some people simply refuse to hear the truth. They prefer ideas that are comfortable and popular and feel good emotionally. This was the state of mind of the religious when Jesus called them out. We see that a lot today: people who are so comfortable in their own beliefs that the sheer mention they could be wrong sends them into a panic.
Jesus didn’t come to save the priests; He came for the sinners. Remember the woman at the well? She asked Him why a Jew would even talk to her, a Samarian. He knew she wasn’t married and had had multiple husbands. He didn’t care about her sins up to that point. He told her to ‘Go and sin no more’. She believed in Him, called Him Lord, and He forgave her. What about the lepers? The blind? Jesus healed on the sabbath which ultimately led to His arrest and execution. He attracted the broken, the lost, and the hurt. The righteous in His time were jealous and angry someone could call themselves Son of God and savior.
He knew what was coming and yet He did it anyway. He healed. He led people to His father. He taught them all while knowing he was a lamb being led to the slaughter.
Matthew 26:55, CSB: "At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn't arrest me."
3-Jesus was an Outlaw.
Jesus knew the priests and religious people of the day saw him as dangerous. He knew they saw him as a radical and someone disrupting their rules and ways of doing things. Jesus was a social revolutionary. Jesus was breaking certain laws- religious laws. Jesus, He was helping people on the Sabbath. According to the law, that was not permitted, but Jesus questioned it: is this law that we’re following life-giving? Is it spiritually fruitful for human beings? In that incident, the answer was, well, Sabbath rest is important but not if someone is in trouble. We need to be helping them. Jesus called us to question. These instances prove Jesus was an outlaw. The church saw him as such, the rulers saw him as such, and the elite saw him as such. Do you know who didn’t? Those who followed him. Those who embraced His love and accepted His death as their salvation.
Jesus was an outlaw before birth. He died an outlaw. He died beside of two criminals not priests.
‘And when they came to the place called The Skull (or calvary), there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.’ – Luke 23:33 (NASB)
I want us to think of someone. Think of the person on earth you love the most. Would you die for them to save them? I’m going to let that hang in the air a minute.
Now, I want you to imagine Jesus, walking to the cross, the burden of splintered wood upon his back. His flesh torn to shreds. Every step taken He was mocked, spat upon, and cursed. Still, He died for the same people who tortured and killed Him. If He did that for those who didn’t love Him… just imagine. Imagine how much He loves you and me.
All He wants is a relationship with us. He wants us to know Him. To pray to Him. To trust in Him. To turn away from all the junk in our lives and let His blood wash us clean.