Video: What a connection! That’s what you call a healthy relationship between a father and a son. There are a lot of people that would have written that young man off based on his inadequacies and handicaps. Some of us would have easily assumed that he would be incapable of sharing in a relationship.
Have you known someone with a judgmental attitude about what others deserve or don’t deserve? Or closer to home, do you have a judgmental attitude about what other people deserve or don’t deserve?
Have you been approached by persons at intersections or on sidewalks begging for money? When the beggar flashed his “Will Work for Food” sign in your face, did you think, “This guy doesn’t deserve my hard-earned money”? Most of us look for the Cadillac parked around the corner. The last thing we want to do is try to make a connection with them.
Or, perhaps some coworker got a raise, a bonus, or a promotion, and you thought, “What did she do to deserve such attention? Why not me?” Most of us have had such thoughts. Have you ever asked yourself the soul-searching question: “What in the world did I ever do to deserve the countless blessings of God in my life? And what did I ever do to deserve the bountiful blessings of my hard-earned salvation through the crucifixion of His precious Son?” Why did God want to connect with me so badly? The simple answer is: I don’t deserve the blessings of God in my life, and I especially don’t deserve the great blessing of salvation.
As Christians, we often sing songs declaring how we want to be like Christ, yet we tend to forget that to be like Christ is to be “full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 declares: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth”.
In other words, God expects us to extend grace and mercy to those who seemingly don’t deserve them, because the truth is, we don’t deserve them any more than they do.
No wonder one of the most beloved songs of Christianity was written by John Newton, a former slave trader who referred to himself as an “infidel.” The lyric goes, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” When placed alongside God’s amazing grace, the truth is, we’re all undeserving .
The Bible is full of miserable and undeserving people, who God in His amazing grace and great love, reached out to. One great fact I am thankful for is that “God is God and I am not.” Another great fact I’m thankful for is that “God is God and you are not.” Throughout God’s Word, we see Him blessing people who would have lived and died accursed if it were left to you or me. Today, let’s take a close look at three individuals from the pages of the Bible we would surely label “losers” Let’s focus on these seemingly undeserving people, who were the surprise recipients of God’s great love, and who surely became unlikely icons of God’s amazing grace. As we consider these three characters, remember: God provides new beginnings for undeserving people! God gives grace to the undeserving:
Without doubt, our God is the God of the underdog. In fact, our God tends to delight in offering His holy blessings to those who seemingly are the most undeserving, and in so doing, God often confounds religious people who mistakenly think they are somehow more deserving of His favor. Let’s meet three undeserving people who received an undeserved connection and relationship with God. 
Case Study One – Jacob
The first of our lineup who received undeserved blessings is Jacob. Jacob’s life story unfolds before us in the Old Testament book of Genesis chapters 25, 27, and 28.
(Rather than reading the whole passage, quickly highlight the story and tell it spontaneously for the greatest effectiveness, making commentary about Jacob’s undeserving qualities such as deceitfulness and deceit as you go.)
The point is, Jacob was very undeserving person who received a blessing from the Father, and who finally turned from rebellion to a right relationship with the Lord. 
Case Study Two – The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-32. ( Spontaneously add commentary about the Prodigal Son’s undeserving qualities such as selfishness and irresponsibility as you go.)
The point is: the Prodigal Son received a blessing from his father, and finally turned from his rebellion to obedience and humility. 
Case Study Three – The Dying Thief
As Jesus was crucified, we are introduced to the Dying Thief, a hardened criminal seeking mercy as he suffers the death penalty for his wrongs. We find the story in Luke 23:39-43.
(Read Luke 23:39-43 and spontaneously add commentary about the Dying Thief’s undeserving qualities such as thievery and godlessness.) “39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[f]"
43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
The point is: the Dying Thief received a blessing from God in his final breaths, and finally turned from his rebellion to a right relationship with Jesus.
A Question
I have a question for us to ponder about God’s blessings. Can God pour out His blessings better through rebellious people, who finally humble themselves in real repentance than through religious people, who automatically see themselves as somehow already qualified to receive God’s blessings?
An Answer
In Luke 18:10-14 10Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
13But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
14I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
When it comes to authentic stewardship and living lives under the lordship of Jesus Christ, the one word that comes closest to distinguishing genuine godly people from those faking faithfulness is relationship! A right relationship with God is the lordship litmus test.
We may say, “We really trust God,” but stewardship or lordship asks another question: “Can God really trust us?” The proof is in the power of a personal relationship with God’s Son.
Let me define the three words we’re trying to understand today: rebellion, religion, and relationship. Rebellion is shaking a fist in God’s face. Religion is climbing the ladder of self-righteousness believing we will meet God at the top. Relationship is God coming down the ladder in the person of His Son and meeting us at the bottom rung where we’ve humbled ourselves.
To follow Christ and His example we must also turn toward others and be willing to build a relationship with them. Sometimes it will be someone who is most unlike us. It may be someone who stretches us beyond our comfort zone. There is no room for selfishness in Christ following or being an authentic Christian. So how does this play out in our lives? What does it mean for me regarding stewardship? It means that you and I must practice connecting with others both inside and outside the walls of this building.
What we believe and embrace as a church
We are designed for relationship. God has chosen to have a relationship with us and now we have to choose to have a relationship with others who are just as needy as we were.
For the church this simply means that we live by our mission statement.
It means that we intentionally connect with the people around us.
It means that we do whatever it takes to build relationships.
It means we participate in small groups to experience community. (reiterate the way pastoral care and community works in our church.)
It means we do outreach as a means to build relationships.
It means we engage our time and talents, touch and treasure in the work that God has called us to do.
We do all of this in return for the relationship that Christ has with us. HE reached out to connect with us and now as good stewards and recipients of this gift we reach out to others.
In an article in Focus on the Family magazine, author Stu Weber illustrates the need for a Christian "buddy" to help us survive the tough times. The article looked back on the year 1967. The war in Vietnam was building to its peak, and one stop for young army officers was the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning. A tough, battle tested sergeant stood before the young, anxious recruits.
The sergeant told them that the next nine weeks would be the toughest they had ever experienced. The sergeant said many wouldn’t make the grade--it was just too tough.
The sergeant talked about the war that was going on in Vietnam and he talked about killing and death. He talked about how training was tough because it was designed to save lives – the lives of the American soldiers. And he said he was going to do that by making them face their greatest fears, overcome their weaknesses and endure what they never dreamed possible.
Then the sergeant announced that they were about to start with step one.
There was a pause, and all the soldiers feared the worst about what step one might be. But they were surprised with its simplicity.
He told the soldiers to find a buddy.
"This is step one," the sergeant growled. "You need to find yourself a Ranger buddy. You will stick together. You will never leave each other. You will encourage each other, and, as necessary, you will carry each other. [Source Note: Stu Weber, "Some One to Lean On" Focus on the Family Magazine (June 1996).]
That sergeant could have been reading from St. Paul’s writings to the Galatians -- "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
Or maybe he was reading from the New Testament letter to the Philippians, Paul said, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)
Or perhaps the sergeant had read from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon in his wisdom made this observation: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
There are many kinds of communities. Fraternal Organizations abound. Groups like Rotary, Kiwanis; Lions; Jaycee’s; and the Masons. Even Fred Flintstone was part of the “Water Buffaloes”. There are many Local Clubs and Youth Gangs - all of which have community. Even prisons become communities.
In a small town in Iowa, a lonely 76-year-old ex-convict demanded two $50 bills from a bank teller and then announced he would be outside in his car smoking a cigarette -- waiting to be returned to prison.Bank employees were not sure he was serious, but they gave him the money. As Stewart left the bank, he said he would be in his car, smoking a cigarette, which is where police found him.Stewart said he had no family and wanted to go back to federal prison.
Prison is a poor substitute for real community! Youth Gangs are a poor substitute for real community. And even positive groups like some of our social organizations fall short of the fellowship found in the church.
JACKIE ROBINSON was the first African American to play baseball in the major leagues. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced hostile crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to jeer him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the crowd booed. Then, without saying a word, shortstop Pee Wee Reese went over and stood next to Jackie. He put his arm around him and faced the crowd. Suddenly the fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that that arm around his shoulder saved his career.
Have you come alongside anyone lately? Has God come alongside of you? We were designed for relationship. We were created to connect. First to God and then to others. We were designed to love others as God loves us. To reach out to others by displaying grace and love.