Luke 18:14 I 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."

What we learn from...

The Pharisee - Trusting in our ____________ ____________ is a breaking of the first commandment because we place _______________ before God.

The Tax Collector - God's ______________ is our only hope because we bring nothing to God but _____________.

Babies - God gives the kingdom to those who can offer _______________.

Scripture Readings
Genesis 4:1-14
2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Luke 18:9-17

Take It With You!

Here we will offer thoughts and meditations on the message to help us as we contemplate and discuss and wrestle with what we are hearing.

With this parable* Jesus gives us a much deeper concept of "sin" than any of us would have if he didn't supply it. Most people think of sin as failing to keep God's rules of conduct, but, while not less than that, Jesus' definition of sin goes beyond it.

In her novel Wise Blood, Flannery O'Connor says of her character Hazel Motes that "there was a deep, black, wordless conviction in him that the way to avoid Jesus was to avoid sin." This is a profound insight. you can avoid Jesus as Savior by keeping all the moral laws. If you do that, then you have "rights." God owes you answered prayers, and a good life, and a ticket to heaven when you die. You don't need a Savior who pardons you by free grace, for you are your own Savior.

...In the same way, religious people commonly live very moral lives, but their goal is to get leverage over God, to control him, to put him in a position where they think he owes them. Therefore, despite all their ethical fastidiousness and piety, they are actually rebelling against his authority. If...you believe that God ought to bless you and help you because you have worked so hard to obey him and be a good person, then Jesus maybe your helper, your example, even your inspiration, but he is not your Savior. You are serving as your own Savior.

Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God. pg. 37-38.

*Here, the author is talking about the parable of the prodigal son. However, the point applies to our parable just as well.