Sep. 4/5, 2022
· Scripture Luke 18:9-14 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
· Thank you God that I am not like this Pharisee…
· “He comes to God desiring only to improve his relationship with God.”
· Hilaskomai = Mercy, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Freedom
· Scripture Matthew 22:37-40 37… “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
· Scripture Luke 18:15-17 15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
· Childlike = Humility | Childish = Pride
· Childlike = Open to Correction | Childish = Hardened to Truth
· Childlike = Dependency on the Father | Childish = Dependency on Self
· Scripture Matthew 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
· Can I PLEASE have these 3 pop up on the same slide 1 at a time?
o Repent
o Rejoice
o Repeat
· Of these two, who do you want as a friend?
· Which of these two is a friend of God?
· Will you humble yourself?
Starter: It’s easy to read this parable and immediately want to relate to the Tax Collector, but in what ways do you relate to the pharisee?
1. Read Luke 18:9-17
2. What does it mean to be self-righteous?
3. Why is the tax collector justified?
4. What does Mercy look like?
5. How does God’s Mercy play out in your life?
6. What does a childlike faith look like to you? When is a time that you saw someone who had a childlike faith?
7. Of these two in the story, which one would you like to have as a friend? Why?
8. Which of these two is a friend of God?
