Well, y'all just sang a mighty song full of truth.
! Let me just remind you of a verse of the song we just sang.
! It says this,
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven.
The future sure, the price it has been paid.
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon,
and he was raised to overthrow the grave.
To this I hold.
My sin has been defeated.
Jesus now and ever is my plea.
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing.
I am free, yet not I, but through Christ in me.
What does that truth do for those of us
who have embraced that truth and placed our faith in Christ
and enjoy the benefits of salvation?
What would you expect the life of those who have been truly saved to look like?
Those who have experienced God's answer to the biggest problems of life,
the biggest problem of life, I should say,
and that is our sin that leads to death and condemnation,
separation from God,
and through Jesus who took our sin on himself,
on the cross,
made a way for us to enjoy life with God
through salvation and forgiveness of Christ.
What should all of that do for us
in this life
as we come to terms with that reality?
If Jesus has taken care
of the biggest problem of life,
what would we expect him to do with the lesser things?
And if he has done that for us,
what would you expect the life of believers to look like?
Wouldn't you expect it to look like
a life of confidence,
a life of peace,
a life of joy,
a life of rest,
a life of dependence on God
and not self-reliance?
This morning, Jesus is going to confront us
in that very space.
He's going to confront that very thing in us
that, by the way,
is natural to all of us.
It is this mantra that we hear
in our culture,
in our society,
trust yourself,
do it yourself,
make it happen,
you can pull this off.
And it shows up in the little things,
it shows up in the big things,
and so, you know,
I wonder,
if you're honest with yourself,
like me,
how many of us wake up
breathless?
We anticipate
the things that are going to happen
in the day,
or maybe we collapse
into bed at night
and we are just exhausted
and we wake up,
we're still exhausted
because as we anticipate
what's coming,
we know we have to pull this off
another day.
At least that's what we're taught.
There is built in
to the rhythms
of life
this sense
that we need
to make it happen.
Even this morning,
I took my shower,
I was standing
there at the mirror
and this deep sigh
that I gave
and my wife says,
how you doing?
I'm like,
you know,
this morning,
I'm supposed to be preaching
on how the gospel
destroys
and removes
self-reliance
and here I am,
I'm feeling
the weight
of having to
carry this
on my own.
And so,
your pastor
needs this text
as much as anybody
in this room
because this is what
we've been taught.
This is what we've been
told to do.
It's built in
to the philosophers
of this world.
It's inescapable.
Like,
for example,
the slogan,
just do it.
That's our philosopher.
Nike.
Or,
how about
even our
hardware stores
that are
that are named
do it best?
Or,
how about
Home Depot
which is
doers
get more done?
Or,
Lowe's
that says
never stop improving?
Or,
Burger King
that says
have it your way.
This is what
we've been fed.
This is how we
are supposed to live.
And this is
the pressure
that we feel
we have to carry.
It's built in.
It seeps
in
to every
part of life
wherever you go.
This idea
that you have to
pull it off
another day.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
in his book
all the way back
in the 1800s
and his philosophy
is carried on
into today.
His book
called
Self-Reliance.
And in this book
he says
trust yourself.
He also says
insist
on yourself.
Never imitate.
Or his contemporary
Henry David Thoreau
which he says
go confidently
in the direction
of your dreams.
Live the life
you have imagined.
Or even
Nietzsche
the German philosopher
in the 1800s
says
no one can build
you the bridge
on which you
and only you
must cross
the river
of life.
If you want to
live this life
it depends
on you.
You've got
to make it happen.
And this has been
this has been
the history
of the world
since the very
beginning.
You can be like
God's.
You can
make it happen.
You can be
just like God.
Just eat that fruit.
It can
make you
just like him.
You can pull it off.
You don't need
God anyway.
These self-help books
according to
a study
the self-help
industry
has exploded
in recent years
so that
from 2013
to 2019
it grew
by 11%.
And then
in just
one year
from 2020
to 2021
it grew
20%.
This self-help
book
this self-help
era
that we're living in.
The do-it-yourself
culture
that permeates
every part
of life
and that's
exactly
what Jesus
is confronting
in our passage
today.
This idea
that we can
do it ourself.
You can pull it off.
You can make it happen.
So I'd encourage you
if you would
please turn
in your Bibles
to Luke chapter
18.
Luke chapter 18
we're going to be
starting in verse 9
we're moving our way
to verse 17.
If you're using
the Pew Bible
in front of you
it's on page
I think
877
Luke chapter 18
Here we're going
to find
through
through this passage
especially the first
group of verses
that Jesus
is going to
confront
a heart
of self-reliance.
Jesus
confronts
a heart
of self-reliance.
And so
my guess is
that everybody
in this room
this is
a message
for you.
It's a message
for you.
Look with me
in verse 9
I'm going to
read through
verse 14
as we jump
into our study
today.
It said
he also told
this parable
to some
who trusted
in themselves
that they were
righteous
and treated
others with
contempt.
Two men
went up
into the temple
to pray
one a Pharisee
the other
a tax collector
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
I fast
twice a week
I give tithes
of all that I get
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
I tell you
that 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
right at the
very beginning
of this
parable
this section
of scripture
Jesus
is helping
to address
a particular
issue
that Luke
brings out
into the
forefront
for us
so there's
no mystery
as to why
Jesus is
providing
this parable
he says
right there
at the beginning
he told
this parable
to some
who trusted
in themselves
Jesus is
going to
confront
this heart
of self
reliance
and he's
going to
begin
with a Pharisee
the self
reliant
Pharisee
is who
stands out
at the
very beginning
of our
view
he told
this parable
to those
who trusted
in themselves
the NIV
puts it
this way
to some
who were
confident
of their
own
righteousness
maybe that's
a better
rendition
a better
translation
because the
word trusted
here is not
the word
pistuo
which is the
word for
faith
that we
find
throughout
the New
Testament
but it's
the word
patho
which is
the word
persuade
to be
persuaded
or to be
convinced
the reality
that's occurred
in the past
that has
continuing
effects
of persuading
them
of stirring
up within
them
this confidence
that they've
arrived
they're persuaded
by their own
righteousness
and of course
the Pharisees
as we've been
looking at
the Pharisees
throughout
the past
several chapters
and throughout
this year
we've come
to see
time and
time again
that they
were the
model keepers
of righteousness
in their minds
they felt like
they embodied
all the standard
that God
had set
and so
they
commended
that kind
of lifestyle
to those
who lived
in first
century Israel
if you want
to be a
kingdom goer
if you want
to enter
into the
kingdom
your life
needs to
look like
ours
we are
the standard
we are
the ones
who set
the precedent
as it were
and so
here is
this Pharisee
who believes
that he's
arrived
and so
Jesus is
going to
address
this group
of individuals
who feel
convinced
of their
own
self-reliance
the problem
of course
is that
this Pharisee
was comparing
himself
with
others
rather than
understanding
and appreciating
the standard
that had been
set from
the scripture
he is
looking around
he's evaluating
himself
based upon
others that
he sees
and he spotted
somebody
in the temple
he knows
he's better
than
and so
he begins
to compare
himself
with him
of course
from an
external point
of view
he was
head and
shoulders
above this
tax collector
and that's
why Jesus
uses
this Pharisee
and this
tax collector
as examples
in his
parable
to help
direct
attention
to what
true
dependence
on God
true faith
in God
will look
like
so he uses
this Pharisee
who
because
of his
own
self-reliance
it turns
his heart
not only
against God
as it were
but especially
reflected in
how he
sees others
notice
he trusted
in himself
at the end
of verse
9
that they
were
righteous
and he
treated
others
with
contempt
this is
perhaps
the first
clue
that
something
was
gravely
out of
step
in his
life
he treated
others
with
contempt
this
word for
contempt
is to
despise
to look
down on
to ridicule
it's
to treat
somebody
as if
they had
no account
to consider
them as
worthless
individuals
this is
the same
word that
was used
to describe
the mocking
treatment
that Jesus
received
on the cross
at the hands
of the soldiers
that kind
of ridicule
that kind
of mocking
the faulty
comparison
produced in
their own
heart
an inflated
view
of themselves
and a
diminished
view
of everyone
else around
them
and by the way
also a
diminished
view
of God
himself
bringing
God
down
and that's
what Jesus
is addressing
here
that's
what Jesus
is confronting
Jesus
begins
with this
Pharisee
to help
draw
attention
to what
true faith
in God
really looks
like
he says
in verse
10
two men
went up
into the
temple
to pray
one a
Pharisee
and the
other
a tax
collector
the very
nature
of the
fact
that
in
physicality
they needed
to go
up to
the
temple
in a
physical
way
was an
illustration
or a
demonstration
as it
were
of their
position
before
God
and that
should
have been
enough
and of
course
in going
to the
temple
nothing
that
happened
in the
temple
was
something
that they
could take
credit
for
the
temple
itself
that had
been
given
to them
by God
the
priests
who were
the agents
of God
to usher
them
into
God's
presence
the
sacrifices
and the
altar
that was
there
making
atonement
a
demonstration
a visible
representation
of that
atonement
that was
going to
take place
for them
through
Jesus
none of
which
they could
take credit
for
and so
that should
have been
enough
for this
self-reliant
Pharisee
to know
that he
needs to
turn his
heart
towards God
but it
didn't
accomplish
that purpose
this Pharisee
was completely
oblivious
to the
provisions
that were
outside of
himself
so
Jesus
now
describes
his
posture
notice
that
in
verse
11
the
Pharisee
standing
by
himself
prayed
here he is
standing by
himself
here he is
separated
from others
here he is
getting
maximum
exposure
perhaps
standing as
close to
the sanctuary
as he
could
he's
standing
in a
place
so that
everyone
could
see
he's
speaking
out loud
so that
everyone
can hear
and notice
how he's
praying
the
Pharisee
in the
ESV
says he's
standing
by
himself
but we
find in
other versions
the
translation
is
they
trusted
in
themselves
or that
they
were
praying
about
themselves
this
Pharisee
wasn't
praying
to God
at all
this
Pharisee
was
dependent
upon
his
own
self
righteousness
here he
is
standing
by
himself
praying
out
loud
this
was
their
practice
so we
find
throughout
the
duration
of
Christ's
ministry
Matthew
chapter 6
verse 5
and when you
pray
you must not be
like the
hypocrites
for they
love to
stand and
pray in
the
synagogues
and at
the street
corners
that they
may be
seen
by others
truly
I say
to you
they have
received
their
reward
and then
it's
prayer
notice
in the
middle
of verse
11
he prayed
thus
God
I thank
you
that I
am not
like other
men
extortioners
unjust
adulterers
or even
like this
tax
collector
I fast
twice a
week
I give
tithes
of all
that I
get
one could
argue
that this
man wasn't
even praying
at all
he was just
drawing attention
to his own
self
righteousness
he was
applauding
himself
before
others
there is
no
reflection
of his
heart
that
demonstrates
any
reverence
or devotion
to God
at all
just a
devotion
to himself
he prays
this self
congratulatory
prayer
calling attention
to his own
distinct life
he's not a
robber
he's not an
evildoer
he's not an
adulterer
so he's
listing off
several of the
commands
that we find
throughout
the mosaic
law
he's been
a law
keeper
he hasn't
done those
things
and now
he directs
attention
not only
to things
he's not
but now
the things
that he's
doing
which are
above and
beyond what
was expected
in the law
he fasts
twice a week
fasting was
only expected
from the people
of Israel
once a year
but they
in their
religiosity
are fasting
twice a week
which would have
happened on
Monday
and Thursday
and here they
are
tithing all
that they get
not just
of the
income
that they
receive
but everything
that they
receive
they are
tithing to
the Lord
externally
he has it
all together
he has every
reason to be
confident in
his own
spirituality
he has
cause to
rejoice
and from
an external
perspective
one could
argue that
he doesn't
even need
God
at all
he's arrived
himself
but of
course
all of
this
is
self
serving
it
demonstrates
his
self
reliance
it shows
his
dependence
and confidence
in his
own
merit
and now
Jesus
provides
a contrast
to the
Pharisee
in verses
13 and
14
we see
now
the
dependence
or the
dependent
tax collector
no longer
the self
righteousness
that's
reflected
in the
Pharisee
but now
this
dependence
that's
reflected
in this
tax collector
notice
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
of course
the tax collector
represents
all that is
anti-Pharisee
all that is
anti-righteousness
he knew
himself
that he did
not measure
up to
God's
standard
he's
in
this
temple
and he
comes to
terms
with who
he is
in relation
to God
and he
directs
his
attention
to two
parts
first
the
character
of God
and then
the nature
of himself
he comes
to know
that
that God
is
truly
righteous
and it's
reflected
in his
posture
it's
reflected
in the
way
that he
approaches
God
notice
how he
comes
and postures
himself
before the
Lord
he's
standing
but not
as one
who is
setting
himself
apart
drawing
attention
to
himself
but over
to the
side
he's
standing
in reverence
he's
standing
as one
who seeks
to honor
God
himself
standing
in the
corner
he's not
interested
in drawing
attention
to himself
but he's
there
to worship
God
and to
plead
for God's
mercy
on his
life
he is
humble
not willing
to
even lift
his eyes
to heaven
he's
come
to
terms
with
his
sin
he's
beating
his
breast
which is
an expression
of sorrow
and great
pain
over the
sin that
he has
that he has
sinned against
the Lord
and then
his prayer
the tone
of his
request
of course
is different
than that
of the
Pharisee
there is
no
self
focus
this is
a prayer
of penitence
a prayer
for mercy
a prayer
of repentance
it's
simple
it's
desperate
just a few
words in the
Greek
God
be merciful
to me
a sinner
he comes
to terms
with who
God is
in his
character
a God
who is
full
of mercy
this
word
for mercy
in the
Greek
isn't
the
normal
word
for mercy
but it's
actually
the word
propitiation
which is
the word
that means
to appease
to
satisfy
it's a
word
that speaks
of forgiveness
or to
make
atonement
for
to be
a sacrifice
and here
whether this
was during
the time
of morning
sacrifice
or the
time
of evening
sacrifice
all of
the reminders
of what
God has
done
through
sacrifice
in making
a way
for him
to approach
God
himself
he has
come to
terms
with the
fact
that he
can only
approach
God
if
and only
if
there's
an atonement
for sin
and of
course
Christ
is the
ultimate
and complete
atonement
for sin
he's come
to plead
for mercy
because he
knows
that God
delights
in mercy
God
delights
in mercy
and so
this could
be better
translated
God
make
atonement
for me
a sinner
salvation
and forgiveness
he understands
are outside
of him
they're offered
to him
through
Christ
and through
Christ
alone
second
he
acknowledges
himself
as a
sinner
not only
understands
that atonement
only comes
through God
but that he
himself is
unworthy
and not just
a sinner
but in the
Greek
it uses
the definite
article
the sinner
the ultimate
sinner
the chief
of sinners
you might say
the representation
of all
that one
might think
of when they
think about
the sinner
here he
is
so perhaps
even
willing
to receive
and admit
that all
that the
Pharisee
had said
about him
was true
but there
he is
pleading
for the
mercy
of God
forgiveness
of God
that comes
through those
who ask
and then
Jesus'
commentary
in verse 14
notice
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
this phrase
he went
down to
his house
justified
is an
expression
that points
to the fact
that he
was made
right
declared
righteous
it's not
that he
went into
the temple
a sinner
and out
of the
temple
not a
sinner
no
he was
a sinner
both ways
but he
went into
the temple
condemned
he came
out of
the temple
justified
exonerated
the condemnation
lifted
from him
because of
the forgiveness
that comes
through Christ
and his
sacrifice
of course
not because
of his own
actions
not because
he wasn't
a sinner
in the most
vile of
sinners
he was
the sinner
in his
very words
but yet
he still
came out
of the
temple
justified
forgiven
atoned
for
the tax
collector's
prayer
was accepted
God
found
favor
in this
humble
prayer
in the
understanding
and recognition
of dependence
on God
and on God
alone
for forgiveness
as we
now apply
this to
ourselves
we ask
ourselves
this question
what is
the test
of your
self
reliance
what is
the test
of whether
or not
you fit
into
this
category
of
personal
self
reliance
and what
would you
expect
to see
of those
who are
learning
to trust
in God
because we
understand
from the
apostle Paul
that the
just
will live
by faith
the righteous
will live
by faith
in God
how does
that show
up
day to
day
how do
you
demonstrate
how do
I
demonstrate
my
faith
in
God
how do
I
how do
I
represent
or
commit
myself
moment
by moment
day
by day
to
place
myself
into
the
hands
of the
Lord
and to
express
my
dependence
on
him
just
as
if
I
was
depending
on
him
like
the
oxygen
that
fills
my
lungs
every
time
I
take
a
breath
of
course
there
are
very
simple
ways
for us
to
express
this
things
that
you
have
heard
from
the
time
that
you
are
a
believer
things
like
Psalm
40
verse
8
where
the
psalmist
says
I
delight
to
do
your
will
oh
my
God
your
law
is
within
my
heart
are
we
those
who
pursue
the
word
of
God
every
moment
every
day
are
we
those
who
demonstrate
our
dependence
on
God
so
that
God
is
first
he
gets
our
first
fruits
and
maybe
your
first
fruits
are
in
the
morning
or
maybe
your
first
fruits
are
in
the
evening
depending
upon
how
God
wired
you
but
you're
giving
God
the
best
free
of
destruction
just
you
and
him
just
like
Jesus
does
can
you
even
begin
to
get
your
head
around
this
Jesus
as
God
demonstrated
his
confidence
in
the
father
and
not
self
reliance
by
moving
out
into
the
desolate
places
and
communing
with
God
one
on
one
demonstrating
his
dependence
on
the
father
he
was
God
and
so
if
Jesus
reflected
and
demonstrated
his
dependence
on
the
father
this
way
how
much
more
should
those
of
us
who
call
God
our
father
demonstrate
a
commitment
to
God
through
devotion
and
love
for
the
word
of
God
itself
and
I
love
how
the
apostle
Paul
puts
this
in
Philippians
chapter
three
verses
seven
and
eight
and
verse
ten
he
says
whatever
gain
I
had
I
counted
as
loss
for
the
sake
of
Christ
indeed
I
count
everything
as
loss
because
of
the
surpassing
worth
of
knowing
Christ
Jesus
my
Lord
for
his
sake
I
have
suffered
the
loss
of
all
things
and
count
them
as
rubbish
in
order
to
gain
Christ
that
I
might
know
him
in
the
power
of
his
resurrection
and
may
share
in
his
sufferings
becoming
like
him
in
his
death
what
is
the
one
pursuit
of
your
life
what
is
the
ultimate
goal
for
living
what
is
the
thing
that
you
are
living
for
maybe
I
should
put
it
that
way
and
what
you're
living
for
will
show
up
from
day
to
day
and
the
things
that
you
get
stressed
about
or
the
things
that
occupy
your
attention
and
your
time
and
your
focus
and
the
things
you're
willing
to
get
rid
of
for
the
sake
of
having
that
one
thing
that
is
all
important
and
the
apostle Paul
whatever
it
takes
whatever
you
take
away
from
me
God
as
long
as
I
have
you
it's
not
only
enough
but
it
is
good
and
so
I
wonder
this
morning
how
many
of
us
myself
included
how
many
of
us
need
to
pray
this
prayer
God
do
whatever
it
takes
to
strip
me
of
my
self
reliance
and
make
me
dependent
on
you
so
that
you
are
first
so
that
you
are
foremost
so
that
you
are
everything
so
that
you
are
the
good
of
my
life
and
I
find
satisfaction
in
you
that
I
might
know
him
in
the
power
of
his
resurrection
and
the
fellowship
of
his
sufferings
whatever
it
takes
Lord
I
want
to
know
!
you!
Jesus
says
this
in
John
15
verse
16
you
did
not
choose
me
but
I
chose
you
and
appointed
you
that
you
should
go
and
bear
fruit
and
that
your
fruit
should
abide
so
that
whatever
you
ask
the
father
in
my
name
he
may
give
it
to
you
now
there's
a lot
going
on
in
this
verse
but
not
only
the
fact
that
God
has
drawn
us
into
relationship
with
him
but
he's
drawn
us
into
to
bear
fruit
and
what
that
means
is
as
the
Holy
Spirit
is
working
in
our
life
he's
producing
spiritual
fruit
and
when
that
spiritual
fruit
takes
place
and
when
we
are
working
in
a
way
that
pleases
God
it
places
us
in
a
situation
of
dependence
where
the
only
way
that's
going
to
work
out
is
if
God
is
the
one
working
it
through
so
it
leads
us
to
dependence
in
prayer
that
God
has
appointed
us
he's
called
us
with
the
express
purpose
of
making
us
dependent
in
him
through
prayer
does
your
life
reflect
a
dependence
on
God
through
prayer
so
that
every
major
decision
every
family
issue
everything
that's
going
on
at
work
every
conversation
that you
have
with
others
is
so
punctuated
is
so
carried
is
so
supported
by
prayer
that
God
is
in
it
and
through
it
and
you
see
that
God
is
working
so
that
his
fullness
is
bearing
itself
out
in
your
life
as
you
are
submitting
yourself
to
him
in
confidence
rather
than
self
reliance
so
Jesus
confronts
this
self
reliance
and
now
in
this
next
couple
of
groups
of
verses
he
commends
the
heart
of
dependence
we
have
the
correlation
as
well
in
verses
15
to
17
notice
it
says
now
they
were
bringing
even
infants
to
him
that
he
might
touch
them
and
when
the
disciples
saw
it
they
rebuked
him
but
Jesus
called
them
to
him
saying
let
the
children
come
to
me
and
do
not
hinder
them
for
such
belongs
the
kingdom
of
God
truly
I
say
to
you
whoever
does
not
receive
the
kingdom
of
God
like
a
child
shall
not
enter
it
so
Jesus
is
commanding
this
heart
of
dependence
and
we
see
it
in
the
example
of
these
children
and
not
only
the
humility
of
these
children
but
especially
the
dependence
of
these
children
because
as it
really
to be
honest
these
kids
don't
show
any
true
spiritual
nature
at
all
they
are
spiritually
bankrupt
they're
unable
to
do
anything
meritorious
and
that's
the
point
of
the
story
is
they're
not
even
coming
to
Jesus
on
their
own
they
have
to
be
brought
by
their
parents
Jesus
uses
this
word
infants
which
is
the
same
word
we
find
in
Luke
!
chapter 1
verse 41
and 45
I think
it is
which speaks
of
John
the
Baptist
in
the
womb
of
Elizabeth
that's
the
kind
of
people
we're
talking
about
and
Jesus
is
commending
kids
you can't
come in
to the
kingdom
unless
you're
a
helpless
little
baby
unless
you come
to a
place
of
understanding
it is
not
of
you
it is
only
of
God
you
add
nothing
to the
equation
it is
based on
Christ's
death
and
resurrection
and
righteousness
and
atonement
and
him
alone
and
unless
God
strips
you
and
strips
me
of
our
self
reliance
we will
never
come to
a place
of
enjoying
all
the
benefits
of
the
relationship
that God
has
to
offer
through
his
son
Jesus
Christ
will
keep
depending
on
ourselves
and
will
keep
falling
flat
on
our
face
the
significance
of
this
account
that we
find
here
in
Luke
chapter
18
is
significant
because
now we're
beginning to
merge
our
stories
now we
find
also
in
Matthew
and also
in
Mark's
account
now
these
stories
are
beginning
to
converge
where
we've
kind of
gone
from
Luke
chapter
9
to
this
point
Luke
has
been
tracking
the
ministry
of
Jesus
outside
of
Galilee
and
now
we're
finding
some
convergence
and we're
going to
begin to
see how
these
narratives
blend
together
again
but this
is
significant
that is
repeated
in all
three
synoptic
gospels
to
help
draw
attention
to the
significance
of
faith
and
dependence
on
God
being
released
from
self
reliance
we find
in this
story
that Jesus
rebukes
his
disciples
because
Jesus
wants
his
disciples
to
understand
that
they
are
acting
just
like
the
Pharisees
they
are
looking
at
contempt
!
on
these
little
babies
feeling
as
though
these
babies
are
not
worth
Jesus
time
so
in
a
sense
they're
doing
exactly
what
the
Pharisee
did
in
the
temple
looking
with
contempt
on
that
tax
collector
and
Jesus
says
wait
a
minute
I
want
you
to
understand
that
these
are
the
very
examples
of
faith
that
I
want
to
put
forward
to
you
can't
come
into
the
kingdom
unless
you're
just
like
them
just
as
dependent
come
as
a
child
come
with
a
heart
of
dependence
contributing
nothing
and gaining
everything
in
Christ
just as we
find in
Titus
chapter 3
verse 5
it says
he saved
us
not because
of works
done by us
in righteousness
but according
to his own
mercy
by the washing
of regeneration
!
and the renewal
of the
Holy Spirit
the mercy
of God
is there
to meet
you
God
delights
in mercy
he loves
to show
his mercy
it's part
of who
he is
he wants
to show
it off
and make
it known
in Micah
chapter 7
verse 18
who is a
God like
you who
pardons
sin
and forgives
the transgression
of the remnant
of his inheritance
you do not
stay angry
forever
but delight
to show
mercy
so access
mercy
let God
show
off
his
merciful
benevolent
character
to you
plead
for mercy
so the heart
of our Savior
is put on
display
as he
is commending
dependence
as he
loves to show
mercy
but as we
also see
in the life
of Christ
his love
for serving
the least
of these
Jesus was
not like
the Pharisee
and looking
with contempt
on those
who were
so much
smaller than
him
so much
lower
than him
but he
delighted
in showing
mercy
and extending
kindness
in ministry
and service
even to these
babies
who had
nothing to
contribute
to him
so I end
our time
together
just with
this final
word
this brief
word
I want
to commend
to you
the ministry
of our
Savior
and recognize
your opportunity
to serve
the same
way
you have
an opportunity
to serve
that's
what I want
to just share
briefly here
don't want to
miss this
opportunity
to commend
to you
the significance
of ministry
to children
not only
ministry
to kids
within your
families
but also
the ministry
that we
can have
as a
church
body
in helping
to address
this
significant
aspect
of what
we're called
to as a
church
you know
you may not
be called
to full-time
ministry
you may not
have the
gift of
teaching
you may not
feel
particularly
gifted
in communicating
but I can
tell you
if you
have
children
or are
hoping
to have
children
God has
called you
to
children's
ministry
in your
home
and outside
of your
home
let me just
share some
statistics
these statistics
by the way
of course
are not
authoritative
but I think
they bring
the point
home
okay
modern
research
indicates
that what
a person
believes
is locked
in by
the age
of 13
what you
believe
at age
13
is pretty
much
what you're
going to
believe
when you
die
apparently
32%
of those
between
5 and
13
have 32%
probability
of accepting
Christ as
their savior
then
it moves
to 4%
between those
who are
14 and
18
and then
after 18
until you
die
only 6%
of adults
after 18
become
Christian
another way
to look
at this
is 94%
of people
who live
in America
94%
of them
are going
to make
a decision
for Christ
before they're
18
Barna research
has also
discovered
that a
person's
lifelong
behavior
and views
are generally
developed
when they
are young
and there
are four
categories
first
a person's
moral foundations
are generally
in place
by the time
they're age
nine
second
a person's
response
to the meaning
of personal
value of
Jesus Christ
his life
his death
his resurrection
is usually
determined
before a person
reaches 18
third
Barna showed
data
indicating
that the
most cases
of people's
spiritual
beliefs
are irrecover
excuse me
irrecoverably
formed
when they
are preteen
those beliefs
include
the nature
of God
the existence
of Satan
the reliability
of the Bible
perceptions
regarding the
afterlife
the holiness
of Jesus
Christ
and the means
of gaining
God's favor
finally
research revealed
that adult
church leaders
usually have
some serious
involvement
in church life
and training
when they are
young
four out of
five pastors
and church
leaders
have been
involved
in some way
in children's
ministry
have grown up
in the church
okay
again
this is not
authoritative
but let me just
bring it all
together
what this means
is
four out of
five
of your future
pastors
and Christian
leaders
are currently
in children's
ministry
and
94%
of those
who will make
a decision
for Christ
are in
children's
ministry
and youth
ministry
right now
if you want
to make a
difference
if you want
to have an
impact
can I encourage
you
to get
plugged in
to children's
ministry
not only
is this a way
for you to
pour into
and invest
in the lives
of others
but let me tell
you
the benefits
are more
than you can
even imagine
because especially
as young
families
young parents
you're not
only
able to
invest
in others
and maybe
even your
own kids
but you're
able to
build
relationships
with people
who have
gone down
the road
before you
and many
of them
who are
helping to
oversee
children's
ministry
right now
have been
raising families
and investing
in youngsters
for the last
20 years
and so
this is not
only a
discipling
opportunity
for you
to invest
in others
but a
discipling
opportunity
for them
to invest
in you
to grow
to be the
kind of
parent
that is
learning
from others
okay
are we
going to
show the
heart of
Christ
in loving
the least
of these
are we
going to
demonstrate
in a very
tangible way
a dependence
on God
and not a
personal
reliance
may God
help us
this week
to press
him
and to
demonstrate
that God
is
everything
for us
that we
are confident
in him
that we
are running
to him
and cultivating
that relationship
that demonstrates
a dependence
a reliance
and a commitment
on Christ
and Christ
alone
may God
help us
oh Lord
I thank you
for this
word
thank you
for this
parable
for what
it teaches
us
thank you
Lord
for
the challenge
but also
the encouragement
that you
have
accomplished
everything
for us
so we
can be
dependent
on you
we don't
need to
rely on
ourselves
for anything
may you
be pleased
with our
lives
and may
you accomplish
your work
in and through
us we pray
in Jesus name
amen