Rochester Covenant Church

Sinners In The Church

18:9 Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. 18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ 18:13 The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ 18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Key Point: Authentic prayer is the key to overcoming prideful piety or self-deprecating shame

What’s below the surface?

Parables help us see beneath the surface, invite participation (not to inform, explain or define) to get us actively involved in the ways and will of God in our normal life

Story of 2 people at prayer in church

Pharisee (reformer) & Tax Collector (collaborator)

“It”=passionate, risk-taking, love for God; care for lost people!

Sinners in the church: hypocrites (wallow in pride) vs. spiritual hypochondriacs (wallow in shame)

Both focus on the “kingdom of self”

Clueless vs. Conspicuous sinners

OT has 50 + words for sin; Pride is at top of list!

Hypocrisy is an “occupational hazard” for good people

Kingdom people are ________ people because of God’s nature;

Kingdom people pray for _________ because of God’s mercy;

Kingdom people can _____  _________ because of God’s grace

Next steps to living as “Kingdom people”:

>For Tax collectors:  admit your need for God; accept His provision; do an honest moral, spiritual inventory

>For Pharisees: admit your lukewarm pride to God; accept His grace; recover your lost love by spending time with Jesus

>For mature believers:  go find some sinners and reach out to them with God’s love!

Authentic Prayer is the key = starting and ending point for life in the Spirit

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Land of the Lost

Fixed - 09/22/2009

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The 8 of 10 Reluctant Servants

Overall Purpose: Get to know Jesus better/deeper; see ourselves in the Gospel story & learn how to be more devoted; equip RCC Christians to understand and apply Jesus’ particular teachings about the nature and impact of the “New Order” as we seek to be transformative followers of “The Way;” i.e. to live out our purpose of discipleship as described and demonstrated by Jesus Christ in His parables.

Key Point: Kingdom resources are given by Jesus to be willingly invested, not rejected, hidden or wasted.

Intro: what/why parables?

We behave as if God isn’t present

World doesn’t want Jesus – but Jesus wants us!

What do we teach our g/kids? Use God-given resources

“Mina” =_______  ?  What are we doing with it?

Are we “burying” the treasure of the Gospel?

What/Who are we waiting for?

Jesus is coming back!  Do we live “as if”? We are to be the “gloves” of Jesus Match vs. flashlight bulb

Next steps:

>For mature believers – continued faithfulness – don’t give up! >For nominal followers – there is more potential to be experienced – don’t settle for less! Invest! >For new disciples – resist the temptation to remain buried (secret service Christian) – don’t be afraid to take the risk!

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Philemon: From Slave To Brother

Key Point: In Christ, human barriers are broken and a new, and “useful “community of “the forgiven” emerges

Onesimus = useless, runaway slave;

Ever felt like you’d like to runaway from your job?

Ever felt useless in your role?

Ever had to “face the music” to be accountable for your actions?

Expectations higher for a fellow Christian; disappointments greater

Barriers between management and labor – history of conflict

Paul’s approach to Philemon

We need each other

Christians can offer a different model of “organic organization”

Where do we need to ask forgiveness?

How can we offer reconciliation?

What do we need to change?

What could happen in greater RST if we did?

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