All the hosts have gathered once again. Keith, Nathan, and Christopher share some fun times in fellowship. It has been a while since we have been able to assemble for a live session in Church House studios. Even the Retrobots make a brief appearance. Our random discussion includes some potential branding changes, illogical critical thinking, and a few glimpses at our history as a podcast. How did we get to where we are today, and why doesn’t our web domain match our podcast title very well?
After the fun, thrills, and hilarity of the first half of the show, Nathan had to take care of a pressing family matter, and Chris bailed out as well. never fear, we do have a main topic, which Keith presents with a little input from our favored bible teacher of the airways, J Vernon McGee. it’s a highly compressed review of a stripped-down outline from a recent Sunday School lesson, edited together with a handful of talking points and personal thoughts from Keith.
Worthy? (316)
God welcomes those who approach Him in humble and simple faith.
LUKE 18:9-17
- How does the image we see in a mirror encourage us and discourage us at the same time?
- how is studying the Bible—like looking into a mirror—
RELIGIOUS PRIDE
(LUKE 18:9-12 CSB)
Notice how the Pharisee’s actions and words reflected his religious pride and his trust in himself.
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else:
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself:
‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’
Believers must safeguard against religious pride !
- How does trusting in one’s self lead to contempt for others?
- What are some signs that we might be trusting in ourselves, rather than trusting in God?
- How does honest confession of sin open the door to God’s forgiveness?
The Pharisee used his prayer to announce his his good deeds.
- What practices might a person point to today to announce their righteousness?
- Self-righteousness always blinds us to our need for grace.
Jesus turned the attention from the pride-filled Pharisee to the tax collector.
GODLY HUMILITY
(LUKE 18:13-14 CSB)
Notice the evidence of the tax collector’s humility.
13 “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Posture Toward God
- Pharissee, standing and praying about himself.
- Thankful he’s not like other people.
- not greedy, not unrighteous, not adulterous, not like this tax collector.
- I fast, I tithe
- Tax collector: standing, far off, downcast eyes, repeatedly beating chest.
- God have mercy on me, a sinner (repeatedly)
What’s the point?
Believers must confess their sins to the Father !
- How does honest confession of sin open the door to God’s forgiveness?
- How can a person’s own perceived “goodness” get in the way of humbly confessing his or her sin to God?
more could be said, as Jesus continues his teaching to further round out what it means to live correctly as one of his followers. It’s also a good spot to cut off this already shortened Sunday School lesson.
Credits
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Thanks to the recorded comments from J Vernon McGee. His ministry and daily bible study lives on through Through the Bible Ministries (ttb.org)
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
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