Gospel Reading

Luke 18:9-14

9 To some who were confident of

their own righteousness and

looked down on everybody else,

Jesus told this parable:

10“Two men went up to the

temple to pray, one a Pharisee

and the other a tax collector.

11 The Pharisee stood up and

prayed about a himself:

‘God, I thank you that I am not like

other men––robbers, evildoers,

adulterers––or even like

this tax collector.

12 I fast twice a week

and give a tenth of all I get.’

13“But the tax collector stood at a

distance. He would not even look up to

heaven, but beat his breast and said,

‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

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.”

I Am Sooo Good!

Luke 18:9-14

October 27, 2013Rev. John W. Landis, DMin

Story of Contrasts

Pharisee• Arrogant• Separate• Convinced he is right• Asks for nothing– He boasts, not prays

and WRONG

Tax collector• Humbled• Separated• Knows he has done wrong• Asks for Mercy

and RIGHT

Pharisee forgot that if you have to prove you are pious

YOU ARE NOT!

Lessons to Learn

We can be identified by how we pray!

Who is in your prayers?What are you praying for

• You– Thanks for self actions– Asking for more– Why?

• Others?– Why– For your own benefit or for theirs

Key question is“WHY are you doing what you are doing?”

• For God• For Others

Key question is“WHY are you doing what you are doing?”

• For yourself?– To serve whom?• We need to rest and replenish• We need to reward ourselves• We need to position so that we can help others• We need to have resources to help

Don’t Compare

• There is always someone worse• There is always someone better• If you are going to compare, compare to

yourself– God Does!– “Did you do the best you could with what you

have?”

There is a difference between a positive self image and conceit

• Positive Self Image gives you confidence– Is verified by others who know you– Allows you to be constructive

• Conceit– You hold the sole opinion

• Except for the new and/or the gullible

– Does harm• To you• To others

– Often employed to hide poor self image

Your Greatest Strength pushed one step too far becomes

Your Greatest Weakness!

No need to impress God

• God made us

• God knows us

• God LOVES us

Humility

• Acknowledges that we are human• Not self-deprecating• Willingness to give value to other human

beings• Willingness to share with others– Ideas– Control– The Journey

If you think you are the best there is no need for improvement!

God calls us to Constant Improvement

• Intellectually– Study and increase our skills and knowledge• Particularly for ministry

• Spiritually– Metanoia– Life long

Lifelong Learning

• We are sent here to– Learn how to be in community• Heaven is a community

– Serve• We use what we learn to serve– Learn to serve– Learn how to serve

You CAN’T LEARN if you think you KNOW EVERYTHING!

Humility allows us to let ourselves serve

• You can’t serve if you are not humble– Arrogance precludes Empathy

• It also allows us to be served– Allow not DEMAND!– To be served is to serve• Provides opportunity for others to

minister and serve• Provides opportunity for others to learn• It acknowledges that others are competent or can learn

What you do is not as important why you do it!

Motive and Intent Counts!

How do we measure?

• Great Commandment– Love God– Love your neighbor as yourself• Look after both

– Be compassionate– Care

• Have we become our own God– In what order do we serve and expect to be

served?

Some questions to ask ourselves

• Where in your life are you pushing your strength too far?

• Where has self confidence expanded to be over confident?

• Where has humility become posturing or self deprecating

In other words . .

• Are we righteous or self-righteous?• Do we serve God and Others or Ourselves?• Who is God in our lives?

Finally, the Cross

is the symbol of humility and the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of

others!

The Crown of Glory is the reward!

The Pharisee thinks he deserves the Crown of Glory!

In Christianity you cannot separate the Crown from the Cross!

Remember, you win the crown by SERVING not DESERVING!