SUNDAY WORSHIP: 8:30, 9:45 & 11:00 a.m.
CLOSE

AfterThoughts: March 30, 2025

March 30, 2025
The Parable Of The Pharisee And The Tax Collector ​​​​​​
Luke 18:9–14

This week, Pastor David concluded the sermon series Stories That Still Speak. In this message, he challenged us to think about this powerful passage from Luke.

GOING DEEPER:

• In this parable, Jesus highlighted a deep contrast between the posture and prayer of both the Pharisee and the tax collector. What strikes you about the differences between the two?

• Pastor David shared that the twist of the parable is that the person that was justified—declared right by the holy God—was the tax collector, not the pious, religious Pharisee. The tax collector was the one who humbled himself and put his hope and trust in God, not in his own works. In what circumstances do you tend to see your pride and spiritual snobbery on display?

• This story still speaks to us because we are constantly tempted to trust in what we do to earn our salvation. Our innate “home screen” is to seek to justify ourselves by what we do. And yet, these words from Jesus teach us that our “hope I’ve done enough” mentality will never be enough. How can you follow the path of the tax collector who knew that he had no righteousness of his own to bank on, but only his deep need for the infinite, overflowing mercy of God? How do you begin to apply your heart to God’s ways instead of your own?

• We were encouraged to keep this tax collector in mind this week as we face the temptation to downplay our sin or to cover it up. When we truly see ourselves and the ugliness of our sin, we know that our only hope is in the mercy of God. Our only cry can be: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” How can you change your schedule this week to make more time for reflection and confession? How can you more fully embrace the truth of Titus 3:4–5 in your daily life this week?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• To view past sermons, please click here.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24–26