“How you choose to see people matters more than what you say or do.”
Sermon Title: LIVING BY GRACE
Scripture Text: LUKE 7:36-50
Sermon Series: HERE I STAND: BUILDING A STRONG FAITH
Sermon Notes:
LUKE 7:36-50 NIV
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Do you trust in God’s grace and also live in it?
“They ought to find the God of grace and they ought to find the grace of God.”
JOHN 1:14 NIV
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
JOHN 1:17 NIV
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
I. GRACE RECEIVES US IN OUR SIN
LUKE 7:36 NIV
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
LUKE 7:37-38 NIV
37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
LUKE 7:39 NIV
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner.”
“The problem was not that she was a sinner and Jesus didn’t know it. The problem was, Simon was a sinner and he didn’t know it.”
“Sin is the only thing that qualifies us for the grace of God.”
“We don’t give up our sin and then receive God’s grace. We receive God’s grace, and then he gives us the power to give up our sin.”
II. GRACE RECOGNIZES OUR INABILITY TO PAY
LUKE 7:40-42 NIV
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
“The problem was, the prostitute saw her debt, but the Pharisee couldn’t see his.”
“The worst thing we can teach people is that they are good without Jesus. The fact is God doesn’t offer grace to good people any more than doctor’s offer life-saving surgery to healthy people. Never believe anything about yourself or God that makes His grace to you seem anything less than amazing, because that’s exactly what it is.” — Randy Alcorn
“It is only when you see your goodness as worthless that you will see God’s grace as priceless.”
LUKE 7:43 NIV
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
LUKE 7:44-47 NIV
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
“Simon showed him no grace, but Jesus showed all of them grace.”
III. GRACE RESPONDS IN GRACE
“The only people who aren’t welcome at our church are perfect people because they don’t exist.”
LUKE 7:47 NIV
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
LUKE 7:50 NIV
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
“Grace responds in grace.”
–Grace receives us in our sin.
-Grace recognizes our inability to pay.
-Grace responds in grace.
“What would it look like for us to be a “NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED” kind of church?”
” How you choose to see people matters more than what you say or do.”