Sermon Sandwich

Luke 18:9-14—Sermon Sandwich

Trinity Church, 1589 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438
www.trinityedisto.com  843-869-3568
20th Sunday after Pentecost,  October 23, 2022
Holy Communion - Renewed Ancient Text; 2019 BCP, p.123

Luke 18:9-14 Sermon Notes

Intro - Story of Mother; “Spiritual Gifts” seminar.

The Comparison Trap:

II Corinthians 10:12 -  But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

The World Produces Two Types of People:   the Religious and Unreligious, the Moral and Immoral, the Circumcision and Uncircumcision.

Galatians 6:15 - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Luke 15:1-2 - Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”    (The Prodigal God by Tim Keller)

The Circumcision - the Pharisee, judging/comparing people.

The Uncircumcision - the tax collectors, the harlots, the sinners.

But on this day, there was a change.  

Luke 18:13 - But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

The Worshipper’s Perspective and Process:

Circumcision Uncircumcision New Creation

Pharisee Tax Collector Justified

Justice  ->  Mercy  ->  Grace

Justice - I get what I deserve.   The Pharisee.

Mercy - I don’t get what I deserve.   The Tax Collector.

Grace - I get what I don’t deserve.  Justified.

The Identity Change:

Luke 18:14 - I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.

dikaioo - justify, verb

dikaios - righteous, adjective

dikaiosyne - righteousness, noun

II Corinthians 5:21 - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 6:15 - For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Where am I/are you?   

What is my attitude, your attitude, toward other people?