sermon from July 11th

THE FELLOWSHIP OF BIG DEBTORS
Luke 7:36-50
Series on “The Gospel of Luke”

In this story Simon, “the good person”, “the religious person” thinks that he is a small sinner, a small debtor. He also thinks that the woman of low repute is a big sinner, a big debtor to God. But by the end of the dinner meeting, Jesus turns the tables upside down and blows up Simon’s world and wants to do the same with us. The question is, “Are we ready to have Jesus overturn our most sacred assumptions, and give us a costly, passionate relationship with Himself?”

SIMON AND THE WOMAN
· Simon invites Jesus to dinner but is rude.
· The woman is probably upset that Jesus hasn’t received the courtesies he deserves. She also knows what a big sinner she is, but still feels drawn to Jesus. She breaks all the social rules: she touches him, and breaks an expensive alabaster box and anoints his feet washing them with her tears.
· Have you ever shed a tear for your sin?

SIMON’S RELIGION AND INDIFFERENCE
· Jesus reads Simon’s critical thoughts and tells him a story.
· What if God sent you a bill every month for your failure to love people and love God as the Bible tells us? Religion says do good deeds and you can pay your debt? The Bible says none of us could pay, so God paid in the cross of Jesus.
· The biggest sin are lips that will not kiss, knees that will not kneel, eyes that will not weep, hands that will not serve, a life that will not change, a heart that will not love.

WHAT SIMON GETS AND THE WOMAN GETS
· Simon gets an impersonal religion and a seminar from Jesus and a dig, and an insult.
· The woman gets: (1) A new ability to love; (2) A new ability to laugh; (3) A deep satisfaction; (4) A new ability to love life: (5) A changed life; (6) A new freedom; (7) Assurance of salvation.

TABLE TALK: How is a relationship with Jesus totally different than any religion? How much are you like Simon? How much are you like the woman?


Listen to the sermon online