The church sermon that changed my life: The Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Preacher: Philip Quinn.

Topic: The Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Address: Cornerstone Church, Uptown- 4, De Beer Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Prayer line: 011 616 4073.

Website:  www.cornerstonechurch.co.za

Text: Luke 18: 1-end & Luke 7: 1-end

Note: "This is not the exact words of the preacher!”

Luke 18: 1-end: This parable talks about two parties who came to the synagogue to pray with different states of mind: one with pride and the other with humility.

The pharisee came to the Lord with his heart full of pride of his self-righteousness and the tax collector condemns himself and seeks for mercy from the Lord because of his way of life.

Three distinctive bible characters:

(a) Jesus (Luke 7: 1-end): Is the kind of person that has a remarkable character that permits him to relate with sorts of people from pharisees, to tax collectors, robbers, harlots and other sinners. He didn’t judge people because he’s accommodative.

He’s interested in everybody because he’s accessible; caring, loving and down-to-earth.

(b) Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7: 1-end): Tried to judge Jesus and the harlot woman because of the fellowship they both have in his house. He put up self-righteousness, pride and hate towards sinners.

(c) The Harlot (Luke 7: 1-end): The gesture from the Harlot to Jesus really touched  Him through the kind of love and generosity she displayed by faith that she would be well-received. To the Pharisee’s disregards she was judged because of her way of life but Jesus demonstrated that her way of life brought about His coming into the world and didn’t not judge her.

Instead she was saved and forgiven.

Keynote:

“A man will always look at your sin (how bad you’ve done) but God will look at the beauty of your seed of faith (humbleness)!” OST.

Adapted by Olagunju, Success Taiwo.(OST)