Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on June 29, 2025
Sermon - Am I Pharisee or Tax Collector?
The speaker highlights that though people intellectually understand new spiritual eras—like the “year of the snake,” symbolizing rebirth and renewal—their fixed mindsets, formed by past experiences and societal influences, often prevent genuine transformation. Using examples such as soldiers returning from war or prisoners released from jail, the sermon illustrates how individuals may be physically free or changed but mentally remain trapped in old patterns. Similarly, many church members physically attend services but mentally remain attached to worldly concerns or old beliefs. To truly evolve spiritually, the speaker urges adopting an open and flexible mindset, citing Columbus’s egg as a metaphor for innovative thinking and first-time achievements. The traditional ways of thinking—based on fixed “logic” or rigid patterns—no longer suffice in the contemporary spiritual landscape. The Book of Job is invoked to emphasize humility before God. Job was a righteous man who suffered greatly and questioned God’s justice. After God’s rebuke, Job repents, realizing his limited human wisdom and embracing faith with his whole heart, not just intellect. This teaches that deep spiritual understanding comes through trials, not ease. A testimony about a devoted Christian woman in the speaker’s church illustrates the parable’s application today. Despite her piety and love for God, she refused to receive a spiritual blessing of marriage, considering her love for God sufficient. In a dream, she saw herself denied entry to heaven because she was not part of a blessed couple. This story highlights how legalistic or self-righteous attitudes can hinder true spiritual growth. The speaker honestly reflects on his own shortcomings, admitting to sometimes acting like the Pharisee by judging others, but aspiring to be a humble tax collector. Both Job and the tax collector share humility and trust in God’s mercy, contrasting with arrogance. The sermon stresses that God values sincere humility and faith over outward religious accomplishments or status. The message is reinforced by another biblical story from Luke 7, where a sinful woman’s heartfelt repentance and love move Jesus to forgive her, despite the judgment of a Pharisee named Simon. The speaker underscores that God accepts repentance and a loving heart, not social standing or past sins. Finally, the speaker encourages self-reflection, asking listeners daily if they live honestly, humbly, and with integrity. The core call is to embody the tax collector’s spirit—humble, repentant, and sincere—in order to receive God’s grace and blessing. Highlights
- Jesus’ parable teaches humility is key to being justified before God.
- The “year of the snake” symbolizes rebirth and the need to shed old mindsets.
- Fixed mental patterns can trap believers even when physically present in church.
- Columbus’s egg metaphor encourages innovative, first-time thinking in faith.
- Job’s story shows true faith arises through trials and humility, not intellect alone.
- A devoted believer’s refusal to receive blessing illustrates dangers of self-righteousness.
- God values sincere repentance and a loving heart over external religious acts.
No comments:
Post a Comment