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Sunday Worship
10:30 A.M.
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Our services feature relevant, biblical messages and a celebration of God's greatness through
uplifting worship in song and prayer. Nursery and Children's programs are available during our
Sunday morning worship service.
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April 6, 2008
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Grand Openings: Opening Hearts
"Believing in the Grace of God" (Luke 18:9-14)
The way we pray reveals much about our relationship with God. Is it an exercise in piety or is it response to God's faithfulness? Jesus warns against prayer becoming an object of pride by telling a story "to some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else." The Pharisee in the story is typical - he kept the rules to the letter of the law. But, it was all done with the wrong spirit; he congratulates himself on his own goodness (8:11-12). He uses "I" five times in his short prayer. He is proud of himself that he is not like the sinful tax collector nearby. By contrast, the tax collector realizes that he is a "sinner in need of a Savior," and his prayer is for mercy. In commenting, Jesus says, "This man went down to his house justified - forgiven completely" (8:14). What makes the tax collector the good guy in this story? It is his humbling himself before the Lord; nothing else about him is commendable. He understands that righteousness is a gift to be received, not a merit badge to be possessed and announced. "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; everyone who humbles himself will be exalted." Have you ever found yourself saying, "I thank God that I am in the right church building with the right sign out front, and the right doctrine inside and not like those other people?' It's a frightening thought to face the knowledge of right hearts being "justified" and right performance going away empty.
This Week's Reading: "Going Negative" by Tony Woodlief
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