Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” LUKE 18:9-14 NLT
I am a sinner
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ROMANS 3:23 NLT
- The Reformer’s core sin is anger
- The Helper’s core sin is pride
- The Achiever’s core sin is lying
- The Individualist’s core sin is envy
- The Observer’s core sin is greed
- The Loyalist’s core sin is Fear
- The Enthusiast’s core sin is gluttony
- The Challenger’s core sin is lust
- The Peacemaker’s core sin is Laziness
If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 JOHN 1:10 NLT
My sin separates me from God
You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. ROMANS 5:12-13 MSG
For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me… Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence… PSALM 51:5,10-11 NLT
Only Jesus Christ can make me right with God
For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 1 TIMOTHY 2:5 NLT
Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. HEBREWS 9:14 NLT
(Jesus said) I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent. LUKE 5:32 NLT
To be saved I must:
Repent of my sin
Believe in Jesus Christ
What’s your next step?
If you’ve made a decision to follow Jesus, we’re holding baptisms next weekend, November 2-3! Learn more and sign up at move.sc/baptism
Still have questions about your faith? Path Groups are your place to explore and get your questions answered and they’re starting now. Learn more at move.sc/pathgroups
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Check out the Home tab for this week's personal reflection guide!
Discussion Questions
- If a friend asked you, “in what ways do you connect with God,” what would you tell them?
- Read Luke 18:9-14. Of the two men in this story, who do you relate to more and why?
- Read Romans 3:23. When you look at the core sin of your enneagram style (1 anger, 2 pride, 3 lying, 4 envy, 5 greed, 6 fear, 7 gluttony, 8 lust, 9 laziness), in what ways do you see the struggle with these sins show up in your real life?
- Read 1 Timothy 2:5. In what practical ways has Jesus helped you overcome your sin and where do you still need some help?
- Read 1 John 1:9. When was the last time you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and what was the impact of that on your relationship with God and others?
- Read James 5:16. In what ways have you experienced healing as a result of your confession to others and is there anything that you need to confess today?
