Humility

Scripture References Matthew 23 Matthew 23:11-12 Galatians 5:22-23 Psalm 118:26 Introduction Pastor Chris (on staff nearly 20 years) continued the “Investigating Jesus” series. Previous week: End-Times message; this week: the question, “What about all the hypocrites?” Light-hearted open (Disney trip, humorous photo of Pastor Josh), then pivot to the seriousness of hypocrisy. Rooted Celebration Weekend: 2,500 graduates; invitation to text ROOTED to 20411 for next session. Context: Matthew 23 takes place on the Tuesday of Passion Week–Jesus’ final public confrontation with the Pharisees. Key Points / Exposition 1. “Team Jesus” vs. “Team Jesus in Name Only” Not all religious leaders actually belong to Christ (Matthew 23:1-7). Pharisees knew the Law externally, added burdens, sought status (large phylacteries, long tassels). Modern parallel: headlines of fallen pastors; discernment required. Tests for legitimacy: Follow the fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Test teaching against Scripture. Examine private life consistency (family, humility, service). 2. The Seven Woes - Hypocrisy Exposed (Matthew 23:13-36) Shut the door of the Kingdom–block access to God. Win converts only to corrupt them–lead others away from God. Twist oaths–manipulate truth for personal gain. Strain gnats, swallow camels–majors vs. minors. Clean outside of cup–outward show, inner greed. White-washed tombs–look alive, spiritually dead. Honor murdered prophets–celebrate past truth while rejecting present Messiah. Imagery explained: gnat (smallest unclean), camel (largest); white-wash used before Passover. Jesus’ tone: protective of the people these leaders misled. 3. Seven Marks of a Devoted Faith (The Positive Inversion) Live as a visible example of Jesus–consistency in home, work, church. Commit to leading “one more” to Christ–intentional evangelism. Let God’s Word drive you to serve–greatest is servant of all (Matthew 23:11-12). Recognize God’s power to forgive every sin–no one beyond grace. Walk in humility–invite correction, resist spiritual pride. Remain spiritually alive–abundant life flows from grace, not self-righteousness. Trust Jesus as Lord–foundation for all other marks. 4. Correction Anchored in Love (Matthew 23:37-39) Tone shifts from indictment to lament: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem … how often I longed to gather you.” Jesus’ correction never detached from His desire to save. Adoption illustration: God “checked every box,” chose us despite baggage; cross covers “select all.” Major Lessons & Revelations Hypocrisy is not merely inconsistency–it actively blocks others from Christ. Outward religiosity without inward transformation angers and grieves Jesus. True greatness in the Kingdom is measured by humble service, not public platform. Christ’s love pursues even the hypocrite; His cross is sufficient for every sin. Practical Application Self-audit: ask whether your faith is displayed or devoted; confess hidden sin. Join community for growth–sign up for Rooted; text ROOTED to 20411. Serve somewhere regularly–text SERVE to 20411. Evaluate leaders you follow: fruit, family, fidelity to Scripture. Identify and pray daily for “one more” person far from God; share your story. Practice transparency at home–let children see authentic repentance and service. Conclusion & Call to Response Jesus exposes hypocrisy to invite healing. Invitation: receive salvation or return from duplicity; ministry teams available at crosses/front after service. Church encouraged to honor faithful shepherds (Pastor Josh, Pastor Steve) while each member embraces a devoted, humble walk with Christ. Prayer Thanksgiving for grace that grants repeated chances. Petition for courage to confess hidden sins and live transparently. Intercession for those ready to trust Jesus today to step forward and receive new life. References & Resources Rooted 10-week discipleship experience (text ROOTED to 20411). Lake Pointe Serve Teams (text SERVE to 20411). Insights Jesus cares more about hidden motives than polished images; when His Spirit cleans the heart, the outside naturally shines, because authentic holiness always starts on the inside. God’s fatherly love confronts our hypocrisy, not to shame us, but to gather us like cherished children, proving that correction is inseparable from His relentless grace. On the cross, Jesus checked every box of sin–anger, pride, deception–then declared you accepted, so no past can outrun the reach of His redemption. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live Monday through Sunday what we confess on weekends, inviting neighbors and children to hope, because a devoted life preaches louder than any sermon. When you place serving above status, heaven rejoices, for Jesus promised that the humble will be lifted while the self-exalting are brought low. Run to community and the Word, for God shapes messy people into living testimonies, proving daily that grace matures best in honest fellowship.

Scripture References Luke 9:51 Isaiah 50:6-7 Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:28-44 John 12:12-19, 16 Zechariah 9:9 Psalm 118:25-26 Deuteronomy 8:3 Deuteronomy 6:13 Psalm 91 Proverbs 29:25 John 12:42-43 Introduction The preacher invites the church to journey with Jesus along His final, “dark and scary road” toward Easter. Luke 9:51 marks the hinge of the gospel narrative: Jesus “set His face” toward Jerusalem–language of iron-willed resolve and fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Historical backdrop: Passover week swells Jerusalem to ~2 million pilgrims; Rome dispatches extra troops; political tension is electric. Two contrasting parades will converge: Pilate from the west with war-horses; Jesus from the east on a donkey portraying humility and true power. Key Points / Exposition 1. The Road from Jericho 19-mile desert road known for robbers (Good Samaritan setting). Jesus travels it at the start of Passover week, fulfilling prophetic timing for the Lamb of God. 2. Prophecy in Motion–The Donkey Jesus instructs two disciples to secure a donkey and her colt; owners release them at “The Lord needs it.” Fulfills Zechariah 9:9: Messiah enters “righteous, victorious, yet humble, riding on a donkey.” Kings rode horses for war, donkeys for peace–Jesus signals a Kingdom of peace, not revolt. 3. The Triumphal Entry & Misunderstood Hosannas Crowds carpet the road with garments and palm branches–a nationalistic symbol stamped on Jewish coins. “Hosanna” originally means “Save us, we pray,” now chanted as political slogan. They expect economic/political deliverance, not a cross-shaped salvation. Messianic prophecies (>300) statistically verified in Christ–illustrated with odds comparisons. 4. Tears Amid Applause Luke records Jesus weeping as He beholds Jerusalem–foreseeing AD 70 destruction and the crowd’s coming rejection. Same voices will shout “Crucify!” when He fails to meet their nationalistic agenda. 5. The Wilderness Temptations Revisited Preacher parallels Palm Sunday acclaim with Satan’s three temptations (Deut 8:3; Deut 6:13; Ps 91): Bread–economic savior. Kingdoms–shortcut to power. Temple-dive–spectacular celebrity. Jesus refused each shortcut then, and refuses crowd manipulation now; He lives for the Father’s approval alone. 6. The Trap of Human Applause Proverbs 29:25: fear of human opinion disables. Illustrations: Speaker’s limousine ego-check ending in a flaming tire and hitch-hike. Daughter Jody’s testimony–deliverance from crowd-pleasing, expressed in her spoken-word piece “I Have Wanted to Be In.” Warning: chasing likes, retweets, popularity derails discipleship and identity. Major Lessons & Revelations Jesus’ Kingdom contrasts worldly power: humility over intimidation, sacrifice over force, eternal authority over temporary control. Prophecy validates Christ’s identity; our faith rests on historical reliability, not wishful thinking. God-pleasing resolve (“face set like flint”) overcomes both temptation and public pressure. Human praise is fleeting; living for the Father’s “Well done” secures identity and freedom. Practical Application Examine motives: Am I seeking God’s approval or the crowd’s? Set spiritual “guardrails” (Scripture memorization, fasting, solitude) that anchor identity when applause or criticism comes. During Easter season, invite friends to experience the true King–not a political mascot but the Savior of sin and death. Practice humble service–choose the donkey over the war-horse in daily interactions (peace-making, generosity, listening). Parents & mentors: pray persistently for children caught in crowd-pressure; model audience-of-One living. Conclusion & Call to Response The King who could have seized a throne chose a cross. He saw our faces, wept for our lostness, and kept riding. Today He invites each heart to cry the truest Hosanna: “Save me.” Accept His forgiveness, relinquish the need for human approval, and follow the King whose Kingdom will never fall. ...