Old Llantrisant Hill
Overview
- Jesus had come into the temple and drove out those buying and selling
- The children started crying out Hosanna
- The pharisees were not happy with this, they questioned His authority
- Jesus silenced them with an excellent question
- He then teaches two parables: the two sons and the landowner
The parable of the two sons
- Is about the pharisees
- The pharisees are like the son who only payed lip service
- The tax collectors and harlots are like the son who did obey
We are going to look at two things
- Those who rejected
- Those who accepted and followed
Those who reject:
- It is difficult to break free from 'religion' and tradition
- The Jews had added so much tradition to their religion but they were actually turning away from the Bible
- Illustration from the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
- Jesus is asking the Pharisees to analyse which son they were
- Illustration from the parable of the Wedding feast and the excuses they gave after initially saying yes, but then changed their minds
- All their 'can nots' were really 'will nots'
- What is holding us back?
- King Agrippa said 'you almost persuade me'
- There is a cost to becoming a Christian
- But God promises never to leave or forsake you
- Some people are afraid that they won't be able to keep 'things up'
- Which are you
Those who follow:
- The apostle Paul who initially rejected God
- The prodigal son who initially rejects his father (Luke 15:11-32)
- Some people think that they have gone beyond the grace of God
- This is not true, no one is beyond the grace of God
- John Newton: a womaniser, involved in the slave trade; but his life was transformed by God
- He became a great hymn writer and man of the church
- He penned the song 'Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me'
- Mary Magdala and the demon possessed man
- Sometimes it is the people that you least expect
- Zacheus the tax collector who worked for the Romans
Closing:
- Religion is never enough (it can be very dangerous to the soul)
- Christ wants the heart
- Good intentions are not enough
- We must respond to the call that goes out now: Follow Him