Cedar Hills Community Church Cedar Hills Community Church

The Treasure of a Merciful Moneylender (Luke 7:36-50)
Pastor Leah Carolan

1. Which Subtitle Best Describes the Story
* "Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman"
* "A Sinful Woman Forgiven"

2. No Ordinary Tears

3. Three Basic Signs of Hospitality Ignored
* Washing of the Feet
* A Kiss on the Face
* Head Anointed with Oil

4. Another Story to make a Point
* A Story About Money?
* Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
* A link to Aesop’s Fables for Children

5. Categories of People
* Righteous > Sinner
* Clean > Unclean­
 * Worthy > Unworthy
* Pure > Impure
* Notable > Despicable
* Debt = More Debt

NEXT STEPS
* Confess to trying to look good on the outside but ignoring your heart.
* Ask God to search your heart and show you your sin.
* Pray, weep, journal – repent.

LUKE 7:36-50 ESV
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

A Formula for Finding Kingdom Treasure.
Pastor Kent Landhuis 

THEME - Treasure Hunters in the kingdom actually find real treasure. 
TEXT - Luke 18:9-14

OUTLINE
1. Enter the Kingdom.
* Luke 17:20-37
* Luke 18:9
* Luke 6:20-26

2. Receive Mercy.
* Luke 18:9-14
* Avoid Contempt
* Remain Humble
* Luke 16:14-15

3. Go Justified.  
* Luke 18:14
* Philippians 3:4-11
* Romans 3:21-26, 5:1-5, 8:28-39
* Galatians 2:16-17

NEXT STEPS
1. Give up trying to justify yourself and trust Jesus.
2. Read Romans 8 and celebrate finding Kingdom Treasure. 
3, Practice giving to others instead of judging others

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Humility Pledge - a path away from self-justification and judgment.

"Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye." ~ Matthew 7:5

With God’s help, I will engage the ABC’s of humility.
1. ADMIT
__ Self-justification is subtle. (I have been deceived by self-justification.)
__ I have judged others. (I have thought, “Thank God, I am not like… )
__ I need God to help me. (God have mercy on me.)

2. BELIEVE
__ My justification is complete in Jesus!
__ Comparing myself to others is wrong!
__ Humility is a kingdom treasure!

3. COMMIT
__ Instead of judging others, I will serve others.
__ I will consider others better than myself.
__ In faith, I will give to help someone in need.

Treasure Hunters Celebrate
Pastor Kent Landhuis

TEXT - Luke 15

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Wealth Management
Pastor Kent Landhuis 

THEME - Each one of us has a responsibility to manage our wealth wisely.
TEXT - Luke 16:1-13

Three spirits of wealth enhancement:
1. The spirit of money management.
Luke 16:1-2
1 Peter 4:10
Colossians 3:23

2. The spirit of relational investment.
Luke 16:3-7
Luke 15

3. The spirit of treasure multiplication.  
Luke 16:8-14
Matthew 6:19-33
Matthew 25:14-30

NEXT STEPS
1. Plan and prioritize how to use our resources to love people.
2. Invest in community groups, family groups, and small groups.
3. Bring people into the community of Jesus. 

PEOPLE MATTER
Spend some time reflecting on these truths about relationships and pray that Holy Spirit will lead you to invest in deeper relationships:
1. Jesus showed us that we meet God through other people.
When we gather with other Christians, God is with us. (Matthew 18:20). 

2. Jesus said love is non-negotiable.
The most important commandment Jesus gave us is to love God and love others (Matthew 22:34-40). 

3. Jesus showed us how to love people.
Jesus did everything He could to help His friends and followers know God. (John 15:12-15).

4. Jesus told His friends not to do life alone.
Jesus sent His followers out in pairs to share the good news of God’s peace (Luke 10:1-2). 

5. Jesus redefined family.
Family is more than just biological parents and, siblings. (Mark 3:31-35).

6. Jesus shared meals with people.
In Jesus’s culture, sharing a meal with someone meant you were no longer strangers, but close friends. (Mark 2:15-17, Luke 7:36).

7. Jesus emphasized individuals over tasks.
Jesus wants His followers to care for hurting and troubled people (John 21:15-17).

Beware the Love of Money
Pastor Steve Poole
 
TEXT - Luke 16:19-31
 
The Big Ideas Jesus Wants to Challenge:
1. The rich man goes to hell and the poor man, Lazarus, goes to heaven.
 
2. The resurrection will not persuade those who have not believed the truth revealed in Scripture.
 
3. Beware the love of money.
·        Luke 16:13-14
·        “Mammon” is used in some translations and means wealth, money, riches or property.
·        Do not neglect justice and mercy.
·        1 Timothy 6:9-10
 
APPLICATION
1.   Make Jesus the Lord of your life by faith
in His death and resurrection.


2.  Practice generosity this week (living with open hands).

Treasure Hunters Ask Courageous Questions 
Pastor Kent Landhuis 

THEME - Beware of Greed.
TEXT - Luke 12:13-21

The Parable of Bigger Barns is about you.
1. Do I want to know the truth?
* Matthew 13:10-17
* Philippians 2:3

2. Do I recognize the seductive power of earthly treasure? 
* Luke 12:13-21
* Luke 18:18-27

3. Do I build bigger barns? 
* Luke 12:32-34
* Luke 12:21

NEXT STEPS
1. Be courageous.
2. Name your barns.
3. Hold earthly treasures lightly.
4. Give away earthly treasure.

GO DEEPER - Rich Toward God

Being rich toward God is valuing what God values over ourselves. It is seeking God’s kingdom first. Consider a few more courageous questions:
* How does God love me and how does God want me to love others?
* How can I build God’s kingdom barns better, and avoid building my barns bigger?
* How can I increase my need for God as my earthly treasures increase?
* What does God want me to do with the possessions I manage for God?
* How can I be wise and avoid being foolish about my wealth?
* How can I know the real peril to my soul that is created by my wealth?
* How does God want me be rich toward God? (What does it mean to be rich toward God?)
* How can I grow to treasure what God treasures?

Meditate on this verse:  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, inspire and instruct me to be rich toward you. Holy Spirit, prompt me to use my earthly treasures to build your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen.