Jesus And The Pharisee's Series

Video from sermon central: Shoes and Judging

Theme: Let’s Talk

Series 3: Straight Talk

What is it?

Straight talk from a redneck:

1. Darlin. You’re hotter than donut grease at a fat man convention.

2. Duct tape is like "The Force." It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

3. I think that boy’s about two sandwiches shy of a picnic.

4. I think he’s one fry short of a Happy Meal.

5. She's wound up tighter than the girdle of a baptist minister's wife at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

6. You got to be 10% smarter than the equipment you're runnin'.

7. She's purtier than a mess of fried catfish.

Straight talk is defined by The Free Dictionary as a direct and honest talk from one person to another. So in our case it would be a direct and honest talk Jesus would have with another person.

Scripture text for series “Straight Talk”:

Hebrews 4:12-13:

12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Straight talk insights from Hebrews:

Our passage here reminds us that God’s Word and words are living and active. God’s words are never dead but alive, they cut they penetrate into your heart – your soul – your spirit and even your mind. They slice open the truth about situations in your life. They judge you – did you hear that? They judge your decisions – but with truth – with insight that only God has about you and your attitude. God knows everything about you – more than you think He knows. He sees everything in your life – everything – He knows what you place above Him as an idol, He knows if you steal from Him, He knows if you sin secretly, and He knows if you love Him. He knows – this is why Jesus has straight talks with us because He knows all about us inside and out. He has straight talks with us to hold us accountable – so that in the end we will be found blameless by His grace. So in this journey of life He will re-direct us so as to keep us on the narrow road to eternal life through straight talks.

Straight talk is available anywhere you are – it’s a call away – it’s direct – no fluff - only direct honest talk with Jesus. Have you ever had a straight talk with Jesus? How about with another person? How did it go? Did you enjoy it? Did it reset your life’s compass? Did it tell you that you had taken a wrong turn? Did it highlight how you needed an attitude adjustment?

Straight talks are not like pep talks but I also think they are not as hard as a hard talks. So they are in between a hard talk and a pep talk. Straight talks seek to warn us and lead us into the right paths of life. The key is whether we will listen to them or not!

Sermon 2: Jesus and the Pharisee’s - religious leaders

The big question: Do you want to be a Pharisee? Do you want to be a religious leader in the church caught up in religious legalism?

Thesis: Jesus confronted the Pharisee’s with straight talk to get them to change their ways. He wanted them to see the error in their thinking, behavior and change. He wanted them to see their legalistic – non grace attitude which was driving them away from Heaven and not toward Heaven.

Texts:

Matthew 5:20: 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:1-38: 1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ 8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 15“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’