Calvary Chapel Cottage Grove
June 7, 2026

      • Psalm 31:title–24NKJV

  • God Is Able
  • Unbroken Praise

  • Guarding against hypocrisy and greed

    As Christians, we all know the scripture constantly warns us to be on guard against false teaching. Because it was the serpent who deceived Eve by first questioning God’s word and that God knew in the day if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes would be opened, and they could be like God, knowing good and evil.” And ever since, the tree of life has guarded and Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden.
    And today we have the knowledge of good and evil in our smart phones with a bitten apple as an icon. Ironic, isn’t it?
    But here’s the good news: You are not helpless. You are not in the dark. You are not victims of deception. You are filled with His Spirit, equipped with His Word, and invited into His wisdom.
    Satan still disguises himself as an Angel of light and uses false teachers, false gospels and spiritual counterfeits. But we have the privilege of knowing the real Jesus, the real gospel and the real Holy Spirit!
    That’s why scriptures calls us to stay alert!
    Proverbs 4:23 LSB
    Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
    1 Corinthians 16:13 LSB
    Be watchful, [on guard] stand firm in the faith....
    Ephesians 6:18 LSB
    ...praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints...
    1 Peter 5:8 LSB
    Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
    The passages are not meant to frighten us but they privileges given so we can walk in confidence, clarity and victory.
    In Jesus’ day Satan was inspiring the Jewish rabbis of Jerusalem to teach from other writings to make void the word of God through their traditions.
    They call it the Mishnah and eventually the Talmud and these writings are simply man‑made interpretations, [commentaries] customs, and rulings that the Pharisees treated as equal—or even superior—to Scripture.
    And because of that, they missed the promised Messiah even though their prophets had described Him so clearly!
    They “looked” so devout religious men, sounded so “holy” but they lacked the life of the HS.
    When Jesus showed up, He didn’t fit their idea of Messiah. They were looking for a military leader who was going to conquer Rome as Judas Maccabees conquered Greece. Yet Yeshua was healing Roman people by their request! The religious leaders believed Jesus was an imposter.
    In the previous chapter after Yeshua scorched them with “woe is you’s” they were completely humiliated and very offended!
    Let’s just say it was a mic drop for Jesus! And even though everything he told them was true, there was no sign of repentance and their attitude toward Him only grew worse because they had blasphemed the Holy Spirit! - look at..
    Luke 11:53–54 LSB
    And when He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects, plotting to catch Him in something He might say.
    Their hostility would eventually lead to His arrest and crucifixion. Yet Jesus continued to teach His disciples how to stand strong in a world filled with deception.
    By this time the crowds were looking like a Woodstock concert!
    Luke 12:1 LSB
    At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, “Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
    FIRST WARNING: BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST HYPOCRISY
    It’s like “leaven” it spreads quietly, hides the truth, whispers in the dark, and pretends to be something it isn’t. Hypocrisy means the Pharisees were like actors on stage who wore masks and played a role. So the context of hypocrisy continues until verse 15
    Luke 12:2–3 LSB
    “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
    Note the context: It’s Hypocrisy that covers up, hides truth, speaks lies, and whispers in the inner room. But truth will uncover the lies, make known the secrets, bring light and volume to conversations in the dark...
    Now Jesus knows in the near future his disciples will become targets of these religious hypocrites as many of them would suffer martyrdom. So he mentions tow kinds of fear.
    Luke 12:4–5 LSB
    “But I say to you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. “But I will show you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; [Gehenna] yes, I tell you, fear Him!
    This wasn’t meant to terrify them — it was meant to free them.
    Fear of man shrinks us. Fear of God strengthens us.
    The fear of man would have been the Jewish Sanhedrin or the Roman Empire - Rome was deeply religious, highly ritualistic, and extremely political at the same time but they were into pagan idolatry and if you refused to honor the Roman gods and the emperor, you were executed on the spot without a trial!
    Jesus knew what was coming: early Christians who refused to bow to Caesar as God were tossed into the arena to be devoured by wild animals or even dipped in tar, set ablaze and crucified!
    Even with Islamic doctrine, it is considered apostasy in Shia law to disagree and execution is mandatory.
    Yet, Jesus said “don’t fear that because it’s not eternal “fear the One who has “authority” to cast you into hell or Gehenna,
    A perfect metaphor.
    Gehenna or Hinnom valley was a place in Jerusalem around Solomon’s later years till the Babylonian exile 1000-600 BC where dead animals, carcasses & executed criminals were dumped and burned - the smell was death!
    Mothers came to offer their first born babies to be burned alive upon the heated arms of the idol Molech so that they may have more kids and prosper!
    Gehenna was a perfect picture of coming judgment and the eternal lake of fire!
    So if the lake of fire wasn’t a reality why would Jesus even bring it up?
    What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses His soul.
    If it’s annihilation of the soul what’s to fear?
    Yet it’s Jesus saying we should fear this place more than martyrdom or assassination!
    And then Jesus immediately reassures them:
    Luke 12:6–7 LSB
    “Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? [two copper coins -day’s wage] Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
    While God cares for the smallest and cheapest of birds, why would we think our lives are not valuable?
    God knows every detail of your life — even the number of hairs on your head. You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.
    Luke 12:8–9 LSB
    “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God, but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
    This is not a threat — it’s a privilege. Knowing we have nothing to fear, we get to represent Jesus.
    We get to shine His light. We get to stand in truth. And when we do, He stands with us.
    Luke 12:10–12 LSB
    “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. “Now when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
    Yeshua was preparing His disciples for the persecution they will face in the book of Acts. But remember, the unforgivable sin is not a moment of doubt — it is a hardened, lifelong resistance of the Holy Spirit who draws us to Christ.
    Luke 12:13–14 LSB
    And someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
    While Jesus is the perfect judge and arbitrator He claims ‘He wasn’t appointed to handle this family squabble’. This still happens today when disgruntled siblings fight over the inheritance and become bitter toward each other over material possessions that ultimately won’t matter in the end.
    NOW WE COME TO THE SECOND WARNING:
    BE ON YOUR GUARD AGAINST GREED
    Luke 12:15 LSB
    Then He said to them, “Watch out and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one has an abundance - does his life consist of his possessions.”
    Greed is subtle. It whispers, “Just a little more.” But Jesus reminds us that life does not consist in our possessions.
    If only most people who wanted to be rich understood this. Paul called greed idolatry!
    Colossians 3:5 LSB
    Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
    He told Timothy is comes with various evils.
    1 Timothy 6:10 LSB
    For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evils, and some by aspiring to it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
    Other sorts of evils are being exposed in the televangelism and mega church world from Daystar to TBN to the flood of the Christian music market making millions. But this has pierced their ministries! Yet Yeshua shows this has always been in the heart of man.
    Luke 12:16–17 LSB
    And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
    Nothing wrong with being productive! But Yeshua reveals how greed thinks.
    Luke 12:18–19 LSB
    “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’
    So obviously this rich man is self-focused, and even praying to his own soul!
    Luke 12:20–21 LSB
    “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you prepared?’ “So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
    As Jesus said to the rich young ruler who was sincere but couldn’t let go of his wealth to follow Jesus.
    Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! Why? Because his god was money.
    Wealth isn’t wrong —but wealth without God is empty.
    Being “rich toward God” means living generously, open‑handed, and kingdom‑minded.
    And many of you already live this way. You give. You serve. You support missions. You bless others.
    You are rich toward God.
    Matthew 6:21 LSB
    for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
    Matthew 6:24 LSB
    “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
    Yet if we serve God we can use our money to advance the kingdom.
    Luke 16:9 LSB
    “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves from the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will take you into the eternal dwellings.
    This is the whole purpose we give to missions work, support the church and allow money to be a tool of generosity.
    Two ways we can guard ourselves from Hypocrisy and greed.
    How? 1] LIVE WITH INTEGRITY
    Only because of the Holy Spirit can we choose to be people of integrity.
    They will say “the church is full of hypocrites” but Integrity is not perfection — it’s authenticity.
    It’s living the same way in private as in public. It’s letting the Holy Spirit shape your character.
    You guys are not hypocrites. You are people of truth, sincerity, and people who walk in the light.
    2] GIVE WITH GENOROSITY
    Money is not the enemy. Greed is.
    When we give of our time, our resources, our compassion — we reflect the heart of God.
    Generosity breaks the power of greed and opens the door to joyous giving.
    And this church is full of generous people.
    You are such a blessing to others. I believe the Lord would say “you are advancing the kingdom & storing treasure in heaven”.
    [worship team]
    So let us be on guard — not out of fear, but out of privilege.
    We know the truth. So walk in the Spirit. You belong to Jesus.
    And because of that, you can: LIVE WITH INTEGRITY & GIVE WITH GENOROSITY.
    May the Lord cause you to stand firm in that truth and shine with confidence as we break bread together
    COMMUNION

      • Proverbs 4:23NKJV

      • 1 Corinthians 16:13NKJV

      • Ephesians 6:18NKJV

      • 1 Peter 5:8NKJV

      • Luke 11:53–54NKJV

      • Luke 12:1NKJV

      • Luke 12:2–3NKJV

      • Luke 12:4–5NKJV

      • Luke 12:6–7NKJV

      • Luke 12:8–9NKJV

      • Luke 12:10–12NKJV

      • Luke 12:13–14NKJV

      • Luke 12:15NKJV

      • Colossians 3:5NKJV

      • 1 Timothy 6:10NKJV

      • Luke 12:16–17NKJV

      • Luke 12:18–19NKJV

      • Luke 12:20–21NKJV

      • Matthew 6:21NKJV

      • Matthew 6:24NKJV

      • Luke 16:9NKJV

  • I Come To The Cross
  • What Can I Do
Calvary Chapel Cottage Grove
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