What's Happening
This Week's Prayer List
Grace: Lead By Humility
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
—Luke 18:9–14
Open It
- What feelings or attitudes do you have toward proud people?
- How does our society regard the quality of humility?
Explore It
- Why did Jesus tell this parable? (18:9)
- Who were the two men described in the story? (18:10)
- What motivated the Pharisee to pray? (18:11)
- Why was the Pharisee confident in his own righteousness? (18:11–12)
- Why did the tax collector stand at a distance? (18:13)
- What does the tax collector’s posture reveal about his own attitude? (18:13)
- What prompted the tax collector to pray? (18:13)
- How did the tax collector pray? (18:13)
- What difference did it make how these men prayed? (18:14)
- What does it mean that one man was justified and the other wasn’t? (18:14)
- What principle did Jesus stress? (18:14)
Get It
- Who would be examples of “Pharisees” and “tax collectors” in our society today?
- How do we judge people according to outward appearances?
- How do you approach God in your prayers?
- What does this parable teach us about our prayer habits?
- What enables us to be confident before God?
- In whose righteousness should we have confidence?
- In what circumstance have you wrongly exalted yourself?
- Why does God honor the prayers of a humble person?
Apply It
- What specific steps can you take this week to cultivate a spirit of humility?
Upcoming Events
Hey Ladies, let's celebrate our strength with laughter and...axes. Our next restoration event is August 24th from 6:30-7:30pm at the Axe Shack in downtown Bartlesville. We'll learn together how to throw, laugh together, and celebrate bullseyes!
Come and let the back-to-school, work, family or life in general stress go as you release that axe and hit the target.
For more information, contact Sheila Maler (918)440-5201.
We're kicking off the return of Wednesday night supper with a delicious baked potato bar! We start at 6 p.m. and we'll all gather as a family to clean up at 6:45. There's no charge for the meal, but we do accept donations both in-person and on the church's website at tcccfamily.org/give. We can't wait to see you there!
