Luke 18:9-17; Proverbs 8:32-36; Matthew 11:28-30
January 5, 2020
preached by Doug Cooper
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“To be Christian, faith has to be new – that is, alive and growing. It cannot be static, finished, settled. When Scripture, prayer, worship, ministry become routine, they are dead. When I have decided that I can now cope with the awful love of God I have headed to the shallows to avoid the deeps. I could more easily contain Niagara Falls in a teacup than I can comprehend the wild, uncontainable love of God.”

~ Brennan Manning (1934-2013), American Franciscan priest and author

“Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty… acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.”

~ J. I. Packer (1926-present), English-born Canadian theologian and writer

“A lowly person is a teachable person, easily entreated and open to explanation. Many of our spirits are too arrogant: they can teach others but can never themselves be taught. Many possess a stubborn spirit: they stick to their opinions even if they realize they are wrong.”

~ Watchman Nee (1903-1972), Writer and native leader in the development of the Church in China

“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.”

~ C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), prolific writer and Christian apologist from Britain

“The school of relationships is where you learn self-knowledge. I just don’t know how you could learn it sitting alone in the desert on a rock by yourself. You have to see where you fail at it. And that confrontation with your own ability – ‘I was again not able to love’ – those are the teachable moments.”

~ Richard Rohr (1943-present), American author and Franciscan friar

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

~ John Wooden (1910-2010), Hall of Fame basketball player and head coach

Sermon Passage

Luke 18:9-17; Proverbs 8:32-36; Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Luke 18

⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

¹⁵ Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ¹⁷ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Proverbs 8

³² “And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
³⁴ Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord,
³⁶ but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.” 

Matthew 11

²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”