Grace at the Table

Introduction: What I found at the table at Applebee’s

Grace is a mirror to our souls. It reflects God’s beauty and it reveals our desperate need

Big Idea: The table brings us face to face with God’s Grace

“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.” () ESV

1.Grace reveals the condition of my HEART

Explain

It would have been normal for a Pharisee to invite a traveling teacher into his home. It would have been normal even for ‘sinners’ to be around but not engage

In one moment of Jesus’ grace we see Simon’s thoughts about Jesus:

If Jesus was a prophet he would know who she is…

If Jesus was a prophet he would never allow:

If Jesus was a prophet he would know who she is…

Her hair to be down…to touch, wash and kiss his feet

If Jesus was a prophet he would never allow:

What’s Simon’s response?

Her hair to be down…to touch, wash and kiss his feet

*It’s at SIMON’s own table that his true condition is revealed….

What’s Simon’s response?

He may have thought Jesus was important enough to have dinner with but not important enough to honor…let alone worship! vs.39—He’s no prophet if he allows something like this

*It’s at SIMON’s own table that his true condition is revealed….

He may have thought Jesus was important enough to have dinner with but not important enough to honor…let alone worship! vs.39—He’s no prophet if he allows something like this

**TRANSITION: It’s amazing what a moment at a dinner table will bring up…

Story: The Sushi Table—Making Tarah Cry

The table will reveal all kinds of things: if you’re bored or distracted or bothered or having fun Man on a date checking his phone…screens… Annoying couple feeding each other…

“Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” () NLT

2. Grace reveals the condition of my WORSHIP

Explain

Look at Mary’s Worship Notice she doesn’t say a WORD…she just ACTS

She was incredibly GENEROUS:

She used what she had (jar, oil, no towel…no problem, I have my hair)

This was a premeditated act

Her service, kiss and anointing covered Simon’s lack

Oil — Worth a little over a years wages

Simon gave Jesus the bare minimum…this woman gave everything....

Jesus points it out with a story

Story: Jesus tells a story about DEBT: One guy gets a 1.5 years forgiven One guy gets 2 months forgiven Who is more appreciative?

Story: Jesus tells a story about DEBT:

One guy gets a 1.5 years forgiven One guy gets 2 months forgiven Who is more appreciative?

One guy gets a 1.5 years forgiven

One guy gets 2 months forgiven

Who is more appreciative?

Our RESPONSE to Jesus will often be determined by the degree to which we acknowledge He has forgiven us…healed us…freed us…

Apply: OWN IT

1. Own your REALITY (Repentance)

Own that you talked behind your friend’s back because you were jealous

Own that instead of covering your wife or husband you took a shot at him

Acknowledge that you may be giving Jesus the bare minimum

2. Own your RESPONSE—The Woman’s response

Accept that your mistakes don’t have to define you… The woman who started as a notorious sinner in the story became a restored worshipper at the end

Brothers: accept that God’s love for you is not dependent on what you DO for him or your family.

You don’t need to respond to God by proving yourself…Do good work…Do take care of your families…..BE a Son

*** Story: “Bro, I’m sorry.” —Apologizing to Adam

Conclusion:

The Table brings us face to face with God’s Grace and that Grace reveals the condition of our hearts and our worship

The gospels describe so many different responses that people had to Jesus

Fast forward from Simon’s House to Jesus’ Last week on Earth

Today is Palm Sunday…The gospel will describe this week in detail and it starts with today. The day when people worshiped Jesus as Messiah as he rode in on a donkey.

Luke 19:36–40 NLT

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Luke 19:36–40 NLT

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

But just like Simon’s House there were Two responses:

Offense

Worship

Today: I don’t want ROCKS to do the job that I was DESIGNED for!