Christ Church
Half Truths Week 4
Locations & Times
Christ Church Fairgrove Campus
2416 Zion Church Rd, Hickory, NC 28602, USA
Saturday 5:00 PM
Plain Truth: : The truth is we are dressed in the rags of sin, but in Christ we can have a robe of righteousness.
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Have you ever felt underdressed? Perhaps you didn’t get the memo or simply misunderstood that it was formal and you thought it was casual. There was a memorable line from George Goble years ago on the Tonight Show where he said, “Have you ever felt like the rest of the world was wearing a black tuxedo and you were wearing brown shoes?” There have been times we all have felt a little out of place—that in some way, we do not measured up.
Today’s text is a powerful story of a person who comes to a wedding and is not wearing the proper garment. He or she thinks that they are dressed well enough. But, it is a wedding and in first century Palestine there is an expectation of what to wear at a wedding. This person does not have on the proper garment. He thinks he is good enough to get in as is. But the host thinks otherwise.
Read Matthew 22:1-14
1. Why is it that most think they are basically good?
Who or what is the standard of goodness you have tried to live up to?
In Jesus’ parable, the king graciously invites all people to his son’s wedding. When the wedding preparations are complete and the banquet is ready, surprisingly many refuse the king’s generous offer. Others ignore the invitation. This is to be a grand event, and yet, the majority of persons invited either show disdain and simply go their own way. In fact, in this parable some of the messengers are insulted or even killed” (Matthew 22:6).
2. What does the indifferent (even hostile) reaction say about the human heart?
Think of a time perhaps you had an indifferent (even hostile) response to the things of God, specifically, the Gospel message. Looking back, how would you describe the state of your heart at that time in your life?
In Mark 10:17-18, a rich young ruler came running to Jesus with a burning question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Why do you call me good? Only God is truly good.” Jesus nailed it. There is only One who has never sinned—only One who is good. According to Jesus’ comment to this young man, no one is truly good but God. Think about it, the Son of God knows His Father and He knows the human heart.
3. Apart from God’s Spirit (the indwelling presence of God at work in our hearts) we default to a self-seeking, self-serving grid. How do you see this truth played out in the world around you today? What about in your own heart at times?
Of course, there is good in the world—a mother’s love for her child, attention to aging parents, caring for the poor, a generous pocketbook, a smile, a kind word. But according to James 1:17 any goodness in the world around us can be traced back to the Father above. And because our “goodness” is not our own, in other words, it does not originate with us, we must clothe ourselves with borrowed holiness. Our robe of righteousness is Christ Himself. Without the proper wedding garment, Jesus says no one stands a chance of getting into heaven’s banquet.
4. According to Revelation 19:7-8, when it comes time for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, the Bride will have prepared herself by dressing in pure white linen. What does the pure white linen represent, according to Revelation 19:8b?
Although works will not save us (only Christ can do that) good deeds prove that our faith is genuine. How do we become a people totally committed to doing good deeds – consistently putting our faith into action – according to Titus 2:11-14?
Jesus’ sacrifice, atoning death upon the cross, is the only way we can be made “right before a Holy God”. We humble ourselves before our Lord’s nail-pierced feet, confess that we stand in need of His salvation, and simply invite Him to live in our hearts. Our Lord is a gracious guest waiting to be welcomed into your life. He will not beat down the door of your heart. You must invite Him in. The moment Christ comes to live in your heart, He clothes you in His own righteousness.
5. Read the Plain Truth. Close in a time of prayer. If you have never invited Christ to live in your heart, now would be a good time! Pray this prayer:
“Lord, thank you for loving me. You already know, Lord, that I am not perfect. I know I will never be good enough for heaven. So would you please cleanse my heart, from the inside out? Dress me in your perfect love. I need you. Thank you Lord. Amen.”
Have you ever felt underdressed? Perhaps you didn’t get the memo or simply misunderstood that it was formal and you thought it was casual. There was a memorable line from George Goble years ago on the Tonight Show where he said, “Have you ever felt like the rest of the world was wearing a black tuxedo and you were wearing brown shoes?” There have been times we all have felt a little out of place—that in some way, we do not measured up.
Today’s text is a powerful story of a person who comes to a wedding and is not wearing the proper garment. He or she thinks that they are dressed well enough. But, it is a wedding and in first century Palestine there is an expectation of what to wear at a wedding. This person does not have on the proper garment. He thinks he is good enough to get in as is. But the host thinks otherwise.
Read Matthew 22:1-14
1. Why is it that most think they are basically good?
Who or what is the standard of goodness you have tried to live up to?
In Jesus’ parable, the king graciously invites all people to his son’s wedding. When the wedding preparations are complete and the banquet is ready, surprisingly many refuse the king’s generous offer. Others ignore the invitation. This is to be a grand event, and yet, the majority of persons invited either show disdain and simply go their own way. In fact, in this parable some of the messengers are insulted or even killed” (Matthew 22:6).
2. What does the indifferent (even hostile) reaction say about the human heart?
Think of a time perhaps you had an indifferent (even hostile) response to the things of God, specifically, the Gospel message. Looking back, how would you describe the state of your heart at that time in your life?
In Mark 10:17-18, a rich young ruler came running to Jesus with a burning question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus says, “Why do you call me good? Only God is truly good.” Jesus nailed it. There is only One who has never sinned—only One who is good. According to Jesus’ comment to this young man, no one is truly good but God. Think about it, the Son of God knows His Father and He knows the human heart.
3. Apart from God’s Spirit (the indwelling presence of God at work in our hearts) we default to a self-seeking, self-serving grid. How do you see this truth played out in the world around you today? What about in your own heart at times?
Of course, there is good in the world—a mother’s love for her child, attention to aging parents, caring for the poor, a generous pocketbook, a smile, a kind word. But according to James 1:17 any goodness in the world around us can be traced back to the Father above. And because our “goodness” is not our own, in other words, it does not originate with us, we must clothe ourselves with borrowed holiness. Our robe of righteousness is Christ Himself. Without the proper wedding garment, Jesus says no one stands a chance of getting into heaven’s banquet.
4. According to Revelation 19:7-8, when it comes time for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, the Bride will have prepared herself by dressing in pure white linen. What does the pure white linen represent, according to Revelation 19:8b?
Although works will not save us (only Christ can do that) good deeds prove that our faith is genuine. How do we become a people totally committed to doing good deeds – consistently putting our faith into action – according to Titus 2:11-14?
Jesus’ sacrifice, atoning death upon the cross, is the only way we can be made “right before a Holy God”. We humble ourselves before our Lord’s nail-pierced feet, confess that we stand in need of His salvation, and simply invite Him to live in our hearts. Our Lord is a gracious guest waiting to be welcomed into your life. He will not beat down the door of your heart. You must invite Him in. The moment Christ comes to live in your heart, He clothes you in His own righteousness.
5. Read the Plain Truth. Close in a time of prayer. If you have never invited Christ to live in your heart, now would be a good time! Pray this prayer:
“Lord, thank you for loving me. You already know, Lord, that I am not perfect. I know I will never be good enough for heaven. So would you please cleanse my heart, from the inside out? Dress me in your perfect love. I need you. Thank you Lord. Amen.”