Philippians 1:12-30 :: Guest preacher Shawn Saunders

Check out the “listen to a sermon” section for Part II of Shawn’s message.  If you haven’t already, check out the audio for the previous Sunday as well!

Thanks so much for lending your time, energy, and study to encourage and challenge us these past two weeks, Shawn.

Philippians 1:1-12 :: Guest preacher Shawn Saunders

Check out the “listen to a sermon” section for the audio from this excellent message brought to us by Shawn Saunders. He will be bringing us part II of this two-part sermon next Sunday, so stay tuned!

Luke 8:1-15

Last week we finished up chapter seven as we studied the story of the Pharisee and the prostitute. Simon was blind to the fact that this prostitute had something he needed and needed desperately… a heart that saw it’s own sinfulness and one that found refuge in the Savior… a heart that was full of love and thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins. I want to ask you that same question that Jesus asked Simon, “Do you see this woman?”, and if you do, what do you see? With whom is your heart more closely aligned… with the Pharisee (all dressed up in his religious rags) or with the prostitute (all covered up in the righteousness of Christ)? I believe your answer to this question will play a significant role in how you understand our text today:

Luke 7:36-50

Jesus said that His ministry could be summed up this way, “I have come to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” In our text today we are going to meet a woman whose life had been filled with ashes, mourning, and heaviness, but when she met the Lord Jesus she was transformed into a woman whose life radiated beauty, joy, and praise.

And how, you ask, is such a transformation possible? The answer can be found in one word. Grace.