The Trap Deconstructed by the Truth of the Gospel

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION

“If the church is to prosper and mature, she will need faithful men to lead and care for her. The church will need men who are sound in doctrine, whose lives are guided by the Word of God, and who are willing to defend the truth. The church will need to hold up as its ideal those who model fidelity and love toward God, men who will pour themselves out for the benefit of the Lord’s sheep. Men of this mold are gifts to the church from her Lord.”

~Lemuel Haynes (1753-1833), first black person to be ordained a minister in the United States and 30-year pastor in Rutland, VT

“Let us never assume that if we live good lives we will be without sin; our lives should be praised only when we continue to beg for pardon. But men are hopeless creatures, and the less they concentrate on their own sins, the more interested they become in the sins of others. They seek to criticize, not to correct. Unable to excuse themselves, they are ready to accuse others.”

~Augustine (354-430), bishop in North Africa

“Jesus didn’t wait until we got better to die for us. He died when we were in our most unlovely state. The person who doesn’t deserve love actually needs love more, not less. If you know someone unworthy of love, that’s great! You now have a chance to emulate Christ, because the essence of His love is unconditional.”

~Tony Evans, pastor and author

“Freedom in Christ allows you to control the desires that once controlled you.”

~Lecrae, singer, songwriter and entrepreneur

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.”

~Anne Lamott, American writer

SERMON PASSAGE

John 7:53-8:11 (ESV)

53 [[They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]