August 31, 2025

LINK TO SERMON ON YOUTUBE
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TEXT: Luke 14:1,7-14

TOPIC: Pride & Humility

SERMON SUMMARY:

The Danger of Pride: Learning Humility from Jesus

In this sermon, Fr. Rob Holman reflected on Jesus's interaction with the Pharisees and religious leaders of his time, drawing powerful lessons about pride and humility for today's church.

Jesus's Ministry to the Outcasts

Fr. Rob began by celebrating how young people today are passionate about serving the disenfranchised—feeding the homeless, caring for immigrants, and supporting those society often overlooks. This mirrors Jesus's own ministry, where he consistently showed compassion to "the least and the lost," including tax collectors, lepers, and other cultural outcasts.

Yet while Jesus welcomed society's rejects with open arms, his harshest words were reserved for the religious leaders—the Pharisees and Sadducees. This paradox raises an important question: why were these spiritual leaders so resistant to Jesus's message?

The Root Problem: Pride

Jesus identified the core issue during a dinner party, watching as guests jockeyed for seats of honor. Through a parable about wedding banquets, he revealed that pride was blinding these leaders to God's kingdom. Despite being entrusted with Scripture's wisdom literature—including countless warnings against pride—they had missed the central message.

Fr. Rob shared a personal confession: he feels sad for the Pharisees rather than angry. Here was the Son of God standing before them, and they completely missed it due to their spiritual blindness. This creates a sobering reflection for modern church leaders: "What might we be missing today?"

The Antidote: Humility

Pride convinced the Pharisees they deserved honor for their strict law observance, making them unable to recognize their need for a Savior. True faith requires humility—admitting we are sinners who need rescue.

Jesus's solution was radical hospitality: invite the poor, crippled, and forgotten to your table, not just the influential and wealthy. This reflects God's heart and teaches us to love as he loves.

The sermon concluded with a powerful reminder: humility is our weapon against pride's danger, whether we're receiving God's grace or extending it to others. As we humble ourselves, we open our hearts to more of God's kingdom on earth.