The Shepherd: Where He Leads
Grades 1-6
Nursery - Kindergarten
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
LESSON DATE & SCRIPTURE:
JULY 05 | LUKE 18:9-14
New city catechism question of the week:
Question #27:
Are all people, just as they were lost through Adam, saved through Christ?
Answer:
No, only those who are elected by God and united to Christ by faith.
Memory Verse: Mark 6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Talk about it together
Jesus traveled from town to town teaching people about God. One day, he told a story about two men who went to the temple to pray.
One man was a Pharisee. He was proud and believed he was better than everyone else. He thanked God for all the good things he had done and was glad he was not like other people.
The other man was a tax collector. He knew he had sinned and did not deserve God’s mercy. He bowed his head and prayed, “God, have mercy on me and forgive me.”
Jesus said God forgave the tax collector because he came with a humble heart. The Pharisee was too proud to admit that he needed God’s forgiveness.
Jesus wants us to understand that everyone sins and everyone needs God’s grace. We cannot earn God’s love by trying to be good enough. God is pleased when we come to him with humble hearts, confess our sin, and ask for forgiveness. Because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and everyone who trusts in him is welcomed into God’s family.
Family discussion
Which man thought he was better than everyone else?
Which man admitted he had sinned?
Which man did God forgive?
What can we ask God for when we have sinned?
Family prayer
Dear God, thank you for forgiving us when we sin. Thank you for showing us your love and mercy through Jesus. Help us come to you with humble hearts each day. Amen.