Frog Legs for Breakfast Luke 18:9-14

Introduction A frog wanted to travel to Florida for the winter Had a brilliant idea – tie a string between two geese bite the string and ride along Man camping below saw the ingenious frog He asked, “Who came up with that brilliant idea?” The frog wanted to take full credit so he yelled, “I diiiiiiiiiidddddd!!!!!!!!!!” The camper had frog legs for breakfast.

APPLICATION WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS IF THIS CHURCH CAN GROW IF MANY CAN LEARN THE GOSPEL IF SOULS WILL BE SAVED IF WE DON'T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT!

PASSAGES TO STUDY Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Don't get too smug, self-righteous, self-centered You are only fooling yourself See picture at right – Put fist in bucket of water, remove fist, look at the hole you left

PASSAGES TO STUDY 2 Corinthians 10: But "he who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. Make sure God gets the glory, not self You can break your arm, patting yourself on the back. Do not praise yourself. Let God praise you at the judgment.

PASSAGES TO STUDY Luke 14:7-9 7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

PASSAGES TO STUDY Luke 14: But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 18:9 9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: SELF-RIGHTEOUS Trusted in themselves Thought they were righteous Despised others I don't want to be self-righteous

Luke 18: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess. Pharisee Prayed to himself I glad I am not a sinner like others are I do all the right things I don't want to be like the Pharisee

Luke 18:13 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' Publican / tax collector Not out where all could see him, stood far away Not making jestures to tell everyone he is praying Simple prayer for forgiveness I want to be like the Publican

Luke 18:12-14 Here is the sneaky part We know the Pharisee is wrong Self-centered, egotistical, selfish We know the Publican is the example to follow THEN WE THINK – I AM GLAD I AM NOT LIKE THAT PHARISEE

CONCLUSION LIKE THE FROG – WE WANT THE RECOGNITION, THE CREDIT, APPRECIATION FOR OUR WORK, IDEAS, CONTRIBUTION HUMILITY IS TRICKY STUFF – JUST WHEN WE THINK WE HAVE IT – WE OPEN OUR MOUTH – AND LOSE IT.

CONCLUSION THIS CHURCH CAN DO GREAT THINGS IF WE DON'T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT!