Our deceitful hearts mislead us into thinking that we are better than we are. We tend to focus on external actions that conform to expected standards, while our hearts remain far from God. This innate hypocrisy comes at an early age, as we learn how to “obey” when people are watching and rebel when they turn their backs. It gets worse when we let this thinking seep into our religious practice. Our hearts deceive us into thinking that our hypocrisy has actual merit before God. We assume that because we are keeping the rules, we are pleasing God. Jesus has one striking word to say to us in these moments, “Woe!” We bring woe on ourselves and we destine ourselves for everlasting woe when we deceive ourselves in this way. Instead, we must clean up the inside in addition to the outside. To be the kind of people and church that receives the encouragement, “Well done!” we must have our hearts changed. That happens only when we turn to Jesus. He is the one who cleans up the inside and the outside. He is the one who transforms the most wicked of hearts into hearts that please Him. At the foundation is this truth: We please God, not by keeping all the rules, but by letting Him change our hearts. Only then will our hearts not threaten to deceive us straight to hell. –Pastor Rory
Sunday at Liberty
9AM: Parables of the Mustard Seed/Leaven–Matthew 13:31-35
10AM: Pastor Rory–A Generation of Unbelief–Luke 11:37-54 (sermon notes)
11:45AM: Budget Review
6PM: Pastor Nate–The Danger of False Security–Amos 6:1-14
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