OOPS Series Part 3 (Pastor Tan Seow How) - Grace for the Disgraced

So, I was really excited for this week because of the topic - "Grace for the Disgraced" and the question to think about was... "What would Jesus say to Lance Armstrong?" "How would Jesus treat him?" - thought provoking right? 



So, here's the summary. 

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If we have the right image of Christ, then we will live right as Christians.
How would Jesus treat Lance Armstrong? (probably the most disgraced athlete of all time)
We can get a clue from a person in the Bible who was disgraced... 

John 8:2-11 (NLT)
but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

How would Jesus treat the disgraced?
Jesus would extend grace to the disgraced.

Religion vs. Christ

Religion catches sin.
Religion likes to expose and shame publicly. 
Religion likes to reject people.
Religion likes to accuse.
Religion likes to judge.
Religion likes to condemn.

vs. 

Christ forgives sin.
Christ covers and gives dignity.
Christ accepts
Christ defends 
Christ acquits
Christ releases


How Christians live should inspire others, not make them feel guilty.

Romans 8:1 (NLT)
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Religion says look at YOUR SIN
God says look at MY SON


Did you know that....
The Top 12 Greatest Fears
1. Public Speaking
2. Heights
3. Bugs, Snakes and Other Animals
4. Drowning
5. Blood and Needles
6. Claustrophobia
7. Flying
8. Strangers
9. Zombies
10. Darkness
11. Clowns
12. Ghosts

It's curious that people fear Public Speaking more than they fear zombies, ghosts, bugs and blood... This is because our greatest fear is to be judged... that is why we only sing in the shower and dance in the bedroom. We don't dare to sing and dance on stage because we fear being judged. 

Christ is not judgmental. 
The beauty of not caring if you are judged is that you are free to express your gifts and talents.. you will be free to be a leader, to share your story and tell other people about Jesus. 


Jesus told the woman, "GO"
Go is such an empowering word.
It says you are free, released, empowered. 



But more than "GO" Jesus said... "go AND SIN NO MORE"
(Next week's topic will be "Don't Be a Disgrace to Grace"... stay tuned for my next record of sermon notes! :)