Not What You Think: Rethinking Sin
Sermon Series Week 5 handout - Grace: What Saves Us
Readings: John 8 and Ephesians 2:1-10
What if sin isn't always what we think? Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth.
So we asked: what do these sins look like now?
- Week One — Pride. Having pride in hard work isn't wrong. The problem is pride that says, "I'm better than you." We today call that superiority, which is the ladder we build, with some people on top and some on the bottom. The Gospel answer: the Kingdom of God has no ladder.
- Week Two — Greed and Gluttony. These aren't just about money or food. They're about a hunger that always says "more." More stuff, more scrolling, more everything. We asked what happens when we try to fill an empty place inside us with things outside us. The Gospel answer: real satisfaction comes from trust, not from having more.
- Week Three — Lust and Wrath. We went past sex and anger. Lust can turn a person into something to use. Wrath can turn a person into something to get rid of. But every person has a name, a story, and a face, and the Gospel answer is: every person carries the image of God.
- Week Four — Sloth. This isn't just laziness. The old word was acedia, known as that tired, empty feeling that says, "I don't care anymore. What's the point?" We saw Elijah, exhausted under a tree. God didn't lecture him. God gave him food, water, and rest. Then, when he was ready, God said, "Get up." The Gospel answer: sometimes the opposite of sin isn't more effort. It's rest.
Notice what all of these sins have in common. Superiority says, "I'm better than you." Greed says, "I need more." Lust says, "I can use you." Wrath says, "You're my enemy." Acedia says, "I don't care anymore." Every one of them pulls us away from other people, and away from God. The Gospel answer: Sin isolates.
What breaks the isolation of Sin? Grace isn't pretending nothing happened. Grace is God refusing to let sin control us. Grace is God refusing to let sin separate us from God's love. Sin is still sin, even when we give it a nicer name. We're really good at spotting sin.........in other people. Jesus doesn't ask us to make a list of everyone else's sins. Jesus asks us to look in the mirror. Paul says it plainly in Ephesians: not "some of you were sinners." Paul writes “all of us are sinners.” "But God." We were dead in our sin. But God, who is rich in mercy, loved us anyway, and made us alive together in Christ.
Ephesians says it straight: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
Does this mean nothing we do matters? No. Grace doesn't make us sit still; it sets us free to actually live differently. That's what I hope these five weeks have done for us :
- Not taught us to spot everyone else's sin, but to recognize our own, and to know where to go with it.
- The ladder from Week One? Torn down.
- The greed and gluttony from Week Two? Answered by trust, not more stuff.
- The objectifying anger from Week Three? Answered by seeing each other as people made in God's image.
- The exhaustion from Week Four? Answered by rest.
- And today, the stones we carry to condemn others and ourselves? Jesus says: put them down.
Sin matters. Sin hurts people. We shouldn't excuse it or point at someone else's sin while ignoring our own. And we should never use grace as an excuse to keep hurting people. But sin does not get to control us. Our failures don't. Our shame doesn't. Our past doesn't. Jesus gets the final word. And his word is GRACE.
So put down the stone. Let go of the ladder. Come to the cross. Be filled at the table with others. You don't have to earn this. You don't have to prove you're worthy. You simply receive it. Grace is not God pretending sin doesn't matter. Grace is God refusing to let sin control our relationship. Go love your neighbor. Go forgive. Go make peace. Go tell the truth. Go live differently; not because you have to earn God's love, but because you already have it.
The ladder is down. The stones are on the ground. Your hands are open for a handshake, a high five, or a hug.
Let Grace take control.
Questions:
What are the two truths that Jesus holds simultaneously when he addresses the woman caught in adultery?
How can recognizing our own sin impact our relationships with others?
In what ways can we show grace to our peers in school or in social settings?
What practical steps can we take to 'put down the stones' we carry towards ourselves and others?
Final Parting Thoughts from this sermon series…
You might feel overwhelmed with guilt from past mistakes and constantly criticize yourself in front of your family. To 'put down the stones,' take time each evening to write down three things you appreciate about yourself. Share these insights with a family member, encouraging them to do the same. This act builds a culture of grace within your home and helps all members to reduce self-criticism and instead focus on the value God sees in each of you.
If you're experiencing bullying or harsh judgment from classmates, it can be tempting to carry resentment or feel worthless. Try to focus on one positive quality you admire in a peer, even if it’s small. This week, compliment them. Not only does this act of encouragement 'put down the stones' from your heart, but it can also reshape the atmosphere in your school, fostering kindness instead of judgment.
At work, you may find your coworkers often engage in negative conversations about each other, creating a toxic environment. Instead of participating in that negativity, commit to calling out the good in others during team meetings. Make it a point to highlight a coworker’s recent success or effort. This simple shift not only helps you set down judgment towards others but encourages a more uplifting and supportive workplace culture.
As you navigate your daily commute, you might be filled with frustration towards fellow drivers who don’t seem courteous. Instead of allowing these feelings to build resentment, try to consciously pray for each driver who cuts you off or makes a mistake. 'Putting down the stones' means actively choosing grace over anger. This simple practice transforms how you interact with others in public, turning each commute into a chance to spread kindness and patience.
