Stories Jesus Told: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - Guide

Open with Prayer

Warm Up Questions:

● Why do we have resumes?

● What makes a good resume? If you have written one what was the experience like for

you?

Read Luke 8:9-14

● Why did Jesus tell this story? [It is one of the rare parables where we are told the

purpose of the parable.]

● How would you characterize the Pharisee’s prayer? The tax collector’s prayer?

● How would the listeners be surprised by the tax collector being justified before God and

not the Pharisee?

● Notice how the Pharisee shifts the focus onto the tax collector. How do people manage

their image of themselves by shifting their focus onto someone doing a worse job than

them?

● The way we see God shapes how we see ourselves and others. How would you say the

Pharisee saw God? What was the tax collector’s view of God?

● According to Hosea 6:6, what does God want?

● From the sermon: “The lie that we believe most often is that God wants our resume, our

accomplishments, our performance, not what creates the relationship.” What is your

reaction to this? Reflect on this as a group.

Close with Prayer

Merciful God, we thank you that we are not accepted by you based on our

accomplishments but only by your love. Keep us from building our self-image by

comparing ourselves to others. We ask for mercy for the weak places in our lives, and

the conviction that we can always come to you for this mercy. We ask for your guidance

as we walk the rest of this week. In the name of the One who came to reveal your mercy,

Jesus Christ. Amen.