Communications. Creative. Sample OF LENT THE PARABLES TZ3. THE PARABLE of the PHARISEE and the TAX COLLECTOR. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Leader s Guide

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1 THE PARABLES OF LENT R E C E I V E J U S T I F I C A T I O N THE PARABLE of the PHARISEE and the TAX COLLECTOR ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Leader s Guide TZ3

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3 THE PARABLES OF LENT R E C E I V E J U S T I F I C A T I O N THE PARABLE of the PHARISEE and the TAX COLLECTOR ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE LEADER S GUIDE TZ3 3

4 THE PARABLES OF LENT R E C E I V E J U S T I F I C A T I O N THE PARABLE of the PHARISEE and the TAX COLLECTOR Index About The Parables of Lent Newsletter/Bulletin Notices Order of Service Complete Script for Worship Leaders Scripture Readings Children s Sermon Sermon Prayers Music Guide By Dean Nadasdy and Tom Eggebrecht. Art and design by Lindsay Galvin by for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Purchase of this kit gives the purchaser the copyright release to use the material in any format for use in worship. 4 TZ3

5 THE PARABLES OF LENT R E C E I V E J U S T I F I C A T I O N THE PARABLE of the PHARISEE and the TAX COLLECTOR About The Parables of Lent Each service in this series focuses on a biblical parable that connects to Lenten themes. Sermons by renowned preacher Rev. Dean Nadasdy reveal that within each parable s plot is woven a unique message about what we receive through the crucified Christ. Parishioners can take the message with them to enrich their own stories of faith in Jesus as they journey through Lent. For each service the kit contains: sample bulletins with complete orders of service sermons prayers music for the accompanist. Ordering Information Additional resources are available from for the Parish. Contact us for current pricing and availability. Call us at Or visit our website: TZ3 5

6 Bulletins For This Ash Wednesday Kit: Code TZB (printed) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZF (blank) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZK (blank) 8.5 x 14 bulletins A Complete Series For The Weeks Of Lent Is Available: Those who desire may supplement this service with other services for all of Lent. They are available as a kit and include all the Leader s Guide features described above. The kit includes a CD-ROM (Mac/PC) in RTF format with text of services and of bulletins, plus PDF files of the kit, and PowerPoint documents for use on screens. Kit Code TZU Ash Wednesday Receive Justification: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14 The tax collector who repents goes home justified, while the proud Pharisee does not. We, too, who repent are justified through Christ. Week 1 Receive the Word: The Sower and the Seed Matthew 13:1-8, The seed that falls on fertile soil takes root and grows, while seeds in other soils fail. The Word of Christ flourishes within us. Week 2 Receive the Treasure: The Hidden Treasure and the Priceless Pearl Matthew 13:44-46 Two men give all that they have to buy objects of great worth. We who are priceless to Christ receive him who gave all that he had to call us his own. Week 3 Receive Mercy: The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 A man beaten on the road gets help from an unlikely traveler. We who are often beaten down along the road of life encounter the healing of Christ through the cross. Week 4 Receive Grace: The Workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20:1-16 All workers in a vineyard are given the same pay from the master, no matter how long they have labored. All who have been called by the Master are blessed by the same reward in Christ. 6 TZ3

7 Week 5 Receive Forgiveness: The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32 A wayward son returns to the forgiving embrace of his father, who welcomes him home. We who have strayed return again and again to the embrace of our Father, through the sacrifice of his Son. Bulletins For The Six-Week Kit: Code TZP Pre-printed bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code TZ2 Blank bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code TZR Blank bulletins 8.5 x 14 Holy Week Services To Complete The Series: Those who desire may supplement this series with other services that continue the series format and theme. Each is ordered separately and includes all the Leader s Guide features described above, except the CD. Or, order all four service kits together. As a bonus, orders for all four kits include a CD-ROM (Mac/PC) with text of services and of bulletins in.rtf (rich text format) and a PowerPoint document of the entire service with text (with copyright release) for use on screens. All four kits Code TZ9 Palm Sunday Receive Love: The Lost Sheep Luke 15:1-7 A shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to find the one who is lost. We who are lost in sin are found by our loving Shepherd, who heads into Jerusalem amid praise and palm branches. Code TZZ Kit Code TZT (printed) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZW (blank) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZX (blank) 8.5 x 14 bulletins TZ3 7

8 Maundy Thursday Receive the Meal: The Great Banquet Luke 14:7-24 Those in low positions are invited to a place of honor by the host. We who are humbled by our sins and outcast by the world are welcomed by Christ to dine at his Holy Supper. Code TZ4 Kit Code TZC (printed) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZG (blank) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZM (blank) 8.5 x 14 bulletins Good Friday Receive the Sacrifice: The Landowner and the Tenants Matthew 21:33-45 Tenants in a vineyard kill the son the master sent to gather the harvest. The Son of God is killed that we might receive the kingdom. Code TZ5 Kit Code TZD (printed) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZH (blank) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZN (blank) 8.5 x 14 bulletins Easter Sunday Receive Eternal Life: The Wise and Foolish Builders Matthew 7:24-27 When a storm hits, the house built on the rock remains while one built on sand is washed away. We build our lives on Christ the Cornerstone. Code TZ6 Kit Code TZE (printed) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZJ (blank) 8.5 x 11 bulletins Code TZO (blank) 8.5 x 14 bulletins 8 TZ3

9 Other Resources: Code TZ1 Bookmark 7 x 2 1/2 Code TZ7 Promotional Bulletin Insert Code TZ8 Display Posters 11 x 17 Code PHTZ Cloth Banner Suitable For Worship Bible Study Resources: Code TZS The Parables of Lent Student Guide Code TZL The Parables of Lent Leader s Guide TZ3 9

10 THE PARABLES OF LENT R E C E I V E J U S T I F I C A T I O N THE PARABLE of the PHARISEE and the TAX COLLECTOR Complete Script for Worship Leaders The Opening is sung by the congregation to tune Lasset Uns Mit Jesu Ziehen and spoken responsively by the pastor and the congregation: Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow his example pure, Flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in his footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, Full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father s bidding. Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow thee. Let us suffer here with Jesus, to his image, e er conform; Heaven s glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm. Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heav nly joy; And the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow. Christ, I suffer here with thee; there, oh, share thy joy with me! Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death, From our soul s destruction, frees us, quickens us with life s glad breath. Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; And the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus, here I die to thee there to live eternally. TZ3 15

11 PPIn this holy season the Son of God humbles himself so that we receive mercy. CCHumble me once again, O God, that my life would be pleasing and acceptable to you. PPIn this holy season the Son of God prays for us so that we are made one with him and each other. CCHelp me to faithfully pray, O God, that my prayers would be pleasing and acceptable to you. PPIn this holy season the Son of God lives a perfect life so that we receive his perfection. CCFill me with your Spirit, O God, that my life and actions would be pleasing and acceptable to you. PPIn this holy season the Son of God enters into his Passion and death so that we are exalted. CCGrant me your grace, O God, that my faith in Jesus would be pleasing and acceptable to you. Let us gladly live with Jesus; since he s risen from the dead, Death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, thou art now our Head. We are truly thine own members; where thou livest, there live we. Take and own us constantly, faithful Friend, as thy dear brethren. Jesus, here I live to thee, also there eternally. The congregation comes forward for the Imposition of Ashes at this time. All those who come forward receive an ashen cross on their foreheads, and hear the words from the pastor or other worship leader: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. The Confession and Absolution are spoken responsively by the pastor and the congregation: PPHaving been reminded that we are dust, and to dust we shall return, let us confess our sins: CCMost merciful God, we confess that our very nature is sinful. The root of our sin is pride, and pride has made us love ourselves more than we love you or others. Too often we believe that our lives are acceptable to you, when in reality they are not. We have sinned against you by speaking selfish words, by thinking selfish thoughts and by taking selfish action. We have failed to love others more than ourselves and you above all else. Have mercy on us sinners. 16 TZ3

12 PPSince we cannot justify ourselves, our God sent his one and only Son to live a perfect life and die the death we deserved. Because of his generous grace, our sinful pride and all other sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Hymn of Response is sung by the congregation to tune Aberystwyth D: Savior, when in dust to thee low we bow the adoring knee, When, repentant, to the skies scarce we lift our weeping eyes, Oh, by all thy pains and woe suffered once for man below, Bending from thy throne on high, hear our penitential cry! By thine hour of dire despair, by thine agony of prayer, By the cross, the nail, the thorn, piercing spear and torturing scorn, By the gloom that veiled the skies o er the dreadful sacrifice, Listen to our humble sigh; hear our penitential cry! The Prayer of the Day is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader: PPHeavenly Father, your Son humbled himself to death on a cross so that we would be exalted in your eyes. Keep us from exalting ourselves so that we humbly walk in your ways and live according to your will. Amen. The Old Testament Reading, Daniel 9:16-19, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader: PPO Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name. TZ3 17

13 The Epistle Reading, 1 Peter 5:6-11, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader: PPHumble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. The Gospel Reading, Luke 18:9-14, is spoken by the pastor or other worship leader: PPHe also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. The Children s Sermon is delivered by the pastor or other worship leader: (Needed: Pictures of famous sports figures, actors, singers or other famous people) P P(Hold up various pictures) Do you recognize any of these people? Can you tell me who they are? You recognize them because they are famous. And when they do great things, we cheer for them or pay money to see them perform or put their posters on our walls. When a football player scores a touchdown, all the fans in the stadium go crazy. When a singer sings a great song, everyone at the concert whistles and claps. When we do all these things, it s called exalting somebody. To exalt someone means that we think they re great and we let them know it. The problem is that sometimes people think they are so great that it becomes hurtful to others. Take for instance the Pharisee in today s Bible story. He prayed to God in a way that made himself sound great. He made himself great by putting down the poor tax collector. 18 TZ3

14 The Bible says that it is sinful to act that way. We should not think that we are better than others. All of us are sinful in God s eyes and have done bad things. We all need God s forgiveness. That s why we come together for worship on Ash Wednesday. Today we are reminded that since we are sinful, we all must die. So we put ashes on our forehead in the shape of a cross. Yes, we all must die. But the cross reminds us that Jesus has taken the punishment for our sins by dying for us on the cross. Instead of exalting himself, Jesus made himself like one of us. Even though he never sinned, God punished him for our sin on the cross. Because of that we don t have to make ourselves great. We are great in God s eyes because in our baptism God gave us the gift of forgiveness that Jesus won for us by dying on the cross. Even though we are lowly, sinful human beings, God exalts us by forgiving us and giving us a new life with him. Because Jesus made himself low, he is the greatest of all. He deserves all of our cheers and all of our praise. He died for us so that we will live with him forever. Dear Jesus, we thank you that you took on our punishment at the cross and have forgiven our sins. We exalt you and praise your name for this perfect gift, and we look forward to living with you forever. Amen. The Sermon Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Southwell SM: We listen as the Word like scattered seed is sown, For as each parable is heard Christ s kingdom is made known. The tax man prays alone, the Pharisee with pride. Which prayer is heard before the throne? Which man is justified? In ev ry time of need, before the judgment throne, Your work, O Lamb of God, I ll plead, your merits, not my own. The Sermon is delivered by the pastor: Theme verse: He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. Luke 18:9 PPOn the surface this parable may seem to be just a little moral lesson on pride and humility. As Jesus puts it in his wrap up, Everyone who humbles himself will be exalted and everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (v. 14). So let s all get a little more humble. Done. We do that with the parables. It s sort of like roller-skating through an art museum TZ3 19

15 a little moralism here, a little refrigerator door material there. We stay on the surface, and because we re pretty nice people, we may manage to escape a parable unscathed or unchanged. An old proverb goes, Self-praise smells bad. We get that. The Pharisee s so-called prayer sounds more like an application for the Pharisee of the Year Award. It smells bad. This guy suffers from first-person-singularitis: I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all I get. Well, la-di-da! A young executive once invited his boss to his home for dinner. Everything was beautifully prepared, and the dinner was going well. Several times, though, the boss repeated, Well, you know, I m a self-made man!... You know I m a self-made man. He said it once too often, and so the young exec s eight-year-old daughter who was sitting at the table finally blurted out, Daddy, if he s a self-made man, why did he make himself that way? This Pharisee was a self-made man, but why in the world did he make himself that way? The answer is that he made himself that way because he believed that fasting and tithing and not being like those other people left him impressive to God. And that s what had to make this story so amazing when it was first told. The guy popping his buttons was by every definition in his culture a good man. He was exactly who he claimed to be. And the tax collector? He was exactly who he said he was, too a dirty rotten scoundrel, a collaborator, a crook, an IRS scandal in the flesh, an unclean sinner. Yet Mr. Pharisee of the Year turns out to be the bad guy, and the terrible sinner turns out to be the good guy. What an incredible reversal it was for Jesus listeners! Humility in our culture, though, is a cherished virtue. Garrison Keillor for years has asked the question How can you tell an outgoing Minnesotan? His answer has been: The outgoing Minnesotan actually looks at your shoes when he s talking to you, not his own. And we like that. We like the person who somehow maintains a humble shyness. We like Jesus ending to his parable. We do a disservice to Jesus and his parable, though, if we keep it on this surface level. As Luke puts it, Jesus told this parable to some of them who trusted in themselves (v. 9). In other words, the issue here is not just pride vs. humility but how we expect to be right with God. Jesus comments that only one of these two went home justified (v. 14). So what if Jesus is doing theology here? There s a thought. What if the parable has something to say about God? Something like: If you want to be justified before God, God will have to do it for you. The Pharisee s prayer never asks God for anything, certainly not to make him just. The tax collector, though, needs 20 TZ3

16 Tune...O Du Liebe Meiner Liebe D 1 & # c 1? # c 6 & # 6? # 11 & # 11? # # # 40 TZ3

17 The Closing Hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune O Du Liebe Meiner Liebe D: Jesus, refuge of the weary, blest Redeemer, whom we love, Fountain in life s desert dreary, Savior from the world above: Often have your eyes, offended, gazed upon the sinner s fall; Yet upon the cross extended, you have borne the pain of all. Jesus, may our hearts be burning with more fervent love for you; May our eyes be ever turning to behold your cross anew Till in glory, parted never from the blessed Savior s side, Graven in our hearts forever, dwell the cross, the Crucified. TZ3 41