RECIPIENT OF GRACE (Kent Smith Notes 11/24/25)
BEING A RECIPIENT OF GRACE IN AN AGE OF ENTITLEMENT
Luke 17:7-10
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It’s all about me.
About what I need.
What I want.
What I deserve.
What I like.
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THE ATTITUDE OF A SERVANT / SLAVE
A PARABLE OF JESUS
He asks, “Which one of you would tell your slave when they came in from their days work, ‘sit down, relax, and have dinner?’”
Insead, the owner will say, “Fix dinner for me, then get out of your work clothes and serve me dinner, then you can relax and eat your dinner.”
Furthermore, the owner does not thank the slave for being obedient.
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Luke 17: 7-10 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and [g]sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly [h]clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and [i]afterward you [j]may eat and drink’? 9 He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”
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THE LESSONS FOR US TO LEARN
1. When you have …done all that was commanded, you have not earned the thanks of your master.
2. Our self-contemplation should reflect, “I am unworthy of the grace that I have received; I have only done what I ought to have done!”
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1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Ephesians 6: 5-7 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
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DOING WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE
LUKE 17:11-19
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We should have no expectation of favor or praise when we are simply doing what we should do.
Nor should we become embittered if others do not recognize or appreciate our service.
When we serve, we serve God not men, and He will reward us in due time.
But if we do not do that which we ought to do, it is sin and disobedience.
We show ourselves to be a faithless and ungrateful servant.
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THE OCCASION OF JESUS HEALING TEN LEPERS
As Jesus entered a village, ten lepers cried out for mercy.
Jesus told them to show themselves to the priest.
As they were going, they were cleansed.
One, a Samaritan, turned back to thank Jesus.
Jesus asked. “Where are the other nine? Was this foreigner the only one to return and glorify God?”
Jesus said to him, “GO, your faith has made you well.”
God seeks a personal encounter over religious rituals.
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Luke 17:11-19 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
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THE LESSON FROM THIS ACCOUNT
Everyone needs community.
Everyone needs mercy.
God works in our obedience.
We often assume God’s activity is just about us.
When you recognize God’s activity - be thankful!
God is always acting for His glory. (often apart from religion)
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Everyone needs community: Even the Samaritan was welcomed among the lepers. Everyone needs to be a part of a community that accepts and values them.
Everyone needs mercy: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
God works in our personal obedience: It was as they obeyed the command of Jesus to go to the priest that they experienced healing. Would they have experienced healing had they not begun to walk to the priest?
We often assume God’s activity is just about us. The nine gladly received the healing, but sought their personal restoration to their former community, and the initiation of their restored future, more than considering an expression of gratitude to the One who healed them.
Only one (a Samaritan) praised God and returned to thank Jesus!
God acts for HIs glory. Jesus asks, Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?
Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” --Jesus does not encourage the Samaritan to return to the priest (he would not likely be welcomed in the temple anyway.)
Jesus affirms that it is his personal faith which has secured his healing – for the Samaritan realized his healing was from God through Jesus.
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WHAT IS JESUS TELLING YOU TO DO THIS WEEK?
1. How will you forge bonds with people far from God this week?
2. How will you follow Jesus to meet God’s expectations of you this week?
3. Will you be a slave or servant of God this week? WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE?
4. Be thankful.
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What ought you to do this week?
FORGING BONDS
Who do you know who needs community?
Who do you know who needs mercy?
Who do you know that is far from God?
What will you do this week to forge a deeper bond with them?
FOLLOWING JESUS
Are you doing all that you ought?
How does your weekly schedule reflect your service / slavery to God?
Are you glorifying God and demonstrating thankfulness?
How will you follow Jesus to meet God’s expectations of you this week?
WILL YOU LIVE AS A SERVANT OF GOD AND FOR HIS GLORY THIS WEEK?
What will that look like?
BE THANKFUL
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