Victory Family Church

Today we worshiped at Victory Family Church, 21150 Route 19, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066, 724.453.6200, www.lifeatvictory.com, John Nuzzo, Senior Pastor.

Scripture – Luke 7:36-48 (NIV)

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jan’s thoughts:

We attended worship with our daughter and two grandchildren, and the house was packed, as expected. Hospitality was extended in the form of free coffee and tea and welcoming smiles and handshakes.

Hanging from the ceiling in the common area were a number of large cardboard frames with the word “forgiven” across the bottom of the frame. They were created for photo opportunities, and numerous people took advantage, including all of us. They also tied in perfectly with the sermon of the same title.

I loved the video shown during one of the songs; it depicted various sins being nailed to the cross.

The message was aimed at anyone whose past was getting in the way of their future…who had trouble believing God had forgiven them and therefore had trouble forgiving themselves.  In other words, pretty much everyone.

He made several points that resonated with me:

1 – The struggle is not in God’s willingness to forgive but in our ability to receive God’s forgiveness.

2 – A resurrected Christ you don’t believe is dead to you.

3 – People who don’t forgive themselves live in a self-imposed prison.

4 – You will never live beyond your past until you forgive yourself.

5 – When you forgive others, two prisoners are set free.

I enjoy sermons here and especially appreciated this one.

Praying everyone’s Easter was a meaningful reminder of God’s mercy, grace, and love. Hallelujah! He is risen!

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray Your blessing on Your churches with all their varieties of worship. Amen.