Mission 25 – Your Excuses Won’t Work

Date: THU 8:00 PM 12th June 2025
Singer: Elizabeth Cordiner & Family
Preacher: Mr. Colin Maxwell
Bible Reference: Luke 14:18

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

Detailed Summary of the Sermon on Luke 14:15-24

The sermon, based on Luke 14:15-24, focuses on the Parable of the Great Supper, emphasizing the excuses people make to reject God’s invitation to salvation and the consequences of such refusals. The preacher delivers a passionate exposition, weaving biblical exegesis, practical application, and an evangelistic call to repentance, urging listeners to accept the gospel invitation without relying on self-devised excuses or deals with God.

Context and Introduction (0:00–0:56)

The sermon begins with the preacher expressing gratitude for the congregation’s faithful attendance and the uplifting atmosphere created by gospel hymns and scripture readings. The passage, Luke 14:15-24, is introduced as the focal text, with a call to prayer for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in preaching, aiming for the salvation of souls, restoration of backsliders, and edification of believers.

Reading and Initial Observations (0:56–4:37)

The preacher reads Luke 14:15-24, which recounts a man’s comment at a meal with Jesus: “Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God” (v. 15). This prompts Jesus to share the Parable of the Great Supper, where a man prepares a lavish feast and invites many guests, only for them to make excuses for not attending. The master, angered by their rejection, sends his servant to invite the marginalized— the poor, maimed, halt, and blind— and eventually those from the highways and hedges, to fill his house. The parable concludes with a stern warning that those who made excuses will not taste the supper (v. 24).

The preacher highlights the man’s comment in verse 15, noting that “blessed” means “powerfully happy” or “madly happy,” referring to the joy of participating in God’s kingdom. The parable is framed as a response to this observation, illustrating the invitation to God’s kingdom and the varied responses to it.

Main Text and Theme (4:37–6:05)

The sermon’s central text is verse 18: “And they all with one consent began to make excuse.” The preacher identifies the theme as the human tendency to offer excuses for rejecting God’s gracious invitation to salvation. These excuses are described as unanimous (“with one consent”) and ultimately unreasonable, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their folly.

Analysis of the Excuses (6:05–9:16)

The preacher examines the three excuses given in the parable, labeling them as “silly” and illogical:

1. The Land Buyer (v. 18): The first guest claims he must inspect a piece of land he has already purchased. The preacher points out the absurdity, as one would typically inspect land before buying it, and the land would still be available after the feast. This excuse reflects misplaced priorities.
2. The Oxen Buyer (v. 19): The second guest says he must test five yoke of oxen he has bought. Again, the preacher notes that such testing would logically occur before the purchase, rendering the excuse flimsy and indicative of prioritizing material concerns over the invitation.
3. The Newlywed (v. 20): The third guest cites his recent marriage, saying, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” The preacher humorously questions why the man couldn’t bring his wife or attend alone, suggesting this excuse reveals cowardice or an unwillingness to prioritize the feast. The tone here includes light mockery to underscore the excuse’s weakness.

The master’s anger (v. 21) is highlighted as a response to being snubbed, emphasizing the seriousness of rejecting the invitation. The subsequent invitation to the marginalized reflects God’s grace extending beyond the initially invited guests.

Gospel Application (9:16–12:16)

The preacher transitions to the parable’s spiritual meaning, interpreting it as a picture of the gospel:

• The Certain Man: Represents God the Father, who prepares the “great supper” of salvation.
• The Servant: Symbolizes Jesus Christ, and by extension, Christians who share the gospel.
• The Great Supper: Represents the spiritually nourishing truths of the gospel, including forgiveness of sins, cleansing by Christ’s blood, liberty from sin, and the promise of heaven.
• The Invited Ones: Reflect humanity, particularly those who hear the gospel’s “whosoever will” invitation (Revelation 22:17), made possible by Christ’s finished work on the cross (“It is finished,” John 19:30).
• The Marginalized: Symbolize sinners, who are spiritually poor, maimed, halt, and blind, yet invited to God’s kingdom through grace.

The parable underscores the accessibility of salvation to all, regardless of status, but also the danger of rejecting it. The preacher circles back to verse 15, noting that those who make excuses will not “eat bread in the kingdom of God” (v. 24), echoing Jesus’ words in John 5:40: “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.”

Focus on the Excuse Makers (12:16–13:36)

The sermon narrows its focus to the “excuse makers,” drawing on a quote from evangelist Billy Sunday: “A reason is not an excuse. An excuse is just the skin of a reason, but it’s stuffed with a lie.” The preacher argues that sinners have honed the art of inventing excuses over millennia to avoid coming to Christ. One prevalent excuse is then introduced as the sermon’s primary target: “I have done my own deal with God.”

Refuting the Excuse of a Self-Made Deal with God (13:36–30:14)

The preacher passionately refutes the notion that individuals can negotiate their own terms for salvation, structuring the argument in four points:

1. No Position to Negotiate (13:36–16:24):
   • Humans lack the authority to negotiate with God, who is the Creator, the holy God, and the target of human sin. The preacher emphasizes human dependence on God for life itself and the impossibility of approaching Him as an equal.
   • Sin renders individuals guilty before God, who is both judge and jury. With only “past guilt, present corruption, and future fantasy” to offer, sinners have no bargaining power. The idea of a self-made deal is dismissed as a “fig leaf” and an “unreliable argument.”
2. God Has Already Made a Deal (16:24–22:02):
   • God’s plan of salvation, or “covenant of redemption,” was established in eternity past within the Trinity. God the Father planned to save His people, God the Son willingly came to die for their sins, and God the Holy Spirit applies this salvation to believers’ hearts.
   • Scriptures like John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12, John 10:9, and John 14:6 affirm that salvation is exclusively through Jesus Christ. There is no alternative “deal” or path to heaven.
   • The preacher challenges the reliability of a self-made deal by comparing it to God’s unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8) and His covenant with His Son. If God were to abandon His covenant with Christ, who suffered on the cross, why would He honor a human’s imagined deal?
3. The Self-Made Deal Falls Under Scriptural Judgment (22:02–28:13):
   • Several Bible verses condemn trusting in one’s own heart or deal:
     • Proverbs 28:26: “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool,” indicating that such a deal originates from a deceitful heart, not God.
     • Isaiah 44:20: Describes a deceived heart leading to delusion, unable to deliver the soul.
     • Proverbs 14:12: Warns of a way that seems right but leads to death.
     • 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12: Speaks of God sending “strong delusion” to those who reject the truth, leading to damnation.
   • The preacher warns that clinging to a self-made deal risks eternal judgment, as it slanders God’s character and invites delusion. On Judgment Day, those relying on such deals will face God’s rejection: “Depart from me” (Matthew 25:41).
4. Exhortation to Come God’s Way (28:13–30:14):
   • The preacher urges listeners to come to Christ as sinners, not negotiators, relying on His finished work at the cross. Salvation requires repentance (a change of mind, abandoning false notions) and faith in Jesus as the only way (John 14:6).
   • The cross exposes the futility of self-made deals, as Christ died for the ungodly while they were “without strength” (Romans 5:6). Sinners must come as “beggars on the dunghill,” spiritually bankrupt, trusting solely in Christ.
   • The gospel invitation is open: “All things are ready” (v. 17). Salvation brings assurance, as believers know they are saved (2 Timothy 1:12).

Closing Evangelistic Appeal (30:14–35:28)

The sermon concludes with a fervent call to respond to God’s invitation. The preacher contrasts two paths: one leading to heaven through faith in Christ and the other to eternal death through excuses and self-reliance. Quoting a hymn, he urges listeners not to trust in their own schemes but to lean on Jesus’ name, the “strong tower” (Proverbs 18:10). He encourages immediate action, whether through private prayer or speaking with the preacher after the service, emphasizing the urgency of settling one’s eternal destiny: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

In a final prayer, the preacher acknowledges the potential to offend with such a direct message but affirms that God wounds to heal, urging listeners to seek salvation through Christ alone.

Key Themes and Applications

• The Gospel Invitation: The parable illustrates God’s gracious, universal call to salvation, open to all, regardless of status or sinfulness thường.
• Human Excuses: The excuses in the parable reflect the irrational and deceptive reasons people give for rejecting Christ, often prioritizing worldly concerns.
• The Danger of Self-Reliance: The sermon strongly condemns the idea of a self-made “deal” with God, exposing it as a delusion unsupported by Scripture.
• Urgency of Repentance and Faith: The preacher emphasizes the need for immediate response to the gospel, coming to Christ as a repentant sinner trusting in His finished work.
• Assurance of Salvation: True salvation, grounded in God’s unchanging Word, brings confidence and a reserved place in heaven, unlike empty excuses.

The sermon is a compelling blend of biblical exposition, theological insight, and evangelistic zeal, challenging listeners to reject excuses and embrace Christ as the only way to salvation.

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