Beyond Systems of This World

In a world dominated by systems—political, economic, religious, and social—it is easy to forget that God’s kingdom is not bound by these human constructs. Today’s reflection began with a sobering reminder: even acts as simple as public prayer can be restricted by earthly authorities, and those in power often use their positions to divide and control. Yet, Jesus’ encounter in Luke 20 reveals a deeper truth. When challenged with questions meant to trap Him within the logic of the world, Jesus points beyond the categories and boundaries we create. He reminds us that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, and that resurrection life transcends all systems and labels.

We are surrounded by boundaries—winners and losers, citizens and outsiders, heroes and victims. But in God’s kingdom, these distinctions dissolve. What matters is not the power we accumulate or the identities we cling to, but how we live in relationship with others. The story of the loaves and fishes is a powerful example: Jesus did not hoard or exclude, but multiplied and shared, inviting all to the table. This is the model for our own lives and our church community. We are called to share what we have, to welcome the stranger, and to hold one another accountable—not out of superiority, but out of love and mutual responsibility.

Differences—political, theological, cultural—are real, but they do not have to divide us. True unity is found not in uniformity, but in a shared commitment to move the church forward and to serve others. Our community has experienced this firsthand, learning to share space and resources, and embracing those who are different. This is not always easy, but it is the way of Christ, who calls us to meet in the middle and to refuse the logic of exclusion.

As we honor veterans and remember those who have served, we are reminded that our ultimate allegiance is not to any flag or nation, but to the living God. The cross, not the flag, stands at the center of our worship. Resurrection is God’s defiance of death and the systems that perpetuate it. Our hope is not in the strength of empires, but in the mercy and love of God, who calls us to be citizens of resurrection—people who live beyond the systems of this world, bearing peace and justice wherever we go.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Kingdom Transcends Human Systems God’s reign is not confined by political, social, or religious boundaries. While earthly systems promise order and belonging, they ultimately fall short of the fullness of God’s kingdom. We are called to see beyond these constructs and to live as citizens of resurrection, where love and justice are not limited by human categories. [03:20]
• 2. Radical Hospitality and Shared Abundance Jesus’ example of multiplying and sharing bread teaches us to welcome all to the table, regardless of status or background. True community is built when we share what we have, even if it means having less for ourselves. This radical hospitality challenges us to resist the scarcity mindset and to trust in God’s provision for all. [05:40]
• 3. Unity Amidst Difference Genuine unity is not the absence of difference, but the willingness to work together despite it. When we set aside our personal preferences and focus on our shared mission, we embody the love of Christ. This unity is a witness to the world that God’s love is bigger than our divisions. [09:07]
• 4. Ultimate Allegiance to the Living God Our deepest loyalty is not to any nation or flag, but to the God of the living. The cross, not the symbols of empire, defines our identity and hope. Resurrection life calls us to challenge systems that oppress and to live for something greater than earthly power. [24:40]
• 5. Living as Children of Resurrection To be children of the resurrection is to live with courage, compassion, and hope, even when systems fail or crumble. We honor those who have served not by glorifying war or power, but by building the peace and justice they longed for. Our lives are a testimony to the God who brings life out of death and calls us to be bearers of that life in the world. [26:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:43] - Prayer Restricted and Systems of Power
• [01:32] - Jesus Challenged by Legal Logic
• [02:22] - Resurrection Beyond Human Categories
• [03:20] - The Limits of Earthly Systems
• [04:20] - What Truly Matters at Life’s End
• [05:17] - The Table of Shared Abundance
• [06:18] - Navigating Political and Theological Divides
• [08:11] - Friendship Across Differences
• [09:07] - Working Together for the Church
• [10:47] - Voting and Serving the Common Good
• [12:33] - Lessons from a Veteran Father
• [14:13] - Accountability in Community
• [15:10] - Radical Welcome and Shared Space
• [17:20] - Meeting in the Middle Like Jesus
• [19:41] - Lived Experience of Scarcity
• [21:35] - Veterans, Allegiance, and True Patriotism
• [24:40] - The Cross Above All Systems
• [26:16] - Honoring Service by Building Peace
• [27:09] - Prayer for Courage and Resurrection Living

Bible Reading

Luke 20:27-38 (ESV) — > There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. And the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

Observation Questions

1. What question do the Sadducees ask Jesus in Luke 20, and what is their intention behind it?
2. How does Jesus respond to the Sadducees’ question about marriage and resurrection?
3. According to the sermon, what are some examples of the “systems” that try to define or limit people? [[03:20]]
4. What story from Jesus’ ministry does the pastor use to illustrate the idea of shared abundance? [[05:17]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus say that God is “not God of the dead, but of the living”? What does this mean for how we view life and death?
2. The sermon mentions that earthly systems create boundaries like “winners and losers, citizens and non-citizens.” What does it mean for these boundaries to “dissolve” in God’s kingdom? [[03:20]]
3. The pastor shares a story about working with someone very different from himself. What does this story teach about unity and difference in the church? [[09:07]]
4. How does the example of Jesus multiplying and sharing bread challenge the way we think about scarcity and generosity? [[05:17]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about “radical hospitality” and sharing what we have, even if it means having less for ourselves. Can you think of a recent time when you had the opportunity to share with someone in need? What did you do, and what might you do differently next time? [[05:40]]
2. The pastor says that in God’s kingdom, boundaries like “citizen and outsider” or “hero and victim” dissolve. Are there people or groups you tend to see as “outsiders”? What would it look like to welcome them as equals in your life or in our church? [[03:20]]
3. The sermon challenges us to hold each other accountable “not out of superiority, but out of love and mutual responsibility.” How do you respond when someone in the church challenges you or holds you accountable? How can we do this better as a community? [[14:13]]
4. The pastor shares about his own experiences with scarcity growing up. How does remembering times of need in your own life affect the way you respond to others who are struggling now? [[19:41]]
5. The sermon says our “ultimate allegiance is not to any flag or nation, but to the living God.” Are there ways you find your identity or loyalty more tied to earthly things than to Christ? How can you shift your focus? [[24:40]]
6. The pastor describes unity as “the willingness to work together despite differences.” Is there someone in your life or in our church with whom you disagree, but could work together for a greater purpose? What would it take to take a step toward that? [[09:07]]
7. The sermon ends by calling us to be “citizens of resurrection”—people who bring peace and justice wherever we go. What is one specific way you can bring peace or justice to your workplace, neighborhood, or family this week? [[26:45]]