Children of the Resurrection: Dreaming God’s Dream Today

Nov 09, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God is the God of the Living, Not the Dead

Jesus reminds us that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, and that all are alive to God. This truth offers profound comfort and assurance, especially in the face of fear and anxiety about death or what comes after. Rather than being bound by earthly limitations or worries, we are invited to trust in the eternal presence and love of God, who holds all people—past, present, and future—in life. This perspective frees us to live with hope and to see ourselves and others as eternally valued by God. [38:29]

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.”

Reflection: In what ways does knowing that you are “alive to God” right now change how you view your life and your relationships with others?

Day 2: Living Without Fear and Anxiety of Death

Fear of death and the process of dying is common, but Jesus calls us to let go of that anxiety and instead dream with God about what life can be—both now and in eternity. Allowing ourselves to be cared for, to be vulnerable, and to accept help is not weakness but a sign of humility and love. When we release our fears, we open ourselves to deeper relationships and to the peace that comes from trusting God’s eternal care. [42:49]

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Reflection: What is one specific fear or anxiety about death or dependence that you can bring honestly to God in prayer today, trusting Him to meet you there?

Day 3: Dreaming God’s Dream for the World

We are called not just to hope for a better world in the “someday after,” but to participate in God’s dream for justice, compassion, and love right now. This means seeing the value in every person, feeding the hungry, supporting the poor, and working to end systems of oppression. God’s dream is that all are seen as children of the resurrection, and we are invited to join in making that dream a reality through our actions and our stewardship. [51:15]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can help bring God’s dream of justice and compassion to life in your community this week?

Day 4: Embracing Our Identity as Children of the Resurrection

Jesus teaches that those who belong to God are “children of the resurrection,” called to live with the assurance of God’s love and mercy. This identity is not just a future hope but a present reality, empowering us to live boldly, love generously, and serve faithfully. Knowing we are children of the resurrection gives us courage to leave behind fear and to embody the good news in both word and deed. [50:33]

Romans 8:14-17 (ESV)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Reflection: How does knowing you are a “child of the resurrection” inspire you to live differently today?

Day 5: Sharing God’s Love and Mercy with Others

God’s love and mercy are available to all, and we are called to carry that message to others through our words and actions. Living out our faith means sharing our resources, supporting those in need, and bearing witness to God’s inclusive love in a world that is hurting. We do not have to do this perfectly; we need only to be willing to dream with God and to act with compassion and generosity. [51:59]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally show God’s love and mercy to today, and what specific action will you take?

Sermon Summary

In Luke 20:27-38, Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees, a group who denied the resurrection and sought to trap him with a question about marriage in the afterlife. Their scenario, involving a woman married to seven brothers, was meant to expose the supposed absurdity of resurrection. But Jesus responds by reframing the entire conversation: life in the resurrection is not a mere extension of earthly existence. The relationships and social structures we know now—marriage, inheritance, even the fear of death—do not define the life to come. Instead, those who are “children of the resurrection” are alive to God, sharing in a life that is not bound by mortality or human limitations.

This teaching invites us to let go of our anxieties about death and the unknown. Many of us fear not death itself, but the process—becoming dependent, being in pain, or burdening those we love. Yet, even in our vulnerability, there is an opportunity for love and humility. Allowing others to care for us is a way of receiving love, and being dependent is not a failure but a mark of our shared humanity. Pain, whether physical or spiritual, is real, but it is not the final word. Jesus’ words remind us that God’s love is eternal, and that our lives are held in that love, both now and beyond death.

The Sadducees’ question also reveals how easy it is to get trapped in legalism or to see others as property or problems to be solved. Jesus refuses to play by those rules. He points to a deeper reality: God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. All are alive to God. This means that eternal life is not just a future hope, but a present reality that calls us to live differently now. If we are truly children of the resurrection, then we are called to dream God’s dream for the world—to feed the hungry, care for the poor, and work for justice—not someday, but today. God’s love and mercy are available to all, and we are invited to carry that message in both word and deed, leaving behind fear and embracing the work of the kingdom here and now.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace Dependence as an Act of Love Allowing others to care for us, especially in times of weakness, is not a sign of failure but an invitation to deeper relationship. It is a way of letting others love us and a reminder that we are not meant to go through life alone. Humility in receiving care opens us to the grace of community and the presence of God in our vulnerability. [40:37]
2. Eternal Life Begins Now, Not Later Jesus teaches that eternal life is not simply a continuation of earthly existence, but a new reality rooted in God’s love. This means we are called to live as children of the resurrection today, letting go of fear and anxiety about death. Our hope in God’s eternal love empowers us to act with courage and compassion in the present. [49:08]
3. God’s Dream Calls Us to Justice and Mercy Being alive to God means participating in God’s dream for the world—a dream where the hungry are fed, the oppressed are lifted up, and all are seen as beloved children. This is not a distant ideal, but a call to action here and now. Our stewardship, generosity, and advocacy are ways we embody resurrection life in a hurting world. [51:15]
4. Let Go of Legalism and Embrace God’s Grace The Sadducees’ focus on law and technicalities misses the heart of God’s vision. Jesus redirects us from legalistic thinking to the reality of God’s grace, where all are alive and valued. We are invited to move beyond rigid categories and see each person as a child of the resurrection, worthy of love and dignity. [48:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[37:44] - The Sadducees’ Question
[38:29] - Jesus’ Response: Children of the Resurrection
[39:09] - Prayer for Understanding
[39:51] - Fears Around Death and Dying
[40:37] - The Challenge and Gift of Caregiving
[41:22] - Pain, Addiction, and End-of-Life Concerns
[42:49] - Spiritual Pain and Anxiety
[44:09] - Dreaming God’s Dream
[44:50] - Who Were the Sadducees?
[45:33] - Resurrection Debates in Early Judaism
[47:00] - Leverate Law and Jesus’ Argument
[48:27] - Jesus Redefines Life with God
[49:08] - God’s Eternal Love
[49:48] - Living as Children of the Resurrection
[51:15] - God’s Dream for Justice
[51:59] - Carrying God’s Message
[56:11] - Prayers for the World
[61:19] - Offering and Generosity

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Children of the Resurrection (Luke 20:27-38)

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

What question do the Sadducees ask Jesus, and what is their intention behind it? (Luke 20:27-33)
How does Jesus describe life in the resurrection compared to life on earth? (Luke 20:34-36)
According to Jesus, what does it mean that God is “not the God of the dead, but of the living”? (Luke 20:37-38)
In the sermon, what are some common fears people have about death and dying? [39:51]

Interpretation Questions

Why do the Sadducees focus on a legalistic question about marriage in the resurrection, and what does this reveal about their understanding of God? [47:42]
What does Jesus’ response teach about the nature of eternal life and our relationships with one another and with God? [48:27]
The sermon mentions that allowing others to care for us is an act of humility and love. How does this idea challenge our culture’s view of independence and self-sufficiency? [40:37]
How does Jesus’ teaching about being “children of the resurrection” invite us to live differently in the present, not just hope for the future? [49:48]

Application Questions

The sermon talks about the fear of being dependent on others at the end of life. Have you ever struggled with accepting help or care from others? What made it hard or easy for you? [40:37]
Think about a time when you were vulnerable or needed help. How did that experience open you up to deeper relationships or to God’s presence? [40:37]
Jesus says that eternal life is not just a future hope, but a present reality. What would it look like for you to live as a “child of the resurrection” this week? [49:48]
The sermon challenges us to let go of legalism and see others as beloved children of God. Are there ways you tend to judge others by rules or categories instead of grace? How can you shift your perspective? [48:27]
God’s dream is for justice and mercy now, not just someday. What is one concrete way you can participate in God’s dream for the world—feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, or working for justice—this month? [51:15]
The sermon mentions that pain, whether physical or spiritual, is real but not the final word. Is there a pain or anxiety you are carrying that you need to bring into God’s love and community? How can your group support you? [42:49]
How can you help carry the message of God’s love and mercy to someone in your life who may feel excluded or unworthy? What step could you take this week? [51:59]

Sermon Clips

“When you ask people if they are afraid to die, most people will say that they are not afraid to die. They are afraid of the process. They don't want to be a burden to others. Others being family or friends or spouses. They don't want to be dependent on others to take care of their daily needs like preparing their meals, helping them go to the bathroom, getting cleaned up, and they don't want to be in pain, whether that is physical or emotional.”

“Allowing your loved ones to care for you is one way of allowing them to love you. Being dependent on others is a sign of humbleness. We need others. However much we want to deny that, and believe me, that's coming from a pretty fiercely independent woman.”

“And pain is a part of life. But there are ways to manage that pain. It's true. Within recent years, the opioid epidemic has wre havoc on many people's lives. But typically, addiction is not an issue at the end of life. To be clear, some people addicted to drugs and alcohol are in some cases born with an addictive personality.”

“And even when pain medications have to be increased because one dosage is no longer effective, that is not because they have become addicted to it, but rather that they have built up a tolerance. A tolerance is not the same as an addiction. And while everything I just said is true, fear is very real when it comes to death.”

“And then there were those patients who were in spiritual pain, worried about where they would go after their death. Perhaps they had regrets about something they had said or done that they had maybe for had asked for forgiveness or maybe never had or those who had no religious beliefs whatsoever and assumed that they would become worm food.”

“But this morning's scripture is about letting go of any of that anxiety and dreaming with God. Dreaming what this world, this world here could be like. dreaming how being with God now might change our kingdom work. In other words, living out our stewardship theme of dreaming God's dream.”

“Some of which the scripture explicitly tells us and some which Jesus uses to exploit their argument. First, the scripture that explicitly says that Sadducees did not believe in resurrection between 200 BCE or some before common era or just BC. Resurrection was a dividing point between the Pharisees and the Sadducees in early Judaism.”

“Sadducees said there was no doctrine of resurrection or a belief in angels in the Torah. The Torah being the first five books of the Old or first testament. The Pharisees on the other hand believed that Torah should always be interpreted as they got more information. It should be interpreted within the context of that new information specifically from the prophets and the psalms.”

“Jesus also quotes Moses and the burning bush when he brings up Abraham and Sarah, Rebecca and Isaac and Rachel and Leah and Jacob. Leet law is says that you marry your sister-in-law or brother-in-law when your sibling dies if there are no children. But the Sadducees used this law as a way to entrap Jesus and question his authority as a rabbi.”

“Leverate law is found in the book of Deuteronomy in the Torah. And so Jesus is not arguing the law. But leverate law also sees women as property to be passed through from generation to generation, which women were at that time. Jesus doesn't say they should not follow that law. He says life with God isn't like that.”

“Humans are not eternal, but God's love for us is. Let me say that again. Humans are not eternal, but God's love for us is. That is what is meant by eternal life. Not that the life here on earth continues as it is, but that we will be with God in eternity.”

“It is that last sentence, all are alive to God, that should help us at least to leave our anxiety behind and dream God's dream. So if God does not die when we die, but rather because of God's mercy, we are eternally with God, then aren't we to make the best of this time?”

“Isn't now the time that we we as a community are called to help the needy? Isn't now the time that we are to preach the good news of God's love for all? Isn't now the time that we are to see the value of all of God's children? Because aren't we all children of the resurrection?”

“Jesus is calling us to imagine what it is like to live without the fear and anxiety of death. If we did that, how might our lives be different? How might we be able to dream God's dream? God's dream that we all might be seen as children of the resurrection.”

“God's dream that sees the hungry fed. God's dream that leaves homophobia behind. God's dream that has no room for racism. God's dream that has us sharing our time and our resources to reach that dream. Not in the someday after, but right now because God has promised us eternal life while calling us to live like God is with us right now.”

“So let us leave here today confident that we are children of the resurrection. Leaving our anxiety and fears behind so that we can bring God's dream to this world that is hurting and in need of the good news of the gospel both spoken and lived.”

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