Embracing Change: Living Fully in the Present

Sep 07, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: The Cost of Discipleship—Letting Go to Follow Jesus

Jesus calls his followers to a radical commitment, asking them to place Him above all other relationships and possessions. This is not a call to literal hatred, but to a reordering of priorities so that nothing stands in the way of wholehearted discipleship. The challenge is not just about material things, but about anything—memories, traditions, even our own sense of self—that might keep us from fully embracing the life Jesus offers. The cross is not an easy path, but it is the way to true freedom and life in Christ. [24:32]

Luke 14:25-33 (ESV)
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection: What is one possession, relationship, or tradition you sense God asking you to hold more loosely today so you can follow Jesus more fully?

Day 2: The Cross—Death to the Old, Freedom for Today

The cross is not just a symbol of suffering, but the place where all our old obligations, expectations, and burdens are put to death. In Christ, we are set free from the weight of the past and the anxiety of the future, invited instead to live fully in the present moment. This freedom is not an escape from responsibility, but an invitation to be awake and alive to what God is doing right now, trusting that in Christ, we have eternal life and are truly alive. [33:06]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Reflection: What is one burden from your past or worry about the future you can lay at the foot of the cross today, trusting Jesus to set you free?

Day 3: Repentance—Admitting Our Limits and Making Room for Change

The call to discipleship is an impossible standard on our own, but Jesus invites us to repentance—a humble admission that we don’t have it all figured out. In repentance, we make room for God’s grace to work in us, to help us change, to take one step at a time, and to be present today. It is enough to say, “God, help me make room. Help me change. Help me be here today.” In this posture, we find the freedom to grow and the courage to face change. [37:39]

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Reflection: Where do you need to admit your limits and ask God for help to make room for something new in your life today?

Day 4: Living Awake—Being Present to God’s Work Now

Jesus’ call is to wake up, to be present, and to notice what God is doing in the here and now. The temptation is always to dwell on the past or anxiously plan for the future, but the miracle of faith is that God meets us in this moment. When we are awake to today, we can organize for success, make decisions, and unburden ourselves from what holds us back. God’s grace is found in the present, and it is here that we can respond to His call. [28:40]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can be more awake and attentive to God’s presence and work in your life today?

Day 5: Mission Together—Letting Go of Old Models to Embrace New Callings

As the church faces change, we are called to let go of old models and expectations, embracing instead the mission God has for us today. Faithfulness is not about maintaining traditions for their own sake, but about being open to new ways of serving, loving, and being the body of Christ in our community. The question is not what we used to be, but who God is calling us to be now, together, for the sake of others. [30:06]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Reflection: What is one new way you can serve or connect with others in your church or community this week, letting go of how things “used to be”?

Sermon Summary

Change is the one constant in life, and as we move through this season together, we are reminded that our journey of faith is not about clinging to the past or anxiously striving for the future, but about being present and awake to what God is doing right now. Jesus’ words in Luke are challenging—he calls us to give up all our possessions, to carry the cross, and to follow him without reservation. This is not an easy invitation; it is a call to radical discipleship that asks us to let go of anything that stands in the way of our relationship with Christ, whether it be material things, memories, traditions, or even our own expectations.

We often find ourselves holding tightly to the things of the past—objects, traditions, or ways of doing church that once brought us comfort or meaning. Yet, Jesus warns that these attachments can become obstacles, keeping us from living fully in the present and responding to God’s call today. The cross, then, is not just a symbol of suffering, but of freedom—the freedom to let go, to be unburdened by what was or what might be, and to embrace the life God offers us now.

Our church, like many others, faces the reality of change: fewer people, shifting resources, and the need to adapt. It is tempting to feel guilt or nostalgia for what once was, or to anxiously look for new leaders or programs to save us. But the heart of our mission is not in maintaining an institution, but in being present to our community and to one another, serving as Christ’s hands and feet in the world. The cross calls us to die to old obligations and expectations, and to rise to new life—right here, right now.

In this moment, we are invited to repent, to admit we don’t have it all figured out, and to ask God for help to make room for change. The bread and wine of communion remind us that Christ meets us in the present, offering grace and strength for today. As we move forward, may we be a people who are awake, unburdened, and ready to follow wherever Jesus leads, trusting that God is always doing something new in our midst.

Key Takeaways

1. The Cross as a Call to Radical Presence Jesus’ demand to give up all possessions is not just about material things, but about anything—memories, traditions, or anxieties—that keeps us from being fully present to God’s work today. The cross frees us from the burdens of the past and the pressures of the future, inviting us to live awake and attentive to the present moment, where God’s grace is active and available. [25:53]
2. Letting Go to Make Room for New Life Clinging to what once was—whether objects, programs, or ways of being church—can hinder our ability to respond to God’s call now. True discipleship means releasing these attachments, trusting that God’s newness often comes through letting go, and that resurrection life is found on the other side of surrender. [28:40]
3. Mission Rooted in Community, Not Nostalgia Our mission is not to preserve an institution or return to a golden age, but to serve the people around us today. The question, “Who would miss us if we were gone?” challenges us to focus outward, to be a blessing in our community, and to measure faithfulness by our impact on others rather than by our traditions or numbers. [33:06]
4. Repentance as the Pathway to Freedom The impossibility of Jesus’ call—to give up all and follow—leads us not to despair, but to repentance. Admitting our limitations and asking God for help is enough; in that humility, we find freedom to change, to take one step at a time, and to trust that God’s grace meets us in our weakness. [37:39]
5. Communion as a Present Grace The bread and wine are not just reminders of Christ’s sacrifice, but tangible signs that God meets us in the present. In communion, we are strengthened to be Christ’s servants today, to share what we have, and to live out our faith in practical, loving ways—right here, right now.

** [49:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:48] - Embracing Change and Saying Goodbye
[11:01] - Confession and Forgiveness
[17:12] - Scripture Readings
[24:32] - The Cost of Discipleship in Luke
[25:53] - The Challenge of the Cross
[27:10] - Letting Go of the Past
[28:40] - Church Life: From Programs to Family
[30:06] - Guilt, Nostalgia, and Being Present
[31:28] - Facing the Future of the Church
[33:06] - Mission and Community Impact
[36:54] - Wrestling with Jesus’ Impossible Call
[37:39] - Repentance and the Freedom to Change
[41:22] - Prayers and Sharing the Peace
[44:38] - Holy Communion
[49:13] - Prayer After Communion
[52:45] - Announcements and Celebrations
[54:08] - Upcoming Events and Service Opportunities
[59:02] - Sending Blessing and Dismissal
[60:59] - Closing and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Cross, Change, and Being Present

Bible Reading

Luke 14:25-33 (ESV)
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Observation Questions

What does Jesus say is required to be his disciple in Luke 14:25-33? What are some of the specific things he mentions giving up?
According to the sermon, what are some examples of “possessions” or attachments that can get in the way of following Jesus? ([25:53])
How does the sermon describe the cross—not just as a symbol of suffering, but as a symbol of freedom? ([33:06])
What does the pastor say about the difference between being a “program church” and a “family church”? ([28:40])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus uses such strong language about “hating” family and giving up all possessions? What is he trying to communicate about discipleship?
The sermon talks about clinging to the past—whether it’s objects, traditions, or ways of doing church. Why might these things become obstacles to living out our faith today? ([27:10])
The pastor asks, “Who would miss us if we were gone?” How does this question challenge the way we think about our church’s mission? ([33:06])
The sermon says that admitting we don’t have it all figured out and asking God for help is “enough.” How does this idea of repentance lead to freedom and change? ([37:39])

Application Questions

Is there something from your past—an object, a tradition, or even a way of thinking—that you find hard to let go of? How might holding onto it be affecting your faith or your ability to be present to what God is doing now? ([27:10])
The cross is described as both a burden and a freedom. What is one “burden” you feel called to lay down so you can follow Jesus more fully? What would it look like to take a small step in that direction this week? ([25:53])
When you think about our church, do you find yourself feeling more nostalgia for the past, anxiety about the future, or hope for what God is doing now? How can you shift your focus to being more present? ([30:06])
The pastor mentions that our mission is not to preserve an institution, but to serve our community. Who in your life or neighborhood would “miss you” if you were gone? What is one way you can be a blessing to them this month? ([33:06])
Repentance is described as simply admitting we need help and asking God to make room for change. Is there an area in your life where you need to say, “God, I don’t have it figured out—help me”? What would it look like to pray that honestly this week? ([37:39])
Communion is called a “present grace”—a way Christ meets us right now. How does participating in communion help you experience God’s presence in your everyday life? ([49:13])
The sermon talks about moving from “programs” to “family” in church life. What is one way you can help build a sense of family and community in our church right now? ([28:40])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for courage to let go of what needs to be released, for eyes to see what God is doing in the present, and for hearts ready to follow Jesus wherever he leads.

Sermon Clips

“This whole sermon Jesus has been preaching about for all of these weeks has been about the fact that the one true thing that happens in life is that change is constant. As much as we would love to stop change from happening, we just can't do it. Sometimes changes are hard.”

“And I think the writer of Luke, the gospel, wants us to sit in that position of having nowhere to turn. Because that's the cross. And you either love the cross, because you understand that the cross is good news, you understand why it's good news, or you reject the cross. It's very simple.”

“He was talking about the sin of hoarding. And the holding on of things as memories, as elements of our life, as elements of our faithfulness in our past, or our traditions that we hold on to, as important. And Jesus was letting them know that that. That stuff kills. That stuff is death. That stuff will lead you into the ditch.”

“You know, the call to this thing and the call that really gets you where Jesus is trying to get us to be is in the present, in the now. Being awake. He started this whole thing by saying, wake up, stay awake, get awake. And then he goes on the soliloquy about all the different things that get in the way of being awake. And this is the challenge for the faithful is to be here today.”

“And the reason that we have to give up all of our possessions in order to follow him is because if anything is in the way, it will always stay in the way.”

“We came from a church that was like, well, it was sort of like the cruise ship model, right? Things were good. You came to church on Sunday. There was someone who was up front telling you a list of activities that you could be part of so that you could play in the playground of church and maybe have your faith grow and love your people through it. Those were good days.”

“And I feel like in our conversations, sometimes there's this guilt that creeps in of what we ought to be or were or could have been or should have been or something. And all I think about when that happens is how to help people. And this isn't just here. I've done this all the time. It's the notion of how do you get back to today? Because that stuff will take us down a conversation and a thought process that becomes very, like I said, judgmental and inward and sad.”

“But what did our, what did our synod kind of get in on? And our, and our national assembly kind of get in on was talking about, well, what we need is new leaders. Look for the new leaders.”

“One of the books was this old book about mission and the mission defined in 1987 was your mission of your church is if you closed today or tomorrow who would you have to call in the community to let know that you're no longer here that list of people is your mission it's a powerful thing to kind of remember those accountable things.”

“Jesus does not let us off the hook for being part of the kingdom once you decide to become a disciple of Jesus there is the cost that is that thing that I love that we made this week the cross the cross is good news because in the cross is is the death of all of the obligations that were before and the freedom to be here now and the death and the removal of the expectations of what I gotta be so that I can just be where I'm at right now.”

“The miracle of what we have is that we have eternal life we are not dead we are not dead we are alive and we are alive in christ jesus who at this table meets each one of us every time saying I love you and I know that you are caught in a heart that is caught in the past and beholden to the future and I just want you to be here now today.”

“That's what that bread brings that's what that wine brings is to be in this moment because in this moment we can make a change in this moment we can organize for success in this moment we can be free to make decisions for ourselves today we can unburden ourselves from our hoarding past we can unburden ourselves from the needed future and be.”

“But that's not faithfulness to the cross. That's where that balance is. So Jesus leaves it for all of us, including pastors in terms of churches. Therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. That's the rabbi talking to us. That's the rabbi giving us an impossible reality to live up to. But it sits in the back of your head, scratching, going, yeah, but that's what Jesus is asking for.”

“But we live with it because it's that tension that calls us to repent. And in our repentance, that is enough. In our saying, God, I don't have it figured out. That's enough. Help me make room. Help me change. Help me take one step. Help me be here today.”

“So blessings to you on this discipleship walk. Blessings to you as you engage these texts in your own way. And hear that call. And deal with your change and all that happens with it.”

“Go in peace. Do not lose heart. Thanks be to God. God bless you all.”

Ask a question about this sermon