Embracing Difference: The Power of Wholeness in God
Summary
In the world of Wicked, the story of Elphaba—the so-called Wicked Witch of the West—invites us to see how empire, power, and the status quo shape our understanding of who belongs and who is cast out. Oz, far from being a utopia, is an empire that privileges order and conformity, rewarding those who fit in and punishing those who are different. Elphaba’s difference—her greenness, her power, her refusal to shrink—becomes a threat to the system, not because she is evil, but because she cannot and will not conform. This is not just a story about one person’s struggle, but a mirror for all of us who have felt pressure to hide, shrink, or erase the parts of ourselves that don’t fit the norm.
Difference is not simply rejected out of reflex or tribalism, but because it is powerful. The systems of empire fear what they cannot control, and so they label the different as dangerous, wicked, or villainous. Yet, God’s creation is intentionally diverse—biodiversity, difference, and a multitude of perspectives are part of God’s good design. When we try to erase difference, we lose the fullness of truth and the gifts that come from seeing the world through many eyes.
Elphaba’s journey is one many of us know: the attempt to make ourselves small, to fit in, to avoid being targeted. But the call of God is not to conformity, but to wholeness. The world may call us wicked for embracing our God-given gifts, but God calls us beloved. The story of Peter’s vision in Acts 10 reminds us that God’s grace is always expanding, always breaking down the boundaries we thought were fixed. What was once called unclean, God now calls clean. The Spirit moves beyond our inherited certainties, inviting us to join a kingdom that is ever-widening.
Jesus’ warning in Mark 3 is clear: the true wickedness is to see God’s liberating work and call it evil. When we witness healing, wholeness, and freedom—especially among those the world has cast out—and we reject it, we are missing the very heart of the kingdom. The fruit of God’s work is liberation, healing, and the flourishing of all, especially the vulnerable and the different. The invitation is to embrace every part of ourselves and each other, to trust that God’s grace is bigger than our boundaries, and to join in the wild, beautiful work of kingdom freedom.
Key Takeaways
- Difference is Power, Not Threat
Difference is not merely something to be tolerated; it is a source of power and perspective that enriches community. When systems of power label difference as dangerous, it is often because they fear what they cannot control. God’s design is for a world where every unique gift and perspective is needed to see the fullness of truth. Embracing difference is an act of faith in God’s creative abundance. [45:30]
- The Cost of Conformity and the Call to Wholeness
Many of us learn to shrink ourselves, to hide the parts of us that don’t fit, in order to survive or be accepted. But the call of God is not to erase ourselves for the comfort of others, but to live into the fullness of who we are. The gifts and quirks that make us “too much” for the world are often the very things God has given us for the sake of the kingdom. Wholeness requires courage to resist the pressure to conform and to trust that we are beloved as we are. [51:45]
- God’s Grace Shatters Boundaries
Peter’s vision in Acts 10 shows that God’s grace is always moving beyond the boundaries we have set. What once served to protect or define community can become a barrier to the expansion of God’s kingdom. The Spirit invites us to continually reassess our boundaries, asking whether they protect the vulnerable or simply preserve the power of the status quo. God’s imagination for inclusion is always bigger than ours. [01:02:45]
- The Unforgivable Sin: Calling God’s Work Evil
Jesus warns that the true villainy is to see the liberating, healing work of God and call it evil. When we witness people becoming whole, communities being healed, and the marginalized being lifted up, and we reject or condemn it, we are closing ourselves off from the kingdom. The fruit of God’s work is always liberation and healing; to deny this is to miss the heart of God’s project in the world. [01:07:48]
- Embracing the Gift of Our “Wickedness”
If the world has called you wicked for being too much, too different, or too bold, know that God calls you beloved. The very things that make you a threat to the status quo are gifts to the kingdom. God is not threatened by your power or your difference; these are the means by which the kingdom is built. The invitation is to fly, to live fully into your God-given identity, and to join in the work of liberation for all. [01:13:33]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Community Disruption and Grace
[01:50] - Introduction to Wicked and Empire
[03:12] - Power, Difference, and Threat in Oz
[04:33] - Why Empire Fears Difference
[06:25] - The Cost of Being Outside the Norm
[07:54] - Strategies for Survival: Elphaba and Glinda
[09:10] - The Pain of Shrinking Ourselves
[10:56] - Personal Story: Learning to Speak
[13:31] - Embracing Our Gifts Despite Opposition
[14:58] - Elphaba’s Awakening to Injustice
[16:34] - The Choice: Compliance or Defiance
[17:48] - Becoming the Villain for the Sake of Goodness
[18:30] - Friendship with the World vs. Friendship with God
[19:35] - Peter’s Vision: Expanding the Kingdom
[22:45] - God’s Grace Beyond Our Boundaries
[25:01] - Questions for Discernment: Clean vs. Unclean
[27:00] - Mark 3: The Real Wickedness
[28:48] - The Fruit of God’s Work: Liberation and Healing
[31:33] - God Calls You Beloved, Not Wicked
[33:07] - Prayer for Liberation and Wholeness
[35:07] - Community Announcements and Giving
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Wicked, Difference, and the Kingdom”
---
### Bible Reading
Acts 10:9–16 (ESV)
> 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
> 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
> 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
> 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
> 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
> 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
> 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
> 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Mark 3:22–30 (ESV)
> 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”
> 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?
> 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
> 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
> 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.
> 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
> 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,
> 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—
> 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Acts 10, what is the significance of the animals in Peter’s vision, and how does Peter initially respond to God’s command?
2. According to the sermon, what are some ways that the empire of Oz tries to control or suppress those who are different, like Elphaba? [[43:12]]
3. In Mark 3, what accusation do the religious leaders make against Jesus, and how does Jesus respond to them?
4. What does the sermon say is the real reason difference is rejected under empire, beyond just “tribalism” or reflex? [[44:33]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God challenge Peter’s understanding of “clean” and “unclean” in Acts 10, and what does this mean for how we see who belongs in God’s kingdom? [[01:00:35]]
2. The sermon says that difference is powerful and threatening to systems of control. How might this idea change the way we see our own “differences” or the differences of others? [[45:30]]
3. In Mark 3, Jesus warns about calling God’s liberating work “evil.” What are some modern examples where people might reject or condemn something that is actually God’s work of healing or liberation? [[01:07:48]]
4. The sermon describes the cost of shrinking ourselves to fit in. What are some ways people might “shrink” themselves in church or community settings, and what is lost when we do this? [[51:45]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon says, “Difference is not merely something to be tolerated; it is a source of power and perspective that enriches community.” What is one “difference” in yourself or someone else that you have been tempted to hide or downplay? How might you begin to see it as a gift? [[45:30]]
2. Have you ever felt pressure to “shrink” or erase a part of yourself to fit in—at church, work, or with family? What would it look like to resist that pressure and live more fully into your God-given identity? [[51:45]]
3. Peter’s vision in Acts 10 shows God’s grace breaking old boundaries. Are there boundaries in your life or community that might need to be re-examined or even broken down for the sake of inclusion and love? What would be a first step? [[01:02:45]]
4. The sermon warns that the true wickedness is to see God’s liberating work and call it evil. Have you ever witnessed someone’s healing, freedom, or flourishing and felt skeptical or judgmental? What might it look like to respond with curiosity or celebration instead? [[01:07:48]]
5. The world may call you “wicked” for being too much, too different, or too bold, but God calls you beloved. What is one area of your life where you need to hear and believe that you are beloved, not a threat? [[01:13:33]]
6. Think about a time when you saw someone else being excluded or labeled as “other.” How did you respond? What could you do differently next time to stand with them or help them feel included? [[55:30]]
7. The sermon invites us to “fly”—to live fully into our God-given identity and join in the work of liberation for all. What is one practical way you can use your unique gifts or perspective to help your community become more whole and free? [[01:13:33]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
God, help us to see the beauty and power in our differences. Give us courage to live fully as you made us, and grace to welcome others in all their uniqueness. May we join you in the work of liberation, healing, and wholeness for all. Amen.
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Difference as God’s Design
God’s creation is intentionally diverse, and our differences are not flaws but gifts that enrich the community and reveal more of God’s truth. When we encounter those who are different from us—whether in ability, perspective, or identity—we are invited to see the beauty and power in that difference rather than fear it. The systems of the world may pressure us to conform, but God’s design is for a community where every unique gift is celebrated and every voice is valued. Instead of shrinking ourselves or others, we are called to make space for the fullness of who God has made us to be, trusting that this diversity is essential to the flourishing of all. [45:30]
1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (ESV)
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Reflection: What is one part of yourself you have tried to hide or shrink to fit in, and how might you begin to honor and express that part as a gift from God today?
Day 2: Expanding the Boundaries of Grace
God’s vision for the kingdom is always bigger than our own, and we are called to move beyond the boundaries that once protected us but now exclude others. Like Peter, we may be challenged to let go of inherited certainties about who is “in” or “out” and to trust that God’s grace is already at work in places and people we might not expect. The Spirit invites us to expand our understanding of holiness and inclusion, to break down barriers that keep others from belonging, and to join in the ever-widening embrace of God’s love. [01:02:45]
Acts 10:9-16 (ESV)
The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Reflection: Who or what have you considered “outside” of God’s grace, and how might you open your heart to see God’s holiness in unexpected places or people this week?
Day 3: Recognizing and Celebrating God’s Work
The true wickedness, according to Jesus, is to see God’s healing and liberating work and call it evil simply because it does not fit our expectations or boundaries. We are warned not to reject the Spirit’s movement in the world, especially when it brings wholeness, freedom, and restoration to those who have been marginalized. Instead, we are called to discern by the fruit—by the healing, the liberation, and the love that emerges—so that we do not miss or oppose the unfolding of God’s kingdom right before our eyes. [01:07:48]
Mark 3:22-30 (ESV)
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Reflection: Where have you seen God’s liberating or healing work in someone’s life (or your own) that challenged your assumptions, and how can you celebrate rather than resist that work today?
Day 4: The Courage to Be Fully Yourself
It takes courage to resist the pressure to conform and instead embrace the fullness of who God has made you to be, especially when the world labels your difference as “wicked.” When you claim your God-given gifts and live authentically, you may be misunderstood or even rejected by those invested in the status quo. Yet, it is in this courageous authenticity that you find your deepest calling and contribute to the liberation and flourishing of others. God never called you wicked; you are beloved, and your power is a gift to the kingdom. [01:13:33]
Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to live more fully into your God-given identity, even if it means risking misunderstanding or rejection?
Day 5: Building Communities of Liberation and Wholeness
When we prioritize difference, inclusion, and the gifts of every person, we create communities where people come alive and the fullness of God’s goodness is revealed. This kind of community shatters the empires of exclusion and fear, making space for everyone to flourish and for every gift to be celebrated. The kingdom of God is not about conformity but about wild, beautiful diversity, where each person is free to bloom into the fullness of who they are. As we build such communities, we participate in God’s liberating work and witness the rise of a kingdom where all are truly beloved. [01:12:33]
Galatians 3:26-28 (ESV)
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: How can you help create a space—at church, at home, or in your circles—where others feel free to express their full selves and know they are beloved?
Quotes
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