Embracing Grace: The Power of Servanthood and Unity

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging with Jesus' Unpredictable Teachings

Jesus' teachings are intentionally unpredictable, inviting us to engage deeply and creatively with His words. This challenges us to move beyond formulaic thinking and into a dynamic relationship with Him. Jesus does not rely on predictable patterns or formulaic language. Instead, He engages each person uniquely, drawing them into a deeper, more creative part of their minds. This approach defies our expectations and invites us into a dynamic relationship with Him, where we are constantly learning and growing. By engaging with Jesus' teachings, we are encouraged to think beyond our conventional ways and embrace a more profound understanding of His message. [02:25]

Matthew 13:34-35 (ESV): "All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: 'I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.'"

Reflection: How can you approach Jesus' teachings with a fresh perspective today, allowing them to challenge and transform your usual way of thinking?

Day 2: The Abundance of God's Grace

The parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20 teaches us that God's grace is not bound by our human concepts of fairness. Whether we come early or late, His reward is the same, emphasizing the abundance of His grace. This story illustrates that regardless of when we come to faith or begin our work in God's kingdom, the reward is the same. It challenges our notions of fairness and scarcity, reminding us that God's grace is abundant and available to all, regardless of our timing. This parable invites us to trust in the generosity of God's grace and to let go of our limited human understanding of fairness. [12:05]

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: In what ways have you limited God's grace in your life by holding onto human concepts of fairness? How can you embrace the abundance of His grace today?

Day 3: Servanthood as True Greatness

True greatness in the kingdom of God is found in servanthood. Jesus exemplified this by serving others, and He calls us to do the same. We must first allow Him to serve us to understand what it means to serve others genuinely. Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and He calls us to follow His example. This radical idea flips the world's understanding of greatness and leadership on its head. By allowing Jesus to serve us, we learn what it means to serve others genuinely, embracing a life of humility and selflessness. [24:26]

Mark 10:43-45 (ESV): "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: How can you allow Jesus to serve you today, so that you can better serve others with humility and love?

Day 4: Transformation through Christ's Service

The story of Vonnie illustrates that it is never too late to find our identity and purpose in Christ. Her transformation and impact in the prison community show the power of being served by Jesus and serving others in return. Vonnie's journey from brokenness to becoming a beacon of hope and service in a prison community serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of being served by Jesus. Her story reminds us that it is never too late to enter the vineyard and make a significant impact, finding our identity and purpose in Christ. [31:16]

Isaiah 61:3 (ESV): "To grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."

Reflection: What areas of your life need transformation through Christ's service? How can you begin to embrace your identity and purpose in Him today?

Day 5: Unity through Humility and Service

Humility and service have the power to break down barriers and foster unity, as demonstrated in the prison story. This is a call for us to step into the vineyard and serve with love and grace, regardless of where we are in life. The incredible power of humility and service is evident in breaking down barriers and fostering unity, as seen in the prison story where former adversaries came together in worship. This serves as a call to action for all of us, regardless of our circumstances, to step into the vineyard and serve with the love and grace that Jesus has shown us. [48:26]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: How can you practice humility and service today to foster unity in your community or relationships? What specific actions can you take to break down barriers and build bridges?

Sermon Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound and unpredictable nature of Jesus' teachings and how they challenge our conventional ways of thinking and communicating. Jesus, unlike us, does not rely on formulaic language or predictable patterns. Instead, He engages each person uniquely, drawing them into a deeper, more creative part of their minds. This approach not only defies our expectations but also invites us into a dynamic relationship with Him, where we are constantly learning and growing.

We delved into the parable from Matthew 20, where Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a vineyard where laborers are invited to work at different times of the day. This story illustrates that regardless of when we come to faith or begin our work in God's kingdom, the reward is the same. It challenges our notions of fairness and scarcity, reminding us that God's grace is abundant and available to all, regardless of our timing.

Furthermore, we examined the concept of servanthood as exemplified by Jesus. He came not to be served but to serve, and He calls us to do the same. This radical idea flips the world's understanding of greatness and leadership on its head. True greatness in the kingdom of God is found in serving others, and we must first allow Jesus to serve us so that we can genuinely serve others.

The story of Vonnie, a woman who found her identity and purpose later in life, serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of being served by Jesus. Her journey from brokenness to becoming a beacon of hope and service in a prison community illustrates that it is never too late to enter the vineyard and make a significant impact.

Finally, we witnessed the incredible power of humility and service in breaking down barriers and fostering unity, as seen in the prison story where former adversaries came together in worship. This is a call to action for all of us, regardless of where we are in life, to step into the vineyard and serve with the love and grace that Jesus has shown us.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' teachings are intentionally unpredictable, inviting us to engage deeply and creatively with His words. This challenges us to move beyond formulaic thinking and into a dynamic relationship with Him. [02:25]
2. The parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20 teaches us that God's grace is not bound by our human concepts of fairness. Whether we come early or late, His reward is the same, emphasizing the abundance of His grace. [12:05]
3. True greatness in the kingdom of God is found in servanthood. Jesus exemplified this by serving others, and He calls us to do the same. We must first allow Him to serve us to understand what it means to serve others genuinely. [24:26]
4. The story of Vonnie illustrates that it is never too late to find our identity and purpose in Christ. Her transformation and impact in the prison community show the power of being served by Jesus and serving others in return. [31:16]
5. Humility and service have the power to break down barriers and foster unity, as demonstrated in the prison story. This is a call for us to step into the vineyard and serve with love and grace, regardless of where we are in life. [48:26]
** [48:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:25] - Jesus' Generative Conversations
[03:37] - Different Paths to the Kingdom
[04:35] - Speaking from Identity
[05:39] - Moving Beyond Fear
[06:36] - The Creative Mind
[08:12] - The Kingdom's Metaphors
[09:02] - Jesus' Unpredictable Leadership
[10:39] - The Spirit's Role
[12:05] - The Parable of the Vineyard
[13:56] - Early, Middle, and Late Workers
[15:50] - Equal Rewards
[17:44] - The Urgency of the Day
[20:27] - Misunderstanding Greatness
[24:26] - Servanthood as Greatness
[31:16] - Vonnie's Transformative Journey
[38:26] - Welcoming the Outsiders
[43:59] - Breaking Chains of Fear
[48:26] - Unity in Worship
[51:46] - A Call to Serve

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the parable from Matthew 20, what is the significance of the vineyard owner hiring workers at different times of the day? How does this relate to the concept of fairness and grace? [12:05]
How does Jesus' approach to teaching and conversation differ from our usual methods of communication, according to the sermon? [02:25]
What does the story of Vonnie illustrate about finding purpose and identity later in life? How did her journey impact the prison community? [31:16]
How did the act of servanthood, as demonstrated by Jesus, challenge the disciples' understanding of greatness? [24:26]

Interpretation Questions

What does the parable of the vineyard workers teach about God's grace and how it differs from human concepts of fairness? How might this challenge our own views on justice and reward? [12:05]
How does Jesus' unpredictable way of engaging with people invite us into a deeper relationship with Him? What might this mean for our own spiritual growth? [02:25]
In what ways does the story of Vonnie demonstrate the transformative power of being served by Jesus? How does this relate to our own potential for change and impact? [31:16]
How does the concept of servanthood redefine greatness in the kingdom of God, and what implications does this have for our understanding of leadership and influence? [24:26]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt it was "late in the day" for you to make a change or pursue a calling. How does the parable of the vineyard workers encourage you to step into God's work regardless of timing? [15:50]
Jesus' teachings often defy our expectations and challenge us to think creatively. How can you cultivate a mindset that is open to the unexpected ways God might speak to you this week? [02:25]
Consider the story of Vonnie and her impact in the prison community. What steps can you take to discover or embrace your identity and purpose in Christ, even if it feels late in the day for you? [31:16]
Jesus exemplified servanthood by washing the disciples' feet. Identify a specific way you can serve someone in your life this week, following His example of humility and love. [24:26]
The sermon highlighted the power of humility and service in breaking down barriers. Is there a relationship in your life where you can apply this principle to foster unity and understanding? [48:26]
How can you allow Jesus to serve you in your daily life, and how might this change your approach to serving others? [26:11]
Reflect on the story of the Muslim leader in the prison. How can you serve someone who is different from you in belief or background, and what might that look like in your community? [43:59]

Sermon Clips

1. "But Jesus won't let people predict what he's going to say. He always goes, and so if I say, if I'm talking to one person, I say, did Jesus talk to you about what the kingdom of God is? And they say, yeah. What did he say? And then I go, he said you have to be like a little child, like this beautiful little girl. You have to be like a little child to get in. That's what he said, and yeah. This guy, did Jesus talk to you about the kingdom of heaven? Yeah. Did he say you have to be like a little girl? Did he say you have to be like a little child? No. He didn't say that. He said you had to be born again." ([00:02:25] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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2. "And so, you know, and the thing about... The scriptures is there's not chapter divisions. It's not chopped up in chapters. It's this beautiful, oh my gosh, rhetorical flow. This amazing... And the Bible has all kinds of discourse styles all the way through it. It has Hellenistic... Like this. And it has Hebraic circular discourse like this. It's just so beautiful. And so if you wanted to be an expert in discourse analysis, you would read the scriptures." ([00:07:24] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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3. "And if we interviewed the group, we're evaluating what kind of small group leader Jesus is. So you interview his group. What does he talk about? We're not really sure. Well, just first tell us who he is. We're not sure. Well, is he teaching you things? I don't know. It's kind of like everything he teaches us goes against what we think. Are you going to stay together? Probably not." ([00:09:20] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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4. "And when the ten heard this, well, there's trouble in the group. Oh, the group is fracturing. I hate those two guys in our group. They always talk. They want to be in charge of everything. Do you like those two guys? No. So the ten were indignant at the two brothers and their mom. Have you met their mom? Oh, my gosh. It's no wonder." ([00:23:26] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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5. "And to give his life as a ransom for many. Why did Jesus come? To save me. How? By serving me. And then there's this time, you know, where Jesus shows that he's going to wash their feet. He's going to serve them. He's going to bow down in front of them and wash their feet. Like, and Peter. And Peter, you know, because he doesn't get anything about the small group." ([00:24:53] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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6. "And Jesus is like, hey, you're out. You're out of the group. He's like, what, what? He's trying to say the right thing. You've got to be first, you know, like, wait, if, if I don't serve you, you're out of the group. No, wait, I'm here to serve you. Listen to what I just said. If you don't let me serve you, you cannot serve me." ([00:25:57] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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7. "And she meets a man that's 20 years older. Than her. And this man helps her. He's very kind to her. And she's never seen this kind of kindness. And he serves her all the time. And he tells her she's smart. You're smart. And she's like, no I'm not. I've never even really gone to school. No, you're smart. What you need. Let me do something for you. That's what he always said to her. Let me do something for you. Let me help you. Let me help you. Let me help you. Let me help you. Let me help you. And he pays for her to go to college." ([00:29:29] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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8. "wealthy executive and he's like cheering her on and everything she does and one day she says to him why how are you like this and for the first time after years he says to her because of the one who served me and she goes who is that who who has made you like this who served you that makes you serve me he said the great servant Jesus and that's how she comes to faith in Christ Christ dramatically falls in love with the one who loved the one that loves her Jesus served him he serves her she falls in love with both of them gives her life to Christ 20 years of unbelievable joy and he dies and she's now 68 and it's late in the day and the greatest love of her life beyond Jesus has now left her and she's alone and she starts to fall apart and she starts like having an eating disorder and her life gets messed up and a friend of ours knows her and he calls me and he says will you meet with this woman and so we go to meet with her and what are we going to do with her serve her serve her why because that morning like every morning Christ served me and I received Christ's service to me I let him wash my I beg him to wash my feet I say anything you want I receive all that you have for me today I receive it all all all all in order that I can turn around and it flows out of me I receive the service of your forgiveness I receive the service of your grace I receive the service of your grace I receive the death and resurrection I receive the service of the identity you knit together in my mother's womb that I will never fully understand apart from you serving me and then I turn around and serve everyone else where did I learn to serve from the one who served me right so we meet with her and we talk to her about identity Fonny there's an identity deeper inside of you and what even what this great man helped you understand about yourself and let's ask Jesus now that this great man is gone he's with Christ what is it's late in the day but come on 68 it's okay it's not over yet there's a vineyard for you come on but but Jesus has to invite you into the vineyard we don't know what it is you have an identity so we pray identity prayer with her we're praying it with her and she's she says I'm going to pray for you I'm going to pray for you she's listening to Jesus she loves Jesus and she said I'm pretty sure he's calling me a criminal we're like keep going concentrate here we go would Jesus ever call anyone a criminal like sometimes you have to go time out you're not supposed to say those you know like we're going to tell God what to say right we know what God's supposed to say right we have to tell him a lot criminal I'm like okay let's press into this one a little bit that's Christian for like what press in what that's what you say let's press in we don't even know what that means pressing in we don't even know let's ask again and and she says she says she says I'm a criminal that's been redeemed she's like the criminal on the cross that's what she was saying this day you will be with me in paradise and she said so I think what he's inviting me into is the world of the criminal 68 years old so we're like okay so she drives to the state prison the men's state prison in Texas I don't know if you've ever been in a Texas state prison it's not a nice place she volunteers okay Vonnie's this tall and she's missing her right index finger which I've asked her a thousand times how she lost it and she she refuses to tell me the story I don't know why but so when she's pointing we don't ever know what she's doing right so she's always like look over there and we're like are you pointing something into a direction or she's pointing to the right direction and she's like I don't know what she's like look to Jesus and she puts her hand up but no one knows where to look where is Jesus because we can't what happened to your finger I'm not going to tell you that story okay all right whatever Vonnie she goes and she said she's this tall she goes and volunteers at a high security men's prison why should we let you in because I am a criminal like what are you doing on the outside then if you're a criminal like well yeah exactly let me in uh for Jesus and they let her in she goes in there and she teaches she starts a group gets with a group of inmates and she starts teaching that their identity is not criminal and how to hear from God and in months she has 300 men meeting every week Vonnie Vonnie" ([00:31:16] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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9. "Some of you guys have been in here a long time. It's late in the day, but come on. And so one day she has these guys and she calls me and she's like, hey, Jamie, are you in Texas? Could you come? Yeah. She goes, I'm leading a group. And she sends me a picture of her group. Here's our leader. He has a swastika tattooed to his forehead. Here's our group leader. He's right here. This is him right here. I'm like, wow. She goes, yeah, ignore the markings. He's a totally transform guy. And he's an amazing leader. And here's all the men that this guy, I met this guy, this former Aryan guy. He goes, man, Vani came in here and served us and never seen anything like it. And she introduced us to the one who served her, which is Jesus. And we fell in love with her and we fell in love with the one that served her. And now we want to serve the other inmates. And the group is growing." ([00:37:01] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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10. "And so the day the thing comes, we're praying our guts out. I come in there. Me and Vonnie come in there. There's 300 and whatever of the regular guys. The guy with the swastika on his head is up. leading the singing so it's it's like haha satan ah we got your guy he's a worship leader now and he's redeeming and so they're this little this little you know put together band that's awful and beautiful at the same time and they're singing their hearts out and everyone's everyone's standing and raising their arms they're singing about jesus and all of a sudden all the guards get super tense and they open up the door so so the guy's up front leading the music you know it's all on the floor and the guy men are all here and the door is right there and the door opens up and all the guards come and like form a like a line right there and in he walks in chains and he walks in and behind him are all of the muslims and they come into the room and the music stops and everyone sits down the guards make everyone sit down and he comes in the lead muslim guy he comes in and they're all behind him and they march they come in and they go into the back rows that are set up for him and they all sit down in the back row and it i mean it was so tense and vani goes stands up no one could see her even when she was standing up but she goes sing and and and so the arian guy he he goes sing sing he stays sitting and so the band gets back up they start singing and they start singing the song about jesus and it's still super tense so it's going it's going a little ways and we're like god come on break this thing through and the arian guy stands up in the front and he turns around and he looks at the muslim guy and singing about jesus he does this" ([00:48:05] (123 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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