Embracing Humility: The Path to God's Kingdom
Summary
In Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of two men who go to the temple to pray: a Pharisee, confident in his own righteousness, and a tax collector, painfully aware of his need for mercy. The Pharisee stands alone, listing his spiritual achievements, convinced he can sort himself out. The tax collector, on the other hand, stands at a distance, unable even to look up, and simply pleads for mercy. Jesus says it is the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who goes home justified before God. This is a radical reversal of expectations, especially in a culture that prizes self-sufficiency and personal achievement.
We live in a world that constantly tells us to stand on our own two feet, to be the brand, to find our own truth. But this relentless individualism is exhausting and isolating. The parable exposes the futility of trying to earn our way into God’s kingdom through our own efforts. It’s not about the practices or the spiritual disciplines we perform, but about the posture of our hearts. The kingdom of God is entered not by those who have it all together, but by those who know they don’t.
Jesus then welcomes the children, saying the kingdom belongs to such as these. Children are unashamed of their neediness; they know they can’t do it all themselves. They fall, they fail, and they reach out for help. This is the posture of faith: a willingness to tip back, to admit we can’t right ourselves, and to trust that the arms of the Father will catch us. Grace cannot be earned; it is received when we reach the end of ourselves.
But there’s another layer: the voices we listen to. The tax collector was despised, yet he chose to believe the voice of God over the voices of condemnation. Many of us live with a loud internal monologue of shame or inadequacy, but the invitation is to turn down those voices and hear the truth that we are accepted. The kingdom is not just a posture or a volume; it’s a story we are invited into. The resurrection of Jesus is not just his story—it becomes ours. We are invited to trade our shame, defeat, and brokenness for his joy, victory, and wholeness. This is the beauty of the kingdom: it is for you.
Key Takeaways
- True entry into the kingdom of God is not about spiritual performance or self-sufficiency, but about a posture of humility and surrender. The Pharisee’s confidence in his own righteousness kept him isolated, while the tax collector’s honest admission of need opened the door to grace. We must resist the temptation to measure our worth by our achievements and instead come to God with empty hands, ready to receive mercy. [07:50]
- The practices of faith—prayer, fasting, generosity—are not the means by which we earn God’s acceptance. They are valuable, but they must flow from a heart that knows its need. It is possible to do the right things with the wrong heart, and miss the point entirely. The kingdom is about posture, not performance. [11:07]
- Like children, we are called to embrace our dependence and weakness, not hide it. Children don’t pretend to have it all together; they know when they need help and are quick to reach out. Jesus says the kingdom belongs to such as these, reminding us that faith is about trusting in the strength of another, not our own. [13:12]
- The voices we listen to shape our experience of God’s kingdom. Many of us are held back by the negative words of others or the relentless criticism of our own internal monologue. The invitation is to turn down those voices and instead listen to the truth of God’s acceptance and love, even when we feel unworthy or rejected. [20:24]
- The story of Jesus—his death and resurrection—is not just something to admire from a distance; it is a story we are invited to participate in. We are offered a divine exchange: our sorrow for his joy, our shame for his glory, our brokenness for his wholeness. The kingdom is for those willing to trade their old story for the new life found in Christ. [25:23]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:08] - Introduction: Entering the Kingdom
[04:56] - The Pressure of Self-Sufficiency
[05:41] - The Burden of Individualism
[07:50] - Doing the Right Things the Wrong Way
[08:36] - The Tipping Point: End of Ourselves
[09:44] - Everyday Moments of Weakness
[11:07] - Baptism and the Posture of Faith
[13:12] - Children and the Kingdom
[14:00] - Grace Cannot Be Earned
[14:48] - Relying on the Strength of Another
[15:56] - The Tax Collector and Community Rejection
[19:05] - The Volume of Voices We Listen To
[20:24] - Hearing God’s Acceptance
[23:39] - The Power of Story: Sharing in Christ’s Victory
[25:23] - Trading Our Story for His
[28:21] - The Kingdom Is For You
[29:37] - Prayer and Response
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Posture of the Kingdom (Luke 18)
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### Bible Reading
Luke 18:9-17 (NIV)
*To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”*
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### Observation Questions
1. What differences do you notice between the Pharisee’s and the tax collector’s prayers in Luke 18:9-14?
2. According to Jesus, who went home justified before God, and why? (Luke 18:14)
3. How does Jesus describe the way we must receive the kingdom of God in verses 15-17?
4. In the sermon, what are some examples given of people trying to “stand on their own two feet” or “sort themselves out”? [[04:56]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus say that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, is justified? What does this teach about the kind of heart God is looking for? [[07:50]]
2. The sermon talks about the “posture” of faith rather than “performance.” What does it mean to have a posture of humility and surrender before God? [[11:07]]
3. Why do you think Jesus uses children as an example of the kind of people who enter the kingdom? What qualities do children have that adults often lose? [[13:12]]
4. The sermon mentions the “voices we listen to”—both from others and from within ourselves. How can these voices affect our relationship with God and our experience of His kingdom? [[20:24]]
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### Application Questions
1. The Pharisee measured his worth by his achievements and spiritual practices. Are there ways you find yourself doing the same—trying to “earn” God’s acceptance or approval? What would it look like to come to God with empty hands this week? [[07:50]]
2. The sermon says, “Grace cannot be earned; it is received when we reach the end of ourselves.” Can you think of a recent moment when you reached the end of yourself? How did you respond? Did you try to “sort yourself out,” or did you ask for help? [[11:07]]
3. Jesus says the kingdom belongs to those who receive it like a child. In what areas of your life do you find it hard to admit your need or weakness? What would it look like to be more honest about your need for God and others? [[13:12]]
4. The sermon talks about the “internal monologue” of shame or inadequacy that many people live with. What are some of the negative voices you hear most often? How can you begin to “turn down” those voices and listen to God’s voice of acceptance instead? [[20:24]]
5. The story of Jesus—his death and resurrection—is described as a story we are invited to participate in, not just admire from a distance. What is one area of your life where you need to “trade” your old story (shame, defeat, brokenness) for Jesus’ story (joy, victory, wholeness)? What would it look like to take a step in that direction this week? [[25:23]]
6. The sermon uses the image of “tipping back” and trusting that the Father will catch us. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to let go of control and trust God more fully? What is holding you back? [[11:07]]
7. The Pharisee stood alone, while the tax collector stood “at a distance.” Are there ways you isolate yourself from others or from God because of pride or shame? What would it look like to step out of isolation and into community or God’s presence this week? [[14:00]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray, asking God for the humility to admit their need, the courage to trust Him like children, and the grace to hear His voice of acceptance over all others.
Devotional
Day 1: Humility, Not Self-Reliance, Opens the Kingdom
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reveals that it is not our spiritual achievements or self-sufficiency that open the doors to God’s kingdom, but a humble posture of dependence and honest confession. The Pharisee stands alone, confident in his own righteousness, listing his good deeds and comparing himself to others, while the tax collector, aware of his brokenness, simply pleads for mercy. Jesus declares that it is the humble, not the self-exalting, who are justified before God. The kingdom is not earned by our efforts but received when we admit our need and trust in God’s grace. [08:36]
Luke 18:9-14 (ESV)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to rely on your own goodness or achievements instead of humbly asking God for mercy and help today?
Day 2: Childlike Trust Is the Way In
Jesus welcomes children and insists that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child—open-handed, trusting, and aware of their need. Children do not pretend to have it all together; they know their limits and are quick to reach out for help. In the same way, entering God’s kingdom means letting go of the illusion of self-sufficiency and embracing a posture of dependence, surrender, and faith, trusting that God’s arms are strong enough to catch us when we fall. [13:12]
Luke 18:15-17 (ESV)
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Reflection: What would it look like for you to approach God today with the simple trust and honesty of a child, admitting your need and letting Him carry you?
Day 3: Grace Cannot Be Earned—It Must Be Received
The kingdom of God is not a reward for spiritual performance or religious practices, but a gift of grace for those who reach the end of themselves and surrender. No amount of good deeds, spiritual disciplines, or religious status can earn God’s acceptance; it is only when we let go of our attempts to fix ourselves and fall into the arms of a loving Father that we experience true mercy and grace. This posture of surrender is the very heart of faith and the entryway into the kingdom. [14:48]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Reflection: Is there an area where you are still trying to earn God’s approval or fix yourself? How can you practice surrender and receive His grace today?
Day 4: Turn Down the Lies, Turn Up God’s Truth
Many of us live with a loud internal monologue of negativity, shame, or the voices of others telling us we are not enough. The kingdom of God invites us to turn down these lies and instead listen to the voice of Jesus, who says, “You are accepted.” Like the tax collector and the children, we are called to believe God’s word over our lives more than the accusations or doubts that surround us. Freedom and peace come as we choose to believe that God’s grace is truly for us, no matter what others or even our own hearts say. [20:24]
Romans 8:1 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What negative voice or lie do you need to turn down today so you can hear and believe God’s truth that you are accepted and loved?
Day 5: Trade Your Story for Christ’s Resurrection Life
The good news of the kingdom is that Jesus’ story—His death and resurrection—can become our story. We are invited to trade our shame, defeat, and brokenness for His joy, victory, and wholeness. Through faith, we lay down our burdens and receive new life, participating in the resurrection power of Christ. This is not just a distant hope but a present reality: as we surrender our old story, we are raised up with Him into a new life marked by freedom, peace, and acceptance. [28:21]
Romans 6:4 (ESV)
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Reflection: What part of your story—pain, shame, or struggle—do you want to trade for Jesus’ resurrection life today? What step can you take to lay it down and receive His newness?
Quotes
I don't know what has happened to the tax collector that's meant he's reached the end of himself. I don't know, maybe it was his week, maybe it was his morning, but we've reached the point in the story where he has reached the tipping point. He has tilted back so far, he understands he can't do it anymore. He can't fix it. He can't make it work. He can't stand on his own two feet. He can't sort his salvation out of himself. He can't pull himself up by his bootstraps. [00:08:53] (28 seconds)
This is why baptism is such a beautiful symbol of faith, isn't it? I know Ian's baptizing someone later. It's such a wonderful thing because at baptism, we reach that tipping point. We reach that point where we can't haul ourselves back up, where we rely on the strength of another, where we reach that point where we can't make it happen, where we lose our ability to pretend that we've got it within us to fix ourselves, and we rely on the arms of another to catch us, and that's baptism, and that is faith. [00:10:32] (34 seconds)
They don't pretend to stand on their own two feet. They acknowledge their lack. They acknowledge that they have reached the end of themselves. They throw their arms up and I pick them up. And that is faith. That is the kingdom of God because grace cannot be earned. It cannot be bought. [00:13:42] (19 seconds)
Getting into the kingdom of heaven is not about the money or your fame or the letters after your name. It's instead when we reach the edge of ourselves, when we tip back and we reach the point of faith. That is when we encounter Jesus. [00:14:00] (16 seconds)
There's a moment of grace though. There's a moment of grace. It can happen around tables, can happen on walks, in small groups or a family Zoom call, where we stop boasting about the stuff that we've done. And we admit that we're not okay. We haven't got it all together. We reach the end of ourselves and we tip backwards far enough to realize that we can't stand on the strength of our own two feet, but instead we must rely on the strength of someone greater than us. [00:14:35] (27 seconds)
When there's a good story, you want to be a part of it. It's not Balaji won an award. It's my dear friend Balaji won an award. Because when there's glory over there, I want to be a part of that story. When there's a good story, they want to be a part of my story. And let me tell you, my friends, most of the time in life, that is embarrassing. To pretend that someone else's story, someone else's glory is yours. That is an embarrassing way to live. Except the good news of the gospel is there is a good story and it can be yours. [00:25:20] (31 seconds)
There is a good story that you are allowed to take into yourself. There is a glorious story that can become your reality. There is a story of death and resurrection that you are allowed to lay claim of and it can become your story. [00:25:51] (15 seconds)
That symbol of baptism when we reach the end of ourselves and we fall backwards and we rely on the strength of another and then this is the important bit here make notes it's very important then you get lifted back up again write that down very important you get lifted back up again because after their death there is the resurrection and because of his resurrection it gets to be my story as well. [00:26:45] (27 seconds)
As you choose to turn down the negativity, no matter how much others hate you or how much you hate yourself, when you turn down the lies that others speak over you, your parents spoke over you, the bathroom mirror speaks over you, you turn those lies down and instead hear the truth of a God who says you are accepted. This kingdom is for you. [00:28:34] (16 seconds)
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