Finding God in Brokenness: The Theology of the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: God Reveals Himself in Unexpected Ways

God often hides aspects of Himself, inviting us to seek Him not in the places of our own design or desire, but in the humble, broken, and unexpected places of life. Rather than being the God we want—one who simply makes our lives comfortable—He is the God we need, present with us in our mess, suffering, and questions. When we search for God in our own image, we miss the depth of His love and the reality that He is found in the cross, the empty tomb, and in the midst of our struggles. He is not always the God of our expectations, but He is always the God who is with us, who overcomes for us, and who loves us beyond measure. [44:56]

Proverbs 25:2-7 (ESV)
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Reflection: Where in your life are you searching for God to show up in the way you want, rather than being open to finding Him in unexpected or humble places?

Day 2: Humility and Serving Others

True greatness in God’s kingdom is found not in exalting ourselves or seeking places of honor, but in humility and serving others, especially those who cannot repay us. Jesus calls us to resist the temptation to make ourselves the center, and instead to love our neighbors, serve quietly, and give without expecting recognition. The best acts of love are often done in secret, reflecting the heart of Christ who humbled Himself for our sake. [24:12]

Luke 14:7-14 (ESV)
Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can serve this week—especially someone who cannot repay you or may never even notice your kindness?

Day 3: Jesus Is the God We Need, Not Always the God We Want

Jesus did not come to give us worldly comfort or power, but to enter into our brokenness, suffer with us, and overcome sin and death for us. He is not the God who simply fixes every earthly problem, but the Savior who gives us forgiveness, hope, and eternal life. In the cross and resurrection, we see that God’s greatest work is not in making our lives easy, but in redeeming us and being present with us through every trial. [52:09]

Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you most tempted to want Jesus to simply “fix” things for you, and how might you instead trust Him to walk with you through it?

Day 4: God Is Present With Us in Our Suffering

God does not abandon us in our pain, grief, or failure; He is with us in hospital rooms, in moments of shame, and in every struggle. Even when prayers for healing or rescue seem unanswered, His promise is to be with us, to forgive, to comfort, and to give us hope that this is not the end of our story. His presence in our suffering is a sign of His deep love and the assurance that He has overcome the world. [55:20]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV)
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: Recall a time of pain or loss—how did you sense (or how can you look for) God’s presence with you in that moment?

Day 5: We Are Called to Reveal God’s Love to Others

As forgiven people, we are sent to live differently in this broken world—showing God’s love, grace, and hope to those around us. Our calling is not just to receive God’s gifts, but to be agents of His mercy, reaching out to those who are far from Him, suffering, or searching. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can point others to the cross, the empty tomb, and the promise that God is with us and has overcome for us. [01:02:47]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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 God is putting on your heart today that you can reach out to with His love, encouragement, or a word of hope?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to remember who we are in Christ and to proclaim the truth of who God is, joining with Christians across centuries and continents in confessing the faith that unites us. We reflected on the wisdom of Proverbs, which reminds us that while God sometimes conceals things, it is our glory to seek Him—not in the ways we imagine, but in the ways He reveals Himself. The temptation to make God in our own image, to seek a deity who simply grants us comfort, power, or success, is as old as humanity itself. Yet, God is not the God we want, but the God we need—a God who enters into our brokenness, who is found not in glory and comfort, but in humility, suffering, and sacrificial love.

We considered how easy it is to seek honor for ourselves, to desire the best seats at the table, or to make our faith about what we can gain. Jesus, however, calls us to humility, to serve others, and to find our true worth not in recognition or reward, but in loving as He has loved us. The world is undeniably broken—marked by tragedy, loss, and pain. In these moments, we often ask, “Where is God?” The answer is that He is with us, right in the midst of our mess, suffering alongside us, and offering hope that transcends this world.

God’s greatest work is not in making our lives easy, but in overcoming sin and death through the cross and the empty tomb. The theology of the cross teaches us that God is most present where we least expect Him: in weakness, in suffering, in the places we would rather avoid. He is with us in our pain, our failures, and our grief, offering forgiveness, grace, and the promise of a new creation. Our hope is not in a God who simply fixes our problems, but in a Savior who has overcome the world and promises to be with us always, even as we wait for the fullness of His kingdom.

As we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness, we are reminded that nothing we have done can separate us from His love. We are called to live differently—to serve, to love, to forgive—because we are His children, redeemed and made new. In the sacraments, in the community of believers, and in the Word, God meets us with tangible grace, assuring us that He is with us now and always.

Key Takeaways

1. The God we seek is often not the God we need. Our natural tendency is to create a god in our own image—one who grants us comfort, power, or success. Yet, the true God reveals Himself in ways that challenge our expectations, calling us to seek Him not in our desires, but in His Word and in the humility of Christ. [44:14]
2. God’s presence is found in the midst of our brokenness, not apart from it. Rather than removing us from suffering, God enters into it with us. He is present in hospital rooms, in moments of grief, and in our deepest struggles, offering hope and companionship that the world cannot give. [55:20]
3. The theology of the cross teaches that God’s greatest work is accomplished through weakness and suffering. While we may long for glory and comfort, God’s power is made perfect in humility and sacrifice. The cross and the empty tomb are the ultimate demonstrations of His love and victory over sin and death. [48:55]
4. True humility is the path to honor in God’s kingdom. Jesus calls us to take the lowest place, to serve others without seeking recognition or reward. In doing so, we reflect His character and participate in the upside-down values of His kingdom, where the last are made first. [29:26]
5. Forgiveness and new life are found at the foot of the cross and the empty tomb. No sin is too great, no failure too deep, for the grace of Christ. As we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness, we are empowered to live as His redeemed people, bringing hope and love to a world in need. [59:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:05] - Proclaiming Our Faith Together
[21:41] - Wisdom from Proverbs: The Glory of Seeking
[22:57] - Jesus Heals and Teaches Humility
[24:48] - Children’s Message: True Greatness
[26:52] - The Danger of Self-Glory
[28:46] - Jesus’ Humility vs. Pharisaic Pride
[31:21] - Facing Uncertainty with Faith
[34:44] - Expecting the Unexpected with God
[36:00] - Solomon’s Wisdom and the Hidden God
[39:12] - Searching for God in the Wrong Places
[43:01] - The God We Want vs. The God We Need
[47:35] - Theology of the Cross vs. Theology of Glory
[52:09] - Jesus in Our Brokenness
[55:20] - God’s Presence in Our Suffering
[59:06] - Confession and the Power of the Empty Tomb
[64:10] - Prayers for Our Community
[69:10] - The Lord’s Supper: Tangible Grace
[72:17] - Closing Song: All Sufficient Merit

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Proverbs 25:2-7 (ESV) — > It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

Luke 14:7-14 (ESV) — > Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 25:2, what is described as the “glory of God” and the “glory of kings”? How does this idea show up in the sermon? [[37:17]]
In Luke 14:7-14, what behavior does Jesus notice at the dinner, and what lesson does he teach through his parable? [[23:34]]
The sermon mentions that people often want to make God in their own image, seeking comfort, power, or success. What are some examples from the sermon or from the Bible where people tried to do this? [[43:01]]
Where does the sermon say God is most present, especially in times of suffering or brokenness? [[55:20]]

Interpretation Questions

Why might God choose to “conceal things” as described in Proverbs 25:2? What does it mean for us to “search things out” in our relationship with God? [[37:17]]
Jesus teaches about humility and taking the lowest place at the table. What does this reveal about the values of God’s kingdom compared to the world’s values? [[29:26]]
The sermon contrasts the “God we want” with the “God we need.” What are the dangers of seeking a God who only gives us what we desire? [[44:14]]
The “theology of the cross” says God is most present in weakness and suffering. How does this challenge our expectations of how God should act in our lives? [[48:55]]

Application Questions

The sermon warns against making God in our own image, seeking only comfort, power, or success. Are there areas in your life where you have tried to shape God to fit your desires? What would it look like to surrender those areas to Him? [[43:01]]
Jesus calls us to humility and to serve others without seeking recognition. Can you think of a recent situation where you were tempted to seek honor or attention? How could you have responded differently? [[29:26]]
The sermon says God is present in our brokenness, not just in our successes. When have you experienced God’s presence most clearly during a difficult time? How did that experience shape your faith? [[55:20]]
The “theology of the cross” means God’s greatest work is done through weakness and suffering. Is there a current struggle or weakness in your life where you need to trust that God is at work, even if you can’t see it? [[48:55]]
The message reminds us that no sin or failure is too great for God’s forgiveness. Is there something in your past that you still feel ashamed of? How does the promise of forgiveness at the cross and empty tomb speak to you today? [[59:43]]
The sermon encourages us to serve, love, and forgive because we are God’s children, not to earn His love. What is one practical way you can serve or forgive someone this week, reflecting Christ’s love? [[29:26]]
God meets us with tangible grace in the sacraments and in community. How can you be more intentional about experiencing God’s grace through worship, communion, or Christian community this month? [[01:09:10]]

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