Imperfect Witnesses: God's Grace in Our Brokenness
Summary
This morning, we reflected on the calling Jesus gives to his followers after his resurrection and ascension. The disciples, having just witnessed the risen Christ, were likely filled with hope and anticipation that Jesus would now restore the kingdom of Israel and set all things right. Yet, instead of fulfilling their expectations in the way they imagined, Jesus ascended into heaven and entrusted his mission to them, promising the power of the Holy Spirit and commissioning them to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth.
This calling to be witnesses is not based on our worthiness or spiritual resumes. The disciples themselves were far from perfect—Peter denied Jesus, Thomas doubted, and others argued about greatness. Yet, Jesus chose them, and he chooses us, not because of our qualifications, but because of his grace. Our witness is not about showcasing our own goodness or achievements, but about testifying to what Christ has done—how he has brought us from death to life, from blindness to sight.
The story of John Newton, the author of "Amazing Grace," powerfully illustrates this truth. Newton’s life was marked by rebellion, failure, and participation in great evil, yet it was precisely in his brokenness and helplessness that he encountered the mercy of God. His transformation did not come from his own efforts or good works, but from the grace that met him at his lowest point. Newton’s life and song remind us that God’s grace is for the wretched, the lost, and the blind—and that our witness flows from our own experience of being found and forgiven.
We are called to participate in God’s mission, not as perfect people, but as those who have been redeemed. Like a parent inviting a toddler to help bake a cake, God invites us into his work, mess and all. Our brokenness does not disqualify us; rather, it becomes the very place where God’s mercy and love are revealed. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are sent into the world to proclaim Christ’s death and resurrection, not by hiding our messiness, but by allowing God to use it for his glory.
Key Takeaways
- God’s mission is entrusted to imperfect people. The disciples were deeply flawed, yet Jesus called them to be his witnesses. Our failures and doubts do not disqualify us from participating in God’s work; instead, they become opportunities for God’s power and grace to be displayed through us. [33:59]
- True witness is not about our achievements, but about what Christ has done for us. We are not called to impress others with our spiritual resumes or good works, but to testify to the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection and how it has transformed our lives. Our story is powerful because it points to his story. [42:29]
- God’s grace meets us in our deepest brokenness. Like John Newton, we often encounter God most profoundly when we come to the end of ourselves and recognize our need for mercy. It is in our weakness and helplessness that God’s amazing grace is most clearly seen and experienced. [39:03]
- Our messiness is not a barrier to God’s mission, but a means by which he reveals his love. God chooses to work through our imperfections, just as a parent joyfully includes a toddler in baking a cake. The process may be messy, but it is in this participation that both we and the world see the beauty of God’s redemptive love. [45:29]
- The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness in the midst of our ordinary, messy lives. We are not left alone to figure out how to share Christ; the Spirit guides, equips, and sustains us. Our calling is to be faithful witnesses wherever we are—at school, at work, in our families—trusting that God will use even our brokenness for his glory. [46:23]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:59] - Acts 1:1-11 Reading
[30:33] - The Risen Jesus and the Disciples’ Expectations
[31:55] - Jesus’ Ascension and the Disciples’ Confusion
[33:00] - The Surprising Call to Be Witnesses
[33:59] - The Imperfect Disciples
[34:48] - What Does It Mean to Witness?
[35:48] - The Story of John Newton
[36:45] - Newton’s Brokenness and Despair
[38:04] - Newton’s Encounter with God’s Mercy
[39:03] - The Weight of Sin and the Gift of Grace
[40:31] - God’s Grace in Our Messiness
[41:46] - Amazing Grace: The Heart of Our Witness
[42:29] - Witnessing to Christ’s Death and Resurrection
[43:16] - Dying to Self, Living in Christ
[44:16] - The Joy of Participating in God’s Mission
[45:29] - The Holy Spirit in Our Messy Ministry
[46:23] - Sent to Witness in Everyday Life
[47:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Witnesses in Our Messiness
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### Bible Reading
Acts 1:1-11
(This was the main text read and discussed in the sermon.)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Acts 1:6-8, what were the disciples expecting Jesus to do after his resurrection, and how did Jesus respond to their expectations?
2. According to Acts 1:8, what does Jesus say will empower the disciples to be his witnesses, and where are they to go?
3. The sermon described some of the disciples’ failures and doubts (like Peter’s denial and Thomas’s doubt). What does this reveal about the kind of people Jesus chose to be his witnesses? [33:59]
4. What was the main turning point in John Newton’s life, according to the story shared in the sermon? [38:04]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to entrust his mission to imperfect people like the disciples, instead of doing it all himself? [33:59]
2. The sermon said that our witness is not about our achievements, but about what Christ has done for us. What does it mean to “testify” to Jesus in this way? [42:29]
3. How does John Newton’s story help us understand the role of brokenness and grace in being a witness for Jesus? [39:03]
4. The sermon compared God’s mission to a parent baking a cake with a toddler. What does this illustration teach us about how God works through our messiness? [45:29]
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### Application Questions
1. The disciples were left looking up into heaven, confused and maybe disappointed when Jesus ascended. Have you ever felt confused or let down by God not meeting your expectations? How did you respond? [31:55]
2. The sermon highlighted that God’s mission is for imperfect people. What are some of your own failures or weaknesses that make you feel unqualified to be a witness? How might God want to use those very things? [33:59]
3. John Newton’s life changed when he reached the end of himself and cried out for mercy. Can you think of a time when you experienced God’s grace in your own brokenness? How did that shape your faith? [38:04]
4. The sermon said our witness is not about showing off our spiritual resumes, but about sharing how Jesus has changed us. What is one specific way Jesus has brought you from “death to life” or “blindness to sight” that you could share with someone? [42:29]
5. The illustration of baking with a toddler suggests that God invites us into his work, mess and all. What is one “messy” area of your life where you sense God might want to use you to show his love to others? [45:29]
6. The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness in our ordinary, messy lives. Where do you feel most unprepared or weak in sharing your faith? What would it look like to trust the Holy Spirit in those moments? [46:23]
7. The sermon ended with a prayer asking God to use our brokenness for his glory. What is one step you can take this week to be a faithful witness for Jesus, even if you feel imperfect or unqualified? [46:23]
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Devotional
Day 1: The Power and Promise of the Holy Spirit
Jesus promises his followers that they will receive power through the Holy Spirit, equipping them to be his witnesses not only in their immediate surroundings but to the very ends of the earth. This power is not for personal gain or control, but for the purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection with all people. Even when the future seems uncertain or overwhelming, God’s Spirit is present to guide, empower, and sustain his people in their calling. [28:59]
Acts 1:1-11 (ESV)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel powerless or uncertain about the future, and how might you invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to be a witness for Jesus in that place today?
Day 2: God Chooses Messy, Imperfect Witnesses
God does not call the perfect or the worthy to be his witnesses; instead, he chooses ordinary, flawed people—those who have doubted, denied, or failed—to carry his message to the world. The disciples themselves were far from perfect, yet Jesus entrusted them with the mission to proclaim his resurrection. In the same way, God calls each of us, with all our shortcomings and failures, to participate in his work, reminding us that our worthiness comes from him alone. [33:59]
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel unworthy or inadequate, and how might you trust God to use you as his witness even in your weakness?
Day 3: True Witnessing Flows from Encountering God’s Grace
Being a witness for Jesus is not about showcasing our good works or spiritual achievements, but about honestly sharing how God’s grace has met us in our brokenness. Like John Newton, whose life was transformed not by his own merit but by God’s mercy, we are called to testify to the ways God has rescued, forgiven, and changed us. Our stories of failure and redemption become powerful testimonies to the amazing grace of God. [40:31]
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: When have you experienced God’s grace most deeply in your life, and how can you share that story with someone who needs encouragement today?
Day 4: Dying to Self and Living as a New Creation
Following Jesus means letting go of our attempts to build our own kingdoms or prove our worth, and instead dying to our old selves so that we can be raised as new creations in Christ. Our blindness and self-reliance must be surrendered at the cross, where Jesus gives us new sight and a new identity rooted in his love and forgiveness. This transformation is ongoing, as we daily choose to let Christ’s life be seen in us. [43:16]
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 area of your life where you are still trying to be in control or prove yourself, and what would it look like to surrender that to Jesus today?
Day 5: God’s Mission Includes Our Messiness
God delights to include us in his mission, not despite our messiness but through it, revealing his mercy and love as we participate in sharing the gospel. Like a parent joyfully baking with a toddler, God invites us into his work, knowing it will be imperfect, yet choosing to work through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our role is to proclaim Jesus’ death and resurrection, trusting that God will use even our brokenness to lift his name higher. [45:29]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
Reflection: How can you embrace your imperfections and trust God to use your “messiness” as a way to reveal his love and grace to others this week?
Quotes
You see, John became a witness to Jesus, not through his good works or his perfect resume, not through his volunteer hours. He definitely didn't have those. Not even through his work to help abolish slavery. No, but through his brokenness that brought him to the feet of Jesus. [00:40:12] (19 seconds)
This is where God's grace meets us, because of Jesus. There is no hope for us besides this that Christ died and rose from the dead. When he died, he became the wretch that we sing about in this song. He became the wretch on the cross, bearing all of our sin. [00:42:17] (21 seconds)
Our life before Christ, like the song says, is blind. Our life on our own terms and based on our own standards is completely blind. It misses the mark. It needs to end. It needs to go to the cross where it is crucified with Jesus. [00:43:32] (17 seconds)
There's no more room for us to build our own kingdoms, to try to get Jesus to build our kingdoms for us, to build up our lives, to try to establish ourselves as the rulers of the kingdoms. There's no more room to try to earn the approval of God or people. [00:43:01] (15 seconds)
We follow what Jesus has told us to do. We become his witnesses. And as his witnesses, it is our job to tell the world of the death and resurrection of Jesus. That is our job as witnesses. It's to raise up his name and not our own. [00:44:00] (17 seconds)
He was a mess. He was a sinful, disobedient, jumbled mess, and yet, this is where God met him. The law of this world brings us to the end of ourselves. We all have a point where we've realized that we've failed, that we've messed up, that we've fallen short of the perfect standard. [00:41:01] (21 seconds)
We have been sent out by God to proclaim his death and resurrection. And it's not just a job for the pastors. It's a job for all of you. In the midst of your messy lives, in the midst of your college experiences, in your workplace, it's the messy ministry. Thanks be to God. [00:46:23] (18 seconds)
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