Living in Grace: The Heart of True Discipleship
Summary
The power of Christ is the foundation upon which we stand, and it is through His broken body and shed blood that we have life. As we remember Jesus’ sacrifice through communion, we are reminded that He became sin for us so that we might become like Him and receive eternal life. This is not just a ritual, but a call to live in the reality of His grace and to let that grace shape our hearts and actions.
Reflecting on Luke 16:13-18, we see that Jesus challenges us with the impossibility of serving two masters—God and money. The Pharisees, who loved money, believed that wealth was a sign of God’s favor, but Jesus exposes the danger of making money our master. Greed is not limited to the wealthy; it is a matter of the heart, and even those with little can be consumed by it. Generosity, on the other hand, is the antidote to greed, reminding us that our resources are meant to be used for God’s purposes.
Our actions inevitably flow from what we value most. If our hearts are set on God, our lives will reflect His love and truth. But if we justify ourselves and seek the approval of others, we risk missing the heart of God. The Pharisees were experts at outward righteousness, but Jesus warns that God sees the heart, and what is admired by people can be revolting to Him.
Entrance into the kingdom of God is free, but it is not easy. Repentance is more than a change of mind; it is a change of direction that bears fruit in our lives. The law remains, but it is fulfilled in Jesus and summed up in loving God and loving our neighbor. The context of Jesus’ teaching on divorce reveals that He is addressing the misuse of the law to justify selfish desires, not condemning those who have experienced brokenness and seek restoration in Him.
Ultimately, the call is to examine our hearts. Are we filled with greed, pride, or lust, or are we seeking the righteousness that comes from Christ alone? We are not to compare ourselves to others, but to look to Jesus, whose kindness leads us to repentance and whose grace makes us new. No matter our past, in Christ we are a new creation, and His goodness is the hope that draws us home.
Key Takeaways
- You cannot serve both God and money; the heart’s allegiance will always be revealed in your actions. Greed is not a matter of wealth but of what occupies your thoughts and desires. Generosity is the practical outworking of a heart set free from the love of money, and it is in giving that we find true freedom from greed. [45:14]
- What we value most will shape the trajectory of our lives. If we treasure God above all, our actions will reflect His character, but if we value the things of this world, our lives will drift toward self-justification and compromise. Continual self-examination is necessary to ensure our hearts are aligned with God’s purposes, not merely our own ambitions. [47:52]
- Justification is a subtle but dangerous response to sin. The first sin is often followed by an attempt to justify ourselves, shifting blame or minimizing our actions. True repentance requires that we resist the urge to justify and instead bring our hearts honestly before God, trusting in His mercy rather than our excuses. [52:37]
- The kingdom of God is open to all, but entering it requires repentance and a willingness to walk the narrow road. Salvation is a free gift, but discipleship demands the surrender of our lives. The law remains, not as a burden, but as fulfilled in Christ—summed up in loving God and neighbor, and calling us to a life that reflects His grace and truth. [56:59]
- Context is essential in understanding Scripture, especially difficult passages. Jesus’ teaching on divorce was a rebuke of those who used the law to justify their own desires, not a blanket condemnation of all who have experienced divorce. In Christ, no one is disqualified by their past; His grace makes us new, and our hope is found not in our own righteousness, but in His. [01:04:17]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
[03:10] - Family, Music, and Legacy
[07:00] - Reflections on Pastoral Transitions
[10:30] - Introduction to Luke 16:13-18
[13:17] - Serving Two Masters: God and Money
[15:14] - The Heart of Greed and Generosity
[17:11] - What We Value Shapes Our Actions
[19:11] - The Pharisees: Pride and Justification
[22:01] - The Danger of Self-Justification
[25:00] - The Urgency and Cost of Entering the Kingdom
[28:27] - The Enduring Relevance of the Law
[31:18] - Jesus’ Teaching on Divorce in Context
[34:17] - The Pharisees’ Hearts: Greed, Pride, and Lust
[37:01] - The Call to Examine Our Hearts
[40:23] - The Hope of Repentance and New Life in Christ
[43:39] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide
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### Bible Reading
- Luke 16:13-18
“No servant can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.’”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Jesus in Luke 16:13, what is the relationship between serving God and serving money? What does He say about trying to serve both?
2. How did the Pharisees respond to Jesus’ teaching about money and the heart? What does the passage say about their attitude? ([43:17])
3. What does Jesus say about the Law and its lasting importance, even after the coming of the kingdom?
4. In the context of this passage, what issue is Jesus addressing when He talks about divorce and remarriage? ([01:04:17])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus say it is impossible to serve both God and money? What does this reveal about the nature of our hearts and what we value most? ([45:14])
2. The Pharisees justified themselves before others, but Jesus said God knows the heart. What does it mean to justify ourselves, and why is this dangerous spiritually? ([52:37])
3. Jesus says the kingdom of God is open to all, but entering it requires repentance and a change of direction. How does this challenge the idea that following Jesus is just about believing the right things? ([56:59])
4. Why is understanding the context of Jesus’ teaching on divorce important for how we apply it today? How does this protect us from misusing Scripture to judge others? ([01:04:17])
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### Application Questions
1. Jesus warns that we cannot serve both God and money. Is there an area in your life where money, possessions, or the pursuit of “more” is competing with your devotion to God? What practical step could you take this week to put God first? ([45:14])
2. The sermon said that greed is not just a problem for the wealthy, but for anyone whose heart is set on money. How do you recognize greed in your own life, even if you don’t consider yourself rich? What would generosity look like for you right now? ([46:19])
3. The Pharisees were experts at looking good on the outside but missed the heart of God. Are there ways you find yourself justifying your actions or seeking the approval of others instead of God? How can you practice honest self-examination this week? ([52:37])
4. Repentance is described as a change of direction that bears fruit. Is there a specific area where you sense God calling you to repent—not just to feel sorry, but to actually change your behavior or attitude? What would that look like? ([56:59])
5. The sermon emphasized that no one is disqualified by their past, and that in Christ we are made new. Is there something in your past that you feel disqualifies you from serving or belonging in God’s family? How does the truth of being a new creation in Christ speak to that? ([01:04:17])
6. Jesus summed up the law as loving God and loving your neighbor. Who is one “neighbor” God is calling you to love more intentionally this week? What is one thing you can do to show them Christ’s love?
7. The kindness of God leads us to repentance. How have you experienced God’s kindness in your life recently? How can you let that kindness shape your response to others, especially those who have hurt you or let you down? ([01:11:43])
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Devotional
Day 1: You Cannot Serve Both God and Money
The heart is always drawn toward what it treasures most, and Jesus makes it clear that devotion to God and devotion to money cannot coexist. The temptation to pursue wealth is not limited to the rich; even those with little can be consumed by a desire for more. True freedom comes not from accumulating riches, but from using what we have generously and holding it loosely, recognizing that greed can take root in any heart. The call is to examine what truly rules our lives and to choose God over the fleeting security of material possessions. [43:17]
Luke 16:13 (CSB):
"No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can loosen your grip on money today and demonstrate that God—not wealth—is your true master?
Day 2: Our Actions Flow from What We Value Most
What fills the heart inevitably shapes our actions, whether for good or for evil. Jesus teaches that evil deeds flow from a heart corrupted by wrong desires, while gratitude and love for God produce good fruit. It is a constant spiritual battle to keep our hearts aligned with God’s values, requiring regular self-examination and honest confession. The evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence is not just in what we say we believe, but in the way our lives reflect what we truly value. [47:52]
Matthew 15:19 (CSB):
"For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where your actions reveal misplaced priorities, and how can you invite God to realign your heart today?
Day 3: Justification Should Always Make Us Wary—Especially in Our Own Hearts
When confronted with sin, the natural human response is to justify ourselves, shifting blame or minimizing wrongdoing. This pattern began in the garden with Adam and Eve and continues in every heart that seeks to appear righteous before others rather than before God. True humility recognizes that God sees beyond our justifications and knows the reality of our hearts. Instead of defending ourselves, we are called to bring our failures honestly before God, trusting in His mercy and grace. [52:37]
Genesis 3:12-13 (ESV):
"The man said, 'The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.' Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this that you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'"
Reflection: When was the last time you caught yourself justifying a wrong action or attitude—can you bring that honestly to God in prayer today instead of making excuses?
Day 4: Entrance into the Kingdom Is Free, But Not Easy
The invitation to enter God’s kingdom is open to all, but the path is narrow and requires repentance—a genuine turning away from sin and a change in behavior. Salvation is a gift, but following Jesus means walking a road that is often difficult and countercultural. The law remains, fulfilled in Christ, and is summed up in loving God and loving our neighbor. Discipleship is costly, but it leads to true life and freedom in Christ. [56:40]
Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB):
"Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it."
Reflection: What is one specific step of repentance or obedience you sense God calling you to take, even if it feels difficult or costly?
Day 5: You Are Not Disqualified—God’s Grace Redeems Every Story
No matter your past—whether it involves divorce, failure, or any other brokenness—God’s grace is greater, and you are not disqualified from His love or His purposes. The context of Scripture reveals that Jesus’ words are not meant to condemn those who have repented and turned to Him, but to expose the self-justifying hearts of those who misuse the law. In Christ, you are a new creation, and nothing in your past can separate you from His redeeming love. [01:02:27]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV):
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: Is there a place in your life where you have felt disqualified or unworthy—how can you receive and rest in God’s grace and new identity for you today?
Quotes
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