Off the Stage

Devotional

Day 1: True Righteousness Is Found in Humility, Not Performance

In a world where faith can easily become a performance and worth is measured by appearances or applause, Jesus calls us to a different standard. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reveals that God is not impressed by outward displays or self-righteousness, but by honest humility. The Pharisee’s prayer was a show, focused on himself, while the tax collector, standing far off, simply pleaded for mercy. It is the honest, humble heart that God honors, not the loudest or most polished voice. [00:26]

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: In what area of your life are you tempted to perform or compare yourself to others, rather than coming honestly before God in humility?

Day 2: God Honors Honest Confession Over Religious Show

The tax collector’s simple, honest prayer—“God, be merciful to me, a sinner”—was the one that Jesus said was justified. There was no show, no competition, no pretense—just a raw admission of need. God does not bless what we pretend to be; He blesses who we are when we come to Him honestly. The invitation is to step off the stage, to stop curating our faith for others, and to pray with open hands and honest hearts, trusting that God hears the truest prayers. [13:01]

Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV)
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to stop pretending and bring your honest confession to God today?

Day 3: Comparison and Conditional Love Destroy Community

When love becomes conditional and community turns into competition, people feel invisible, unworthy, and forgotten. The spirit of comparison, like that of the Pharisee or the Madrigal family in Encanto, crushes joy and extinguishes the spark of grace in others. God’s blessing is not reserved for the shiny, powerful, or perfect; in God’s eyes, every gift matters, every story counts, and every person belongs. [10:44]

Romans 12:4-6 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.

Reflection: Who in your life might feel unseen or less valued? How can you affirm their worth and unique gifts today?

Day 4: Quiet Acts of Grace Reflect the Kingdom of God

While some boast about numbers, technology, or celebrity, the true kingdom of God is quietly embodied in small acts of love, kindness, and compassion. It is found in those who know each other’s names, show up with soup when someone is sick, and pray for one another without fanfare. Grace breathes in the spaces where people are real with one another, and it is in these humble acts that God’s love is most powerfully displayed. [13:48]

Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV)
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Reflection: What is one quiet act of grace or kindness you can do for someone today, expecting nothing in return?

Day 5: God Sees Beyond Perfection—He Honors Truth and Compassion

God does not require us to be perfect or to perform for His approval. He sees us as we are, not as we pretend to be, and He honors every honest confession, every small kindness, and every act of compassion. The invitation is to live our faith quietly, courageously, and truthfully, reflecting the heart of Christ who humbled and healed us all. [15:24]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Reflection: Where are you striving for perfection or approval? How can you instead focus on living truthfully and compassionately before God and others today?

Sermon Summary

In a world where faith is often mistaken for performance and worth is measured by appearances, Jesus calls us to something deeper and truer. The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector reveals the danger of self-righteousness and the illusion of perfection. Like Truman in his artificial world, many are tempted to curate their lives for the approval of others, forgetting that God honors honesty over spectacle. When faith becomes a show—whether through public shaming, extravagant displays, or measuring devotion by dollars given—it loses its heart. The true measure of faith is not found in grand gestures or polished images, but in humble, honest encounters with God and one another.

Children and newcomers to the church are especially sensitive to hypocrisy and pride. When they witness humiliation or greed in the name of religion, they are left wondering if there is a place for them in such a community. The church is called to be a place where every sacrifice, no matter how small, is received with gratitude and humility. The temptation to compare, to compete, or to assign worth based on gifts or status, is as old as the Pharisee’s prayer. Yet, in God’s eyes, every person matters, every story counts, and every act of grace is significant.

Stories from popular culture, like Encanto and The King’s Speech, remind us that true worth is not found in perfection or power, but in authenticity and vulnerability. The tax collector’s simple, honest prayer—“God, be merciful to me, a sinner”—is the kind of prayer God honors. Real community is built not on numbers or spectacle, but on quiet acts of love, compassion, and truthfulness. The invitation is to step off the stage, to let go of the need to impress, and to approach God and each other with humility. In doing so, we find ourselves embraced by grace, lifted not by our own efforts, but by the mercy of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Authenticity Over Performance: God is not impressed by outward displays or religious performances. The heart that God honors is the one that comes honestly, without pretense or self-promotion. When faith becomes a show, it loses its power to transform, both for ourselves and for those watching us. [01:30]
2. The Danger of Comparison: Measuring ourselves or others by gifts, status, or outward success leads to exclusion and discouragement. When love becomes conditional and community becomes competition, we risk extinguishing the unique grace God has given each person. True belonging is found when every story and every gift is valued. [10:44]
3. The Power of Humility: The tax collector’s humble prayer stands in stark contrast to the Pharisee’s self-congratulation. Humility opens the door to God’s mercy and grace, while pride closes it. God lifts up those who come with open hands and honest hearts, not those who exalt themselves. [13:15]
4. The Witness of Small Acts: Real faith is often found in the quiet, unseen acts of love and service—bringing soup to the sick, holding hands in hospital rooms, praying for one another without fanfare. These small acts embody the kingdom of God more than any spectacle or show. [13:29]
5. Freedom from the Illusion of Perfection: The call is to step off the stage and stop curating our faith for others. God sees us as we are, not as we pretend to be. Freedom and healing come when we let go of the need to perform and instead live out our faith quietly, courageously, and truthfully. [15:08]
** [15:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:26] - Faith as Performance vs. Authenticity
[01:00] - The Truman Show and the Illusion of Perfection
[01:30] - The Pharisee’s Prayer: Performance or Prayer?
[02:07] - Public Shaming and the Value of Sacrifice
[03:17] - The Impact on Children and Community
[05:12] - Greed and Humility in Church Leadership
[07:07] - The Message Children Receive from the Church
[08:04] - When Faith Becomes Theater
[09:52] - The Pharisee’s Trap: Image Over Substance
[10:10] - Encanto: Gifts, Worth, and Belonging
[12:34] - The King’s Speech: Leadership and Vulnerability
[13:15] - The Tax Collector’s Honest Prayer
[13:29] - Small Congregations and Quiet Grace
[14:25] - The Invitation to Humility
[15:08] - Prayer for Authentic Faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.”

Observation Questions

In the parable, what are the main differences between the Pharisee’s prayer and the tax collector’s prayer?
According to the sermon, what are some modern examples of “faith as performance” that were mentioned? [08:33]
How did the children and newcomers in the sermon’s stories respond to displays of pride or hypocrisy in the church? [02:46]
What does Jesus say is the result for the one who humbles himself versus the one who exalts himself? (Luke 18:14)

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose a Pharisee and a tax collector as the characters in this parable? What might each represent to his listeners?
The sermon mentions that “God doesn’t bless what we pretend to be. God blesses who we are honestly.” What does this mean in the context of the parable? [10:10]
How does the temptation to compare ourselves to others affect our sense of belonging and community in the church? [10:44]
Why is humility so important in our relationship with God and with each other, according to both the parable and the sermon? [13:15]

Application Questions

The sermon described situations where people felt excluded or discouraged by public shaming or comparison in church. Have you ever witnessed or experienced something similar? How did it affect your view of faith or community? [02:46]
Are there ways you find yourself tempted to “perform” your faith or curate your image for others, either in church or outside? What would it look like to step off the stage and be more authentic? [09:34]
The tax collector’s prayer was simple and honest: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” When was the last time you prayed honestly like this? What keeps you from praying this way more often? [13:01]
The sermon highlighted the impact of small, quiet acts of love—like bringing soup to the sick or praying for someone without fanfare. Can you think of a recent small act of kindness you received or gave? How did it reflect God’s kingdom? [13:29]
The message from Encanto and The King’s Speech was that true worth is found in authenticity and vulnerability, not perfection. Where do you feel pressure to be “perfect” in your life? How can you practice vulnerability this week? [12:34]
The sermon challenged us to value every person and every story in our community. Is there someone in your life or in our church who might feel unseen or undervalued? What is one thing you could do to help them feel included? [12:14]
What is one specific way you can practice humility this week—either in your prayers, your relationships, or your service to others? [14:25]

Sermon Clips

We live in an age where faith can sometimes look like a performance, where it's easy to measure worth by appearances, possessions, or applause. But Jesus reminds us that the heart of God honors, it's not in the loudest voice in the room, it's the honest one. [00:00:21] (24 seconds) #FaithOverPerformance

At some point, Truman starts to realize, this can't be real. Perfection is too polished. The control is too tight. His whole life has been built for the cameras, not for the truth. That's a Pharisee's world. Standing in the temple, his prayer sounds beautiful, but it's a performance. He's not praying to God. He's praying about himself. And friends, that's the same illusion of righteousness still plays out in our world today. [00:01:09] (40 seconds) #BreakingTheIllusion

I don't have a mansion. Most of you know where we live, and it's a humble little home, but there's so many clergy who do have mansions. I've mentioned it before. There's one that I've seen that has their mansion in the shape of a cross. And guess what? That's tax exempt. So what does that tell children? What does that tell preteens and teens from witnessing these things? I wouldn't want to be part of that greedy system that for me to be saved, I must pay into it. That's a problem, because that's not what Jesus asked us to do. It's heartbreaking. [00:07:07] (59 seconds) #HumbleHomesNotMansions

See, this pastor took a moment in public display, and he preached that it was for God's home, but it had nothing to do about God's glory. It was about control, pride, and performance. And yet, how often does faith get turned into theater? [00:08:06] (30 seconds) #FaithNotTheater

See, that's what happens when love becomes conditional, when community becomes competition. The Pharisees stood tall, praying, God, I thank you that I'm not like the tax collector. It's the same spirit of comparison that crushes Miribel's joy. And it's the same force that sneaks into the church. [00:10:41] (25 seconds) #GraceForEveryGift

Friends, when we start deciding who looks called or gifted, we risk extinguishing the spark of grace in someone's heart. We all know what it feels like to be measured against someone else's gifts. To feel less than. To feel unseen. But Encanto reminds us God's blessing isn't reserved for the shiny, for the powerful, or the perfect. In God's eyes, every gift matters. Every story counts. Every person belongs. [00:11:42] (42 seconds) #PowerOfHumility

The tax collector in Jesus' parable does exactly that. He stands far off, unable to lift his eyes to heaven, whispering, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. No show. No competition. No pretense. Just honesty. And Jesus says, This one went home justified. That's power of humility. [00:12:53] (28 seconds) #QuietKingdomLove

It's the same spirit I see in small congregations, those who know each other's names, who show up with soup when someone's sick, who hold hands in hospital rooms, who pray for one another without fanfare. While some churches boast about numbers, technology, and celebrity, others quietly embody the kingdom of God in the way they love each other. Grace doesn't live in the spotlight. It breathes in the spaces where people are real with one another. [00:13:21] (34 seconds) #GraceLiftsTheHumble

The Pharisee left the temple impressed with himself. The tax collector left embraced by God. The Pharisee performed. The tax collector prayed. The Pharisee exalted himself. The tax collector was lifted by grace. [00:13:56] (18 seconds) #PrayWithTruth

So maybe that's our invitation to step off the stage, to stop curating our faith for the crowd, to pray less like the Pharisee and more like the tax collector, with open hands, honest hearts, and humility before God. Because the prayer God hears isn't the loudest one. It's the truth. It's the truest one. [00:14:21] (25 seconds)

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