Radical Grace: Embracing New Life in Christ

Summary

In Luke 5, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him—a moment that would have shocked the people of that time. Tax collectors were seen as traitors and cheats, yet Jesus extends a simple, unconditional invitation: “Follow me.” Levi’s response is immediate and total; he leaves behind his wealth, status, and security to embrace a new life. This is a powerful picture of grace—Jesus doesn’t seek out the religious elite or the morally upright, but those who know their need. Levi’s first act as a follower is to throw a feast, inviting all the other outcasts to meet Jesus. Grace, when truly received, overflows into celebration and inclusion.

Jesus’ willingness to dine with tax collectors and sinners scandalizes the religious leaders. In their worldview, holiness is about separation—keeping oneself pure by avoiding the “unclean.” But Jesus turns this on its head: He draws near to the broken, the sick, and the sinful, declaring that He has come not for those who think they are righteous, but for those who know they are not. He likens Himself to a doctor who seeks out the sick, not the healthy. The religious leaders, unable to argue with His logic, shift the conversation to religious practices, questioning why Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting like others. Jesus responds with the image of a wedding feast—when the bridegroom is present, it’s time to celebrate, not mourn.

He then shares the parable of new wine in old wineskins. The old religious system cannot contain the new life and joy that Jesus brings. The temptation is to simply add a little bit of Jesus to our old ways, but He refuses to be a patch or an add-on. He brings a new covenant, a new way of being, and it requires new hearts—flexible, teachable, and open to change. God is always pouring out new wine—fresh grace, joy, and purpose—but if we cling to old patterns, bitterness, or pride, we risk missing what He is doing now.

The call is to be vessels ready to receive, to let go of what is comfortable but lifeless, and to embrace the newness God offers each day. Whether just beginning the journey of faith or having walked with Christ for years, the invitation is the same: be open, be teachable, and celebrate the grace that welcomes all to the table.

Key Takeaways

- Grace Invites the Outcast and Demands a Response
Jesus’ call to Levi demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of grace. The invitation is simple but radical: “Follow me.” True grace compels us to leave behind what once defined us—security, status, or even shame—and step into a new identity. The response to grace is not just private transformation but public celebration and inclusion of others who also need to encounter Jesus. [16:57]

- Holiness Is Found in Proximity, Not Separation
The religious leaders believed that righteousness was achieved by keeping distance from sinners, but Jesus shows that holiness is found by drawing near to those in need. He does not minimize the reality of sin, but He meets people in their brokenness and offers healing. This challenges us to examine whether our own pursuit of holiness is marked by withdrawal or by compassionate engagement with the world. [22:15]

- Joy Is Central to Life with Christ
Jesus likens His presence to a wedding feast, not a funeral. The Christian life is not primarily about deprivation or somber self-denial, but about the joy that comes from being with the Bridegroom. True holiness begins with joy in Christ’s presence, and this joy is meant to overflow into our daily lives and relationships. [27:54]

- New Wine Requires New Wineskins—A Willingness to Change
The new life Jesus offers cannot be contained within old patterns, mindsets, or religious systems. God is always doing something new, pouring out fresh grace and purpose. To receive it, we must be willing to let go of what is familiar but no longer life-giving, and allow our hearts to be stretched, molded, and made new. [29:51]

- The Message Remains, but the Method Must Adapt
While the truth of the gospel never changes, the ways we share and embody it must. God calls us to be attentive to His voice, willing to leave behind old methods that no longer serve, and embrace new ways of reaching people in a changing world. This flexibility is not compromise, but faithfulness to the ever-renewing work of God. [40:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:06] - Father’s Day Reflections and Personal Story
[16:57] - Jesus Calls Levi: Radical Grace
[18:30] - Levi’s Feast: Grace Leads to Celebration
[20:58] - Jesus Dines with Outcasts
[22:15] - The Pharisees’ Objection: Holiness and Separation
[23:41] - Jesus’ Mission: Doctor for the Sick
[24:42] - Who Needs Jesus? The Broken and Needy
[26:02] - Changing the Subject: Religious Criticism
[27:02] - Fasting, Feasting, and True Spirituality
[27:54] - The Joy of the Bridegroom’s Presence
[29:51] - New Wine and Old Wineskins: Embracing Change
[36:20] - Prayer for Openness and Renewal
[40:06] - The Unchanging Message and Changing Methods
[41:30] - Announcements and Closing Blessing

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “New Wine, New Life” (Luke 5:27-39)

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### Bible Reading

Luke 5:27-39 (ESV)
> 27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.
> 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
> 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
> 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
> 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
> 33 And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”
> 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?
> 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”
> 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.
> 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
> 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.
> 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

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### Observation Questions

1. What was Levi’s response when Jesus called him, and what did he leave behind? ([16:57])
2. After following Jesus, what was the first thing Levi did, and who did he invite? ([20:58])
3. How did the Pharisees react to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners, and what was their reasoning? ([22:15])
4. What analogies did Jesus use to explain why his disciples were not fasting, and what do these analogies mean in the context of the story? ([27:02])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose someone like Levi—a tax collector and social outcast—to be his disciple? What does this say about the kind of people Jesus calls? ([16:57])
2. The Pharisees believed holiness meant separating from “sinners.” How does Jesus’ approach to holiness challenge this idea? ([22:15])
3. Jesus compares his presence to a wedding feast. What does this reveal about the nature of life with Jesus, and how does it contrast with the religious expectations of the time? ([27:54])
4. In the parable of the new wine and old wineskins, what is Jesus saying about the old religious system versus the new life he brings? Why can’t the new be contained in the old? ([29:51])

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### Application Questions

1. Levi left behind his wealth, status, and security to follow Jesus. Is there anything in your life—comfort, reputation, habits—that you sense Jesus might be asking you to leave behind in order to follow him more fully? What would it look like to take that step? ([16:57])
2. When Levi experienced grace, his first response was to throw a feast and invite other outcasts to meet Jesus. How can you make space in your life to include and celebrate people who might feel like outsiders? Is there someone you could invite into your circle this week? ([20:58])
3. The Pharisees’ version of holiness was about keeping distance from “unclean” people. Are there ways you might be tempted to withdraw from people who are different, messy, or struggling? What would it look like to move toward them with compassion instead? ([22:15])
4. Jesus says true holiness begins with joy in his presence, not just self-denial. Are there areas of your faith where you’ve lost joy? What is one practical way you could rediscover or express joy in your relationship with Jesus this week? ([27:54])
5. The parable of new wine and old wineskins challenges us to be open to change. Is there an “old wineskin” in your life—an old pattern, mindset, or way of doing things—that you sense God is asking you to let go of? What would it look like to be a “new wineskin” ready for what God wants to do now? ([29:51])
6. The message of Jesus never changes, but the methods do. Are there ways you need to adapt how you share or live out your faith in today’s world? What is one new method or approach you could try this month? ([40:06])
7. Jesus’ invitation is simple: “Follow me.” Whether you’re new to faith or have been following Jesus for years, what does it look like for you to respond to that invitation today? ([36:20])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for open, teachable hearts—ready to receive God’s new wine, to celebrate his grace, and to welcome others to the table.

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Calls the Unlikely and Offers New Life
Jesus invites even the most unlikely and outcast individuals to follow Him, offering them a completely new life marked by grace and immediate transformation. When Jesus called Levi, a tax collector despised by his community, He did not require a background check or a list of qualifications—just a simple, life-changing invitation: “Follow me.” Levi’s response was immediate and total; he left behind his wealth, status, and security to embrace a new life with Jesus. This moment shows that Jesus is not looking for religious elites or those who have it all together, but for those willing to leave the old behind and step into the newness He offers. No matter your past or reputation, Jesus’ call is for you, and it’s never too late to respond. [16:57]

Luke 5:27-28 (ESV)
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

Reflection: What is one area of your life you sense Jesus inviting you to leave behind so you can follow Him more fully today?


Day 2: Grace Leads to Celebration and Welcoming Others
Receiving God’s grace naturally leads to joyful celebration and a desire to welcome others into that same grace, regardless of their background. After Levi experienced Jesus’ mercy, he threw a great feast and invited all his friends—many of whom were also outcasts and “sinners”—to meet Jesus. This act was not just a party, but a banquet of grace, where those who felt disqualified were welcomed and accepted. Jesus did not shy away from joining them, showing that true holiness is not about avoiding the broken, but about embracing them with love. When you have truly received grace, it overflows into hospitality and a longing for others to encounter the same acceptance. [20:58]

Luke 5:29-30 (ESV)
And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Reflection: Who in your life might feel like an outsider or unworthy of God’s grace, and how can you extend a welcoming invitation to them this week?


Day 3: Jesus Came for the Broken, Not the Self-Righteous
Jesus’ mission is to seek out and heal those who know their need, not those who believe they are already righteous. When criticized by the Pharisees for associating with sinners, Jesus responded that it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. He did not deny the brokenness of those He dined with; instead, He affirmed that their very need was the reason for His presence. This truth challenges us to recognize our own need for grace and to resist the temptation to see ourselves as self-sufficient. Only when we acknowledge our weaknesses and failures can we truly receive the healing and transformation Jesus offers. [24:42]

Luke 5:31-32 (ESV)
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to admit your brokenness and invite Jesus to bring His healing today?


Day 4: True Holiness Begins with Joy in Jesus’ Presence
Holiness is not about somber self-denial, but about rejoicing in the presence of Jesus and celebrating the new life He brings. When questioned about why His disciples were not fasting like others, Jesus compared Himself to a bridegroom at a wedding feast, declaring that now is the time for joy because He is present. There will be times for fasting and sorrow, but the foundation of following Jesus is joy in His nearness. This joy is not superficial happiness, but a deep celebration that comes from knowing and being known by Christ. As believers, we are called to live out this joy, letting it shape our worship, our relationships, and our daily lives. [27:54]

Luke 5:34-35 (ESV)
And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally celebrate the presence of Jesus in your life today, even in the midst of challenges?


Day 5: Be Open to God’s New Work and Let Go of the Old
God is always doing something new, pouring out fresh grace and purpose, but we must be willing to let go of old patterns, comforts, and mindsets to receive it. Jesus’ parable of the new wine and old wineskins teaches that His kingdom cannot be contained within rigid, outdated systems or hearts unwilling to change. The Pharisees clung to the familiar because it gave them control and comfort, but Jesus invites us to be flexible, teachable, and ready for the new things He is doing. Each day is an opportunity to become a vessel that can stretch and grow, making room for more of God’s Spirit and His work in our lives. [36:20]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Reflection: What is one old habit, mindset, or comfort you need to release so you can fully embrace the new thing God wants to do in you?

Quotes

Levi was just given grace and mercy from the Lord well grace grace always makes you want to celebrate so Jesus is gonna have a party thrown for him by a tax collector you want to celebrate when you've been given grace and Levi isn'tashamed of his past either. He's not embarrassed by what he's done. As a matter of fact, he invites all his friends, you know, all of these other outcasts, the disqualified, the deplorables, if you want to use a word that we're hearing today thrown around, the wrong kinds of people to this party, and he introduces them to Jesus.So this is a whole banquet of grace. [00:19:42] (45 seconds) Edit Clip

From the religious critics, the Pharisees' perspective, holiness is all about separation.It's about separating from sin, from sinners, from anything that would make you, in their word, unclean, not acceptable. So, when they see Jesus, the Pharisees see Jesus, a rabbi certainly, and a supposed prophet, and he's dining with these people, these moral outcasts, it offends their entire worldview. Their whole system is built upon separation from those bad things.The Pharisees believed that righteousness was something you achieved by keeping your distance from those things. But Jesus clearly shows them that it's something you receive by drawing near. [00:22:22] (62 seconds) Edit Clip

``Jesus doesn't defend himself by saying, you know what, yeah, they're not all that bad. You know, they've made some mistakes. They did some stupid things.He agrees with the Pharisees. You're right. They are sick. But that's exactly why I've come here.He doesn't refute and deny the state of those tax collectors and those outcasts.But he tells them he is the reason. That's the exact reason. They are the exact reason why he's here in this place. It's precisely why he came. You don't criticize a doctor for hanging around with sick people, do you? That's why I don't go to hospitals, because that's where all the sick people are.I want to stay healthy. That's his job, to work with sick people and to heal them. [00:24:00] (49 seconds) Edit Clip

He replies with this analogy. This isn't a funeral. This is a wedding.So there's going to come a time when he won't be there. But when the bridegroom is present, you celebrate. You feast. And Jesus is saying, I am the bridegroom. I'm here now. Now is the time. The kingdom of God is breaking in. And it's time for joy. Joy.It's time for a party. [00:27:47] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

But Jesus refuses to be a patch he didn't come to reform the old he came to replace it the old covenant is the old testament and he is the new covenant the covenant of his blood new wine jesus kingdom in this situation his grace his way of being it won't fit into the richest self -righteous system of of religion it never has you need a new house you need a new container you need a new heart you need a new way of living a new mindset to accept this new kingdom that jesus is bringing. [00:30:43] (45 seconds) Edit Clip

I want you to know one thing god is always pouring out new wine always what's the message for us for you and i today he's always doing a new thing in us every day is new he's always pouring out fresh grace he's always pouring out fresh joy he's always pouring out fresh purpose for our lives but if you and i are stuck in our old patterns old bitterness old habits old pride we won't be able to receive the new. [00:33:18] (41 seconds) Edit Clip