Vulnerability Isn’t Weakness—It’s Your Witness

Devotional

Day 1: Remove the Plank Before Addressing the Speck

True evaluation of others begins with humble self-examination.
Jesus teaches that before we attempt to help others with their faults, we must first address our own shortcomings. This act of removing the "plank" from our own eye allows us to see clearly, approach others with humility, and offer genuine help rather than condemnation. When we pause to reflect on our own brokenness, we become more gracious, loving, and honest in our relationships, fostering restoration instead of judgment. [09:55]

Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV)
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Reflection: Is there a “plank” in your life—an area of sin or pride—that you need to honestly acknowledge and bring before God before you try to address someone else’s shortcomings?

Day 2: Recognize and Protect What Is Holy

We must discern and value what is sacred in God’s kingdom.
Jesus’ words about not giving dogs what is sacred or throwing pearls to pigs remind us to recognize the true value of holiness and wisdom. We are called to protect what is holy, understanding that not everyone is ready to receive the treasures of the kingdom. This discernment helps us honor God’s standards and approach others with wisdom, ensuring that we do not diminish the value of what God has entrusted to us. [16:43]

Matthew 7:6 (ESV)
Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to better protect or honor what is holy—whether it’s your time with God, your integrity, or your witness to others?

Day 3: Practice Discernment in Sharing the Gospel

Discernment guides us in knowing when and how to share Jesus with others.
As we interact with those who do not know Christ, we are called to exercise discernment—evaluating when to speak, when to listen, and when to simply model Christlike love. Not everyone is ready to hear the gospel, and forcing it can lead to misunderstanding or rejection. By seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we can respond in ways that are loving, patient, and appropriate for each unique relationship, trusting God to open hearts in His timing. [23:37]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV)
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Reflection: Who in your life might need you to listen and model grace rather than speak today, and how can you intentionally show them Christ’s love through your actions?

Day 4: Vulnerability Is Not Weakness—It’s Our Witness

Vulnerability allows others to see Jesus at work in us.
Choosing to be vulnerable—honest about our struggles, weaknesses, and ongoing need for grace—creates authentic connections and reveals the transforming power of Jesus. When we let down our guard, we invite others into our real story, showing them how Christ meets us in our brokenness. Vulnerability is not about weakness, but about trusting God to use our openness as a testimony of His love and strength, both for our own healing and as a witness to others. [29:36]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can choose to be more vulnerable—with God or with someone else—so that Christ’s strength can be seen through your weakness?

Day 5: Loving God and Neighbor Through Vulnerability and Discernment

Loving God and others is the heart of kingdom living.
At the core of Jesus’ teaching is the call to love God and love our neighbors. This love is expressed through vulnerability—laying our true selves before God and others—and discernment, seeking the Spirit’s guidance in every relationship. When we bring our whole selves to God, there is no condemnation, only freedom and grace. As we lower our masks and trust Him, we become safe places for others, modeling the love and acceptance that Jesus offers to all. [34:40]

Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally create a “safe place” for someone this week—inviting them to be real and loved, just as God invites you?

Sermon Summary

As we continue our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, we find ourselves wrestling with Jesus’ challenging words about judgment, discernment, and the sacredness of what we carry as followers of Christ. Jesus first calls us to humility—before we even think about addressing the faults of others, we must examine ourselves, removing the “plank” from our own eye so we can see clearly and love others well. This posture of humility is not just about self-improvement; it’s about creating space for grace, honesty, and restoration in our relationships.

Jesus then takes us deeper with the parable of pearls, pigs, and dogs. At first glance, this teaching seems harsh or confusing, but it’s rooted in the context of value and readiness. Pearls represent what is holy, sacred, and deeply valuable—wisdom, the kingdom of God, and the transformative truth of the gospel. Jesus’ warning is not about withholding love, but about recognizing when and how to share what is most precious. Not everyone is ready to receive the good news, and discernment is required to know when to speak, when to listen, and when to simply model Christ through our actions.

Holiness matters. God calls us to a standard that is both beautiful and challenging, and while grace covers our shortcomings, it is not a license to live carelessly. Instead, we are invited to pursue holiness, to value what is sacred, and to protect it—not out of fear, but out of reverence for God and love for others. This pursuit is not solitary; it is lived out in community, in our workplaces, families, and friendships.

Central to all of this is vulnerability. True discernment and authentic witness require us to lower our masks, to be honest about our struggles, and to trust that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Vulnerability is not weakness—it is the very means by which we reveal Christ to others. When we are open about our journey, our pain, and our hope, we create space for others to encounter Jesus, not as a distant ideal, but as a present and loving Savior. This is both our worship and our witness: loving God and loving our neighbors with courage, humility, and authenticity.

Key Takeaways

1. Humility is the starting point for all healthy relationships. Before addressing the faults of others, it is essential to examine our own hearts and motives, allowing God to reveal and heal our blind spots. This self-examination positions us to approach others with genuine love and grace, rather than condemnation. [09:55]
2. The sacred things of God—His wisdom, His kingdom, and the gospel—are of immense value and must be handled with discernment. Not every moment or relationship is ready for the full weight of these truths, and forcing them can lead to misunderstanding or rejection. Discernment is a Spirit-led sensitivity to timing, context, and the readiness of others. [19:49]
3. Holiness is both a calling and a gift. God invites us to pursue a life set apart, striving for His standard while resting in His grace. This pursuit is not about perfectionism or legalism, but about honoring what is sacred and allowing God’s Word to shape our lives, even as we acknowledge our ongoing need for mercy. [21:42]
4. Vulnerability is a spiritual superpower that builds relational equity and opens the door for authentic connection. By courageously sharing our struggles and God’s ongoing work in us, we invite others into a space where grace is tangible and faith becomes real. Vulnerability dismantles self-protection and superiority, making room for true love and transformation. [29:36]
5. Discernment and vulnerability together form the foundation of effective witness. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is to listen, model Christ, and wait for the right moment to share our “pearls.” At other times, boldness is required. In all things, the Holy Spirit guides us to love well, to protect what is sacred, and to trust God with the outcomes. [33:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:20] - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
[07:47] - Jesus’ Command: Do Not Judge
[08:42] - Parable of the Plank and the Speck
[10:28] - Parable of Pigs, Dogs, and Pearls
[12:18] - The Heart of the Kingdom: Love God and Neighbor
[13:41] - Understanding Context: Dogs, Pigs, and Holiness
[16:26] - Pearls as Wisdom and Value
[18:05] - Jesus’ Mission to Jews and Gentiles
[19:49] - The Call to Holiness Today
[22:36] - Discernment in Sharing the Gospel
[26:48] - Vulnerability: The Key to Authentic Relationships
[29:36] - The Power of Vulnerability
[33:00] - Vulnerability as Witness and Worship
[36:05] - Action Steps: Vulnerability, Discernment, and Creating Safe Spaces
[38:22] - No Waste at the Altar: Embracing Grace
[39:04] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 7:1-6 (ESV) — > 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
> 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
> 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
> 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
> 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
> 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) — > But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Observation Questions

In Matthew 7:3-5, what does Jesus say we should do before addressing the faults of others? How does this relate to the “plank” and “speck” imagery? [09:27]
According to the sermon, what do the “pearls” represent in Jesus’ teaching about not throwing pearls before pigs? [16:26]
What does Jesus warn might happen if we give what is holy to “dogs” or “pigs”? [10:28]
How does Paul describe the relationship between weakness and God’s power in 2 Corinthians 12:9? [32:07]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize self-examination before helping others with their faults? How might this change the way we approach conflict or correction in our relationships? [09:55]
What does it mean to “protect what is sacred” in our lives? How can we tell when someone is ready to receive the “pearls” of the gospel or wisdom? [19:49]
The sermon describes vulnerability as a “spiritual superpower.” Why is vulnerability so important for authentic relationships and witness? [29:36]
How does the idea that “God’s power is made perfect in weakness” challenge our usual ways of presenting ourselves to others? [32:07]

Application Questions

Think about a recent situation where you noticed a fault in someone else. Did you take time to examine your own heart first? What would it look like to “remove the plank” before addressing the “speck” in someone else? [09:55]
Are there “pearls” (truths, experiences, or aspects of your faith) that you have tried to share with someone who wasn’t ready? How did that go? What might discernment look like in your relationships this week? [25:44]
The sermon says that holiness is both a calling and a gift, and that grace is not a license to live carelessly. Is there an area of your life where you’ve been taking God’s grace for granted? What is one step you can take to honor what is sacred this week? [21:42]
Vulnerability is described as removing our masks and being honest about our struggles. Is there a relationship where you feel called to be more vulnerable? What holds you back, and what is one small way you could take a step toward openness? [29:36]
The pastor challenged everyone to spend 15 minutes a day being vulnerable with God in prayer. What would it look like for you to do this? What might you need to be honest with God about right now? [36:05]
Who in your life needs to see grace modeled rather than preached to? How can you intentionally show them the love of Christ through your actions this week? [37:27]
The sermon talks about creating “safe spaces” for others to be real. How can your small group or your home become a place where people feel safe to share their struggles and experience grace? [37:56]

Sermon Clips

But here's the thing, and I think this is so important, I think somebody out there needs to hear this today, right? Because I think we need to be challenged a little bit more on this. The grace of Jesus isn't an excuse to just do whatever we want. It's not some get out of jail free car, like we can't just sleep around and do anything that we want to live however we want to cheat and steal because grace covers us. That's not the point. Jesus says, you got to own it. You got to know that holiness matters, right? And you've got to protect it with all of your self, right? The imperative is to take holiness seriously, but not to carry the guilt and shame that comes with not meeting it and not hitting that standard. We've got to recognize the great grace does cover us. Amen. [00:21:15] (48 seconds) #vulnerabilitybuildsfaith

Discernment is simply Jesus centered evaluation. It's Jesus centered evaluation. It's discerning, it's understanding, it's evaluating based on Jesus principles, right? Christocentric principles. As we engage with people who don't know Jesus, we've got to be very careful though, with how we share Jesus with them, right? We can't evaluate non Christians in the same way that us as believers would evaluate each other. There's no speck to remove from their eye because they, they don't understand, they don't know Jesus or have anything to do with the expectations of Him. So to try to hold them to a standard that we hold each other to, it's actually unfair and it's actually unloving to do that because they don't know Jesus, nor do they know that they want him or need him, right? [00:22:46] (49 seconds) #layersofhealing

As we approach others who we see sin in or have a disagreement with, with wisdom and discernment, we have to approach them and ask, what is the most loving thing I can do right now for that person in this moment, like God? What are you doing? Right here in this moment. And how can you use me to do it? That's how we get discernment, to engage with one another and to know how to move forward. Because sometimes that will mean sharing deliberately, right? And sometimes it will mean simply modeling. Sometimes we're going to have to share the good news verbally, right? Tell them. Tell them what Jesus did. But sometimes we actually have to push pause on that and we've got to listen more, speak less, and model what it looks like to follow Jesus, to model a life transformed by Jesus, right? [00:25:05] (57 seconds) #powerinvulnerability

Vulnerability, though, it means showing somebody else. Here's what my life looks like, here's how I'm broken, and here's what Jesus has done, right? This is what he continues to do in me. This is not a thing of the past that I'm simply reflecting back on. He's, like, actively doing it right here, right now in my life. Here's how I experience right now in my struggles, his grace, like, when I struggle and when I fall. Here's how I experience them. Here's how he puts me all back together. And even in my current moment, I may not know what's going to happen next. But here's the faithfulness that I've seen in Jesus. [00:28:40] (37 seconds) #freedomatthealtar

``Vulnerability isn't weakness. It's our witness. It's not weakness. It's the way that we reveal Jesus to others. It declares our faith in him as we reveal him. And when we entrust what's sacred to God, he's the one who gives us the strength to thrive. He's the one who shows us then where and how to share our pearls with others, right? When we're vulnerable with him. That's when he shows up. When we trust him, that's when he shows up and reveals to us, speaks to us for how to engage with others. [00:33:18] (34 seconds)

Vulnerability isn't weakness, guys. It's worship. When we entrust it to God, everything we bring to Jesus, all the pain, all the fear, all the masks, he transforms that into something sacred in us. There's no waste at the altar. When we present everything to Jesus at the altar, all we will find there is grace, love, mercy. All we will find waiting for us are the open arms of a loving Father who meets us right where we are in the moment, right? That's what happens when we sacrifice. That's what happens when we are vulnerable with God and with one another. [00:38:22] (38 seconds)

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