When Worlds Collide: Embracing Jesus’ Grace Over Performance

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus’ Grace, Not Performance, Makes Us Right with God

True relationship with God is not about our religious performance or checking spiritual boxes, but about receiving and surrendering to the grace that Jesus offers. When we put ourselves and our efforts at the center, we either end up anxious and guilty for not measuring up, or self-righteous and judgmental when we think we do. Jesus invites us to lay down our striving and accept His finished work, making grace—not our own efforts—the foundation of our relationship with God. [13:39]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection: In what area of your spiritual life do you most often rely on your own performance instead of Jesus’ grace, and how can you intentionally surrender that area to Him today?

Day 2: Jesus Is Greater Than Our Problems

Problems are real and can feel overwhelming, but Jesus is more real and greater than any problem we face. While it’s natural to be concerned about the challenges in our lives and the world, Jesus calls us to submit our problems to Him, trusting that He has authority, power, and compassion to redeem, heal, and bring hope even in the darkest situations. When we center our lives on Jesus rather than our problems, we find resilience, peace, and a new perspective that lifts us out of despair. [23:49]

John 16:33 (ESV)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Reflection: What is one problem you are carrying today that feels defining or overwhelming, and how can you submit it to Jesus’ greater reality in prayer right now?

Day 3: Surrendering Our Agendas to God’s New Work

To receive the new things God wants to do in our lives, we often need to let go of old mindsets, habits, or relationships that can’t contain His new wine of joy and the Holy Spirit. God designed our hearts to be filled with His joy, but entitlement, control, or unhealthy patterns can keep us from receiving it. Shifting from grasping or complaining to gratitude and openness positions us to experience the fullness of God’s joy and presence. [28:40]

Mark 2:22 (ESV)
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Reflection: What is one old mindset, habit, or relationship you sense God inviting you to shift or release so you can be open to His new joy today?

Day 4: Practices Rooted in Grace, Not Self

Spiritual practices like prayer, fasting, and worship are valuable only when they draw us deeper into God’s grace, not when they become measures of our own spirituality or tools for comparison. When we make religious practices about ourselves, we either feel like we’re never enough or become prideful about our devotion. But when grace is at the center, these practices become life-giving ways to experience God’s love and presence, not ways to earn His favor. [14:08]

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: How can you approach a spiritual practice this week—such as prayer, worship, or fasting—not as a way to earn God’s approval, but as a way to rest in and enjoy His grace?

Day 5: Celebrating the Presence of Jesus

When Jesus is present, it is a time for celebration and joy, even in the midst of real problems and grief. Just as Jesus explained that His disciples did not fast while the bridegroom was with them, we are invited to recognize and rejoice in the nearness of God, who fulfills His promises and brings hope greater than any sorrow. Our lives are not defined by loss or hardship, but by the reality that God is with us, inviting us to celebrate His faithfulness and love. [18:18]

Mark 2:19-20 (ESV)
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.’”

Reflection: In the midst of whatever you are facing, how can you intentionally celebrate and give thanks for the presence of Jesus in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In a world filled with division, chaos, and anxiety, there is a voice that has been calling out for 2,000 years, inviting us into a different way of living. Jesus brings a kingdom that collides with the ways of the world, offering not just another set of religious rules, but a radically new center for our lives—his grace. When our worlds collide with his, we are faced with a choice: will we cling to our own agendas, our performance, and our problems, or will we open ourselves to the multiplying goodness, peace, and joy that Jesus offers?

Throughout history, people have tried to make themselves right with God through religious practices, measuring themselves and others by how well they perform. This leads either to anxiety and guilt—never feeling like enough—or to self-righteousness and judgment of others. But Jesus turns this system upside down. He offers grace as the foundation of our relationship with God, not our own efforts. When we surrender our striving and receive his grace, our spiritual practices become ways to root ourselves deeper in his love, not ways to earn his favor.

Problems are real and often overwhelming, both in our personal lives and in the world around us. Yet Jesus claims to be greater and more real than any problem we face. He invites us to submit our problems to him, to let his reality and authority reset and reorder our lives. This doesn’t mean our problems disappear, but it means they are no longer the defining reality—he is.

Jesus also calls us to be open to the new wine of his joy. Sometimes, old mindsets, entitlement, control, or unhealthy relationships keep us from receiving the joy he wants to pour into our hearts. We are designed for joy, and God longs to fill us with it, but we must be willing to shift, to let go of what holds us back, and to receive what he is offering.

At the heart of it all is the invitation to surrender our performance, our problems, and our old ways, and to receive the grace, joy, and new life that Jesus brings. As we gather around the table of communion, we remember that when grace and truth collide with the world, grace and truth win. Jesus is the center, and in him, we find the life we were made for.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace, Not Performance, at the Center The world’s religions and our own instincts often put our performance at the center of our relationship with God, leading to either guilt or self-righteousness. Jesus replaces this with grace—his perfect life and sacrifice fill the gap we can never bridge ourselves. When grace is the foundation, spiritual practices become life-giving rather than burdensome, rooting us deeper in God’s love rather than in our own efforts. [12:12]
2. Problems Are Real, But Jesus Is Greater Life is full of real, sometimes overwhelming problems, both personal and global. Jesus does not dismiss these, but he claims to be greater and more real than any problem. Submitting our problems to him doesn’t erase them, but it resets them in light of his authority, power, and resurrection—offering hope, comfort, and the possibility of transformation. [23:49]
3. The Invitation to Joy Requires a Shift God designed our hearts to be filled with his joy, but often old mindsets—like entitlement, control, or unhealthy relationships—block us from receiving it. Sometimes, we must let go of these old “wineskins” to make room for the new wine of God’s Spirit and joy. Cultivating gratitude, surrendering control, and seeking healthy community are practical ways to open ourselves to the joy God longs to give. [28:40]
4. Celebration in the Midst of Brokenness Even when surrounded by grief, loss, or national crisis, Jesus calls his followers to recognize the presence of the “bridegroom”—the fulfillment of God’s promises. There is a time to mourn, but when Jesus is present, it is also a time to celebrate, because his arrival is bigger than any heartbreak or problem. This perspective reorders our emotional lives and invites us to live with hope and celebration, even in hard times. [18:18]
5. Communion: The Collision of Grace and Truth The table of communion is a living reminder that when the world’s brokenness collides with the grace and truth of Jesus, grace and truth win. We are invited to surrender our striving and receive the gift of his body and blood, trusting that his grace is enough. This act recenters us on Jesus, not ourselves, and empowers us to live out of his resurrection power and love. [34:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Connecting People to God and Each Other
[01:39] - When Worlds Collide: Division or Multiplication
[02:38] - The Invitation to Multiplying Goodness
[04:17] - Why Jesus Is Different
[06:31] - Fasting and Religious Practices
[09:15] - The Problem with Performance-Based Religion
[11:43] - Jesus Invents Grace
[13:08] - God Displaces Our Performance with Jesus’
[15:20] - Fasting, Grief, and Devotion
[18:18] - The Bridegroom and the Call to Celebrate
[20:49] - Problems at the Center of Our Lives
[23:49] - Jesus Is Greater Than Our Problems
[27:48] - New Wine, New Wineskins: The Call to Shift
[28:40] - Receiving God’s Joy
[34:12] - Communion: Grace and Truth Collide
[36:15] - Prayer and Communion Instructions
[36:44] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 2:18-22 (ESV) — 18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.
21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.
22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV) — 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Observation Questions

In Mark 2:18-22, what are the different groups mentioned, and what are they doing that prompts people to question Jesus?
What is Jesus’ response when asked why his disciples are not fasting like others? What imagery does he use to explain his answer?
According to Romans 3:23-24, what is the reason given for why no one can be made right with God by their own efforts?
In the sermon, what are some of the ways people try to make themselves right with God, and what problems does this create? [[09:15]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus compare himself to a bridegroom, and what does this say about his presence among the people? How does this change the way his followers should respond to him? [[18:18]]
The sermon talks about “performance-based religion” and how it leads to either guilt or self-righteousness. Why is it so easy to fall into this mindset, even for Christians? [[10:03]]
What does it mean for Jesus to be “greater and more real” than our problems? How might this perspective change the way someone faces personal or global challenges? [[23:49]]
Jesus talks about “new wine” and “new wineskins.” What are some examples of “old wineskins” in our lives that might need to change in order to receive the joy and new life Jesus offers? [[28:40]]

Application Questions

The sermon says that when grace is at the center, spiritual practices become life-giving instead of burdensome. Are there any spiritual practices in your life that feel more like a duty than a joy? What might it look like to approach them from a place of grace instead of performance? [[14:08]]
Have you ever found yourself measuring your relationship with God (or others) by how well you perform or by comparing yourself to others? How has this affected your sense of peace or joy? [[10:03]]
Think about a problem in your life that feels overwhelming. What would it look like to “submit your problems to the greater reality of Jesus” this week? Is there a specific step you could take to do this? [[25:11]]
The sermon mentions that sometimes old mindsets like entitlement, control, or unhealthy relationships keep us from receiving God’s joy. Is there an “old wineskin” in your life that you sense God might be asking you to let go of? What would it take to make that shift? [[28:40]]
The idea of celebration in the midst of brokenness is challenging. Can you think of a time when you experienced joy or hope even while facing grief or loss? What helped you to see Jesus as “greater” in that moment? [[19:15]]
Communion is described as a time to surrender our striving and receive Jesus’ grace. As you approach communion (or remember it), what is one area of your life where you need to stop striving and simply receive? [[34:12]]
The sermon invites us to “open ourselves to the multiplying goodness, peace, and joy that Jesus offers.” What is one practical way you can open yourself to God’s joy or goodness this week, even if it means letting go of something familiar? [[03:47]]

Sermon Clips

Religion is like building a ladder to try to get as close to God as you possibly can. It doesn't matter if your ladder's 10 feet high or like one foot high, you're going to fall short. So who's going to fill that gap? Jesus does. And when you can wrap your mind around the good news that what Jesus is doing is not just another religious thing. Jesus is not just another religious teacher. Jesus is the one who turns religion upside down. [00:12:32] (24 seconds) #SurrenderToJesusGrace

What God has done in Jesus, is displace your performance with his. And the way that you have a right relationship with God is not through working harder, it's by surrendering more deeply to his grace and mercy. And once grace is at the center of your relationship with God, not your performance or you checking the boxes or doing whatever at the center of your relationship with God, then the practices work. [00:13:37] (23 seconds) #ReplaceStrivingWithGrace

Problems are real. They matter. They're important. They are not ultimately defining. Jesus himself has the power and authority over any and every problem, personal problem, world problem, problems in your neighborhoods and lifetime. Jesus wants to reset and reorder every problem around himself, which doesn't mean your problems aren't real. They are real. It just means that something's more real than your problems. Something's bigger than your problems. [00:23:55] (24 seconds) #GratitudeOverEntitlement

Are you willing to submit your problems to the greater, better reality of Jesus? Are you willing to say, my problems are real? There's something bigger than my problems. Doesn't matter how big it is. Doesn't matter. Even, it doesn't matter, like literally, even if it is end-of-life threatening kind of thing, Jesus is bigger. He rose from the grave. He's bigger than death. The one who conquered death and sin forever has the authority to step into any mess and redeem and heal and walk you through and comfort in the midst of any mess. [00:25:09] (31 seconds) #JesusOvercomesTheWorld

If you want something new, you got to get rid of the old thing. Sometimes the old thing can't handle the thing that God wants to pour into you. The new wine and throughout the Bible is reflective of a couple of things. One, most often it's about the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit falling on you. It's almost always associated with joy. Hey, my friends, any of you, can any of you use a shot of joy today? Any of you use a little joy today? Just a question. Is there anything that you might need to shift in order to receive the new wine joy of the Lord? [00:28:12] (28 seconds) #GraceAndTruthWin

Your heart was designed by God to house his joy. You are, listen, you are hardwired. Listen, I'm serious. You have a, you have a port in your heart that's just right for God's Holy Spirit and God's joy to be poured into your heart. So here's what God wants to do. God wants to pour joy into your heart. And you know where you are? You're over here. Either grasping, grasping, grasping, or waiting, waiting, waiting for something else. And God's like, no, no, I'm pouring joy over here. You're over here. You're like, but I want this thing over there. And so my friends, is there anything in you that needs to shift? Because God wants to pour joy into your heart. He wants to pour joy into your heart. You were made for joy. [00:28:49] (32 seconds)

When entitlement's driving the bus of your life, it's always going to result in complaining and cynicism and despair and bitterness because there's always somebody getting what you think you deserve, right? Always somebody else out there getting what you think you deserve. And so I realized if I let entitlement thinking drive the bus of my life, it's going to be terrible for me and everyone around me. And so I realized I have to repent, like repentance, turn around, like change my mind. You know what I start doing? I start moving to a position of gratitude. [00:30:13] (21 seconds)

A couple years after this conversation, Jesus is in a small room with some of his best friends. And the collision between Jesus and the powers of the world are about to come to an epic conclusion. He's going to come, he's going to go head to head with the political powers and authorities and the religious powers and authorities. He's going to collide with them. He's going to overcome them, but not the way that the people want him to. He's going to overcome the world, not through military might, not through a political revolution. He's going to overcome it by surrender to a cross, and then God's going to raise him from the dead. That's the collision that Jesus is on with the world. [00:33:26] (29 seconds)

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