When Grace Offends

[Announce text] Greetings, everyone. I am glad you are here. Today marks the fourth week of our sermon series, Unveiling the Kingdom. In this series, Jesus unveils his identity, mission, and the values of God’s kingdom, inviting us to follow him. Every week, we turn to another portion of Scripture in the Gospels when Jesus reveals God’s kingdom to those who desire to see it.

[Scripture introduction] If you brought a bible, please open it to the gospel of Luke. We will be reading from Luke 4:21-30 about the occasion when Jesus is rejected from his hometown for declaring an offensive word to his people.

[Reannounce and read text] Now, if you were here last weekend, you’ll notice that this passage continues last week’s gospel narrative when Jesus announces that he is the Messiah, who brings good news to the poor and oppressed. From Christ’s reading of the prophet of Isaiah, we come to this reading in Luke 4:21-30. Read with me the story of Christ’s rejection in Nazareth.

[Prayer for illumination] O Lord, we come before you, now in your presence, to learn from your Holy Word. Teach us the things of God and the secrets of your everlasting kingdom. You know what we need to hear at this time. Graciously provide everything for us, God; apart from you, we can do nothing. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Introduction] Imagine with me: you are rolling out of your bed, and you come to find out the year is 2020. As I say this, a flood of events and feelings are rushing to your mind. You remember everything like yesterday! The grocery store raids. The isolation. Your children’s school life flipped upside down, and the fear and dread that was constantly being reported on the news channel every night.

Now, you might be thinking of all the bad things that happened in 2020. Do you remember that important document that you received in the mail that year? And no, I am not talking about your stimulus checks. I am talking about the 2020 census.

Remember, it had tons of papers and was full of questions about you and your family. You probably recall filling out the questions concerning your income, marriage status, and home ownership. The census’s goal is to identify and understand the people who inhabit the United States. By doing so, it can categorize us and come up with accurate statistics about the nation.

Who are we? What do we own? Who’s in our home? Those are the questions it asks.

As you and I filled out the document, we quickly found out the dividing lines that encompass our lives, as if we understood that we are not the same. Our neighbors, friends, and family may very well be very different from you in terms of socioeconomics, education, family structure, and primary language.

Sometimes, these similarities can become a cultural temptation to befriend only those who share our dividing lines. And then, we forget to recognize Jesus' moral teaching: that grace isn’t for only those who are like us.

It’s for everyone!

Compared to the Jews in Luke’s gospel, they become outraged as Jesus claims that God’s grace crosses their dividing lines. And so, too, we must wonder if we have built walls recently in our lives and have withheld God’s grace from those outside our communal tribe or affiliation.

Just imagine what God wants to unveil to you about his kingdom this morning. Perhaps God's desire for you and his people is to erase the dividing lines and extend grace even to those who are on the margins.

Consider this...

[FCF] What if God is inviting you to be a vessel of His grace for those on the edges of society?

[Scripture bond] In Luke’s gospel, we hear Jesus' offensive words concerning the grace of God. It’s here in this story that we discover the radical unveiling of God’s kingdom values.

So, what does Jesus communicate in Luke’s gospel during his rejection? He alludes to the expansive nature of God’s unmerited grace given to all. Or another way of saying...

[Main point 1] God’s grace defies our boundaries, extending mercy beyond what we deem fair.

[Explanation] As told in Luke, the people were appalled by Jesus’ words. Not because he proclaimed to be the Lord’s anointed, the messenger of good news to those who are poor and oppressed, but because of what was said later. Jesus articulates that grace isn’t reserved for a specific believing community, like the Jews only.

In his goodness, God does not withhold his grace within specific land markers or social classes. Instead, God’s grace defies our boundaries, extending mercy beyond what we deem fair. It transcends the dividing lines that we have drawn. That’s why they become enraged when Jesus speaks about the prophets Elijah and Elisha and how God’s grace extends to those outside their communities.

[Illustration] For example, God’s grace will not be defined only within the lands of Israel. Still, it will reach those most forgotten, to new lands, the lands of Sidon and Syria, to two unknown people outside Israel. God sends the prophets.

Elijah will provide the miracle of abundance for the widow. What bread and oil were lacking, he promised that God would not let it go empty. Elisha also told a Syrian commander how to restore his skin by dipping himself in the Jordan River seven times.

When the Jews believed grace was reserved for their people alone, Jesus surprised them with the old news that God’s grace could cross land, rivers, and seas.

[Application] Likewise, God’s grace can cross over to where you think it is impossible. It can reach outside of this church. It can go to the local bars, it can be found in the homeless shelters, it can be discovered in the prisons, and even go to our unbelieving neighbors and friends.

So do not put God in a box and believe that his grace cannot go outside the boundaries of the church. Do you know why you’re here? It’s because his grace called you! His grace met you. His grace crossed your border and allowed you to respond in faith.

The widow of Zarephath gained a full stomach, and her son was revived by God’s grace (1 Kings 17:8-24).

The Syrian commander Naaman's skin was restored and made as smooth as a little child's (2 Kings 5:1-14).

Grace offends our sensibilities when we believe it is only reserved for those specific people, like you and me, who are Christians.

The Jews believed the same premise, that God’s grace is for a small group of people, that’s why the Jews decided to run Jesus off a cliff. He challenged their pride and understanding of how God operates in our world. He is not a God of restraint but a God who graciously gives to all.

Hence, Jesus reveals another incredible truth about God’s unveiled kingdom.

[Main Point 2] God’s grace knows no limits—it is freely given to all, at all times, in all places.

[Explanation] As this narrative from Luke shares, the people desired to see a sign from Jesus. Before Jesus arrived in Nazareth, he was visiting the city of Capernaum. There, Jesus offered healing to a paralytic man and revived the dying son of an Official. Knowing these miracles were taking place in a town nearby, the people expected the same performance to happen in Jesus’ hometown.

Which is a reasonable request? Right! But there was an issue. Jesus did not do his mighty works there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58).

But if God’s grace can be walled up because of people’s unbelief, can it be limitless? Certainly, Jesus withheld it at that moment, but God’s grace is free. It goes out in all times and places, in their time and ours.

It reaches down to us today because of the atoning death of Jesus on the cross and his victory over the grave. It is available because Jesus offers it. It is not a prize in which we strive for. It is not a wage in which to be earned. It is a free gift offered at all times, in all places. It is given to all who come to Father. Jesus illustrated this truth in his parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke’s gospel (Luke 15:11-32).

[Illustration] Once upon a time, a father had two sons. The younger demanded his inheritance early, left home, and wasted everything on reckless living. Hungry and alone, he decided to return, hoping to work as a servant in his father's house.

As he neared home, his father saw him from afar. Filled with compassion, the father ran to him, embracing him despite his filth and failures. Instead of scolding, he clothed him in fine robes, placed a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet. He called for a grand feast, declaring, “My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

The elder son, resentful of this celebration, refused to join. The father tenderly reminded him, “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we must celebrate, for your brother was lost and is found.”

And so, through this father's boundless love, we glimpse the heart of God—always ready to welcome us home, no matter how far we’ve strayed.

[Application] Since God’s grace knows no limits—it is freely given to all, at all times, in all places. We can all be confident that the Lord wishes the best for us and, likewise, for those on the edge of our society. God’s grace is ready to meet them with open arms. And the Lord wants to use you to give grace.

Freely you have received, freely you will give!

You may know the prodigal child in your life. Believe in your heart that the Lord’s grace can touch them and transform their soul. In doing so, we begin to connect with those far from the Lord, not because of anything they have done but because of the powerful transformative work of the gospel.

If God has changed you, it is because God’s grace knows no limits. It is a gift to the world, and its effect continues even to this very moment.

This leads us to our final thought when grace offends.

[Main Point 3] God’s grace invites and welcomes all to experience His love and salvation.

[Explanation] As mentioned, Luke tells about the radicalness of the prophets reaching out to the pagans outside of Israel. It genuinely tells of the unveiling nature of God’s kingdom. The Lord invites and welcomes all to experience love and salvation, not just a limited few. Again, this angers the mob to the point that they reject Jesus and his message. It’s this message that when grace offends, we must remember who God is.

He is a God who invites the forgotten.

He is a Savior who welcomes the broken.

He is a King who loves the unlovable.

He is a Redeemer who saves the sinner.

That’s his grace! It calls and comes into the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. And he is for you, too!

[Illustration] There was once a wealthy man who decided to throw a great banquet. He spared no expense—tables were filled with the finest food, music filled the air, and the aroma of a feast spread through the streets. He sent out invitations to his friends and neighbors, expecting them to come and celebrate.

But one by one, they made excuses. Some were too busy with work, others had family matters, and some simply weren’t interested. Saddened but not discouraged, the man sent his servants out again.

"Go to the streets and alleys," he said. "Invite the poor, the crippled, the outcasts—anyone who will come!"

The servants went and found those who never expected such an invitation. People who felt unworthy, forgotten, and broken were welcomed in. Soon, the banquet hall was filled with laughter, joy, and gratitude.

Yet, one thing was clear: none of them had earned their seat at the table. They were there because the host had graciously invited them and welcomed them as they were.

This is a retelling of the parable The Great Banquet in Luke 14:15-24. It speaks of how God’s grace invites and welcomes you and those outside this wall.

[Application] So if the grace of God invites and welcomes all to experience his love and salvation. How are you inviting and welcoming those outside of this congregation to Jesus? If God’s grace is in you. You are his members for a divine reason: to love and share the good news of Jesus.

Imagine if you invited three people to your home and taught them the love of God through prayer before a meal. Couldn’t that prayer change their minds about God? What if you asked two people to sit beside you at church service? One to your right and the other to your left. And they saw how God’s saving power has transformed your life. What if you invited one person to read the bible with you? And then, the Word of God began to spark a new spiritual flame into their heart.

In doing so, grace comes and abides with them. That’s how we become the vessel of His grace for those on the edges of society. We reach out with real actions and real love because God richly provides real grace.

I leave this with you.

[Proposition] God’s grace knows no boundaries—it is freely given to all, inviting everyone into His love and salvation.

[Conclusion] So, as you go this week, remember the grace of God that offends our sensibilities.

It knows no boundaries.

It knows no limits.

It invites and welcomes all to love.

Our Heavenly Father awaits for you and those on the edge of society to come into a saving relationship with him. Be like a prophet this week, and provide the riches of God’s grace wherever you go.

Amen!

[Prayer for Congregation] Father, we thank you for Jesus’ words—an offensive message to the religious but good news to us. We understand your power goes with your people, and we ask that it cross all our boundaries, touching the lives we encounter. We ask that you share what we have freely received and that your kingdom will grow. For your is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.