Intersection of Grace and Truth

Big Idea: God’s grace doesn’t follow our rules—it’s not fair, and that’s the best news ever.

CONNECTION

Story of the boys always saying "no fair."

Ask: "Have you ever felt like life wasn’t fair? Like someone got more than they deserved, or maybe you got less?"

TENSION

Life has conditioned us to believe that effort equals reward. The harder you work, the more you should receive. That’s fair.

But what happens when someone who barely puts in any effort receives the same reward as you?

At first glance, that doesn’t sit well with us. It feels unjust. It feels…wrong.

We know what fairness looks like, and this isn’t it.

Think about how this plays out in our daily lives:

Have you ever been the one who worked hard, followed the rules, did everything right—only to watch someone else, who didn’t put in the effort, get the same result?

Have you ever thought, “Why should they get the same reward as me? That’s not fair.”

The tension we feel in these moments exposes something deeper...

Our expectation is that God operates on a system of merit, not mercy.

IDK about you but this is the God I grew up with. I thought that God didn’t love me unless I did things for Him.

And yet, as we follow Jesus he keeps pushing against our sense of fairness. Why? What is He trying to show us?

John tells us that Jesus came full of both grace and truth, but these seem ideologies seem like they are in opposition to one another, not supporting. But what if...

...God isn’t as concerned with fairness as we are? What if fairness was never the point?

God: The Upside-Down Economy of Grace

The Last Shall Be First

Matthew 20:1–7 NIV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

Jesus begins with a landowner hiring workers throughout the day—early morning, mid-morning, noon, afternoon, and just before quitting time.

In that culture, day laborers were dependent on finding work daily. No work meant no food for their family.

The later workers weren’t lazy; they were likely overlooked.

Key Truth: Jesus levels the playing field—His invitation is for the eager early riser and the overlooked latecomer.

Application Question: Where in your life are you striving for position when Jesus calls you to simply trust Him?

2. Grace Over Wages (Matthew 20:8-12)

At the end of the day, the landowner pays everyone the same, starting with the last hired.

The early workers expect more, yet receive exactly what they agreed to—one denarius, a fair day’s wage.

Their complaint reveals their heart: “You have made them equal to us.”

This wasn’t about money—it was about perceived worth.

Key Truth: Grace is not measured by effort, but by the generosity of the Giver.

Application Question: Have you been trying to prove yourself to God rather than receiving His love?

3. Are You Resentful or Grateful? (Matthew 20:13-16)

The landowner responds, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong.”

The problem wasn’t injustice—it was jealousy.

God’s grace is extravagant, and sometimes it offends those who believe they’ve earned more.

Key Truth: When we compare, we complain. When we focus on grace, we celebrate.

Application Question: Do you celebrate when God blesses others, or do you feel like you've been shortchanged?

You: Receiving Instead of Earning

Imagine if, instead of striving for fairness, you trusted in God’s generosity.

Ask: What would happen if you stopped trying to earn God's love and simply received it?

Call to action: This week, let go of striving and embrace the unfair, beautiful, and abundant grace of God.

Close in prayer, thanking God for His extravagant, undeserved, and amazing grace.