RAP SHEET LUKE 6:22-23, 26

Series: The Kingdom Way

Sermon: Status — Who Are You Living For?

Scripture: Luke 6:22–23, 26

REVIEW

This week, we continued through Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain and looked at one of the most challenging contrasts:

“Blessed are you when people hate you… exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man…Woe to you when all people speak well of you…” (Luke 6:22–23, 26)

Jesus is not saying that being disliked automatically means we are doing something right. The key phrase is: “because of the Son of Man.”

This is about what happens when we live faithfully to Jesus in a world that doesn’t share His values.

We saw that following Jesus creates tension—not because we are trying to be difficult, but because His way is fundamentally different from the surrounding culture.

So the deeper issue Jesus is addressing is status:

Whose approval matters most to us?

We all feel the pull of validation and the fear of rejection. That desire can quietly shape our decisions:

• softening truth to stay accepted

• staying silent to avoid conflict

• compromising convictions to maintain relationships

Jesus warns that constant approval from the world can actually be a danger sign—not because approval itself is wrong, but because it may reveal that we’ve stopped living distinctly for Him.

We saw this lived out in Daniel's life.

Daniel rose to one of the highest positions in Babylon, not by compromising, but by remaining faithful to God. Yet his faithfulness created enemies.

When pressured to compromise—even subtly—Daniel refused. He continued to pray openly, just as he always had, even though it would cost him everything.

Daniel wasn’t chasing approval from people. He was living for God's approval. And even when that led to opposition, God was with him.

This passage is not about earning salvation—it’s about living faithfully as people who already belong to God, trusting Him with both our present and our future.

APPLY

This week brings a clear and personal question:

Whose approval is shaping your life right now?

We all face moments where following Jesus will cost us something socially, relationally, or culturally.

So here is the question:

What is ONE area where you are tempted to compromise your faith to gain or keep approval from others?

Be honest and specific. It might be:

• a conversation you avoid because you don’t want tension

• a conviction you soften to fit in

• a habit you justify because it’s culturally normal

• a relationship where you are compromising your values

Then take it one step further:

What is ONE step you can take this week to choose faithfulness to Jesus over approval from people?

This isn’t about being combative or difficult. It’s about quietly, consistently choosing to live under the authority of Jesus, even when it costs you.

PRAY

Use prompts like these as your group prays together:

• “Jesus, show me where I’ve been living for approval from others.”

• “Give me courage to stay faithful to You without compromise.”

• “Help me trust You when following You creates tension.”

• “Remind me that Your approval is enough.”

• “Strengthen me to stand firm like Daniel.”