Before we look at Jesus' question, we need to understand why He asked it.
Jesus had just finished teaching what life in the Kingdom of God should look like. He taught His disciples to love their enemies, forgive those who wrong them, give without expecting in return, and bear good fruit. Every lesson pointed to one truth: a follower of Christ is identified by the way he lives, not merely by what he says.
Then Jesus paused and asked a question that cut through the crowd and reached the heart:
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
Jesus wasn't questioning their confession. He was questioning whether their conduct agreed with it.
That same question deserves to be asked of the Church today.
Does my life support what my lips confess?
That brings us to today's message...
"When Your Confession Doesn't Match Your Conduct."
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
That title immediately communicates the tension in the passage. It doesn't accuse people outright; it invites them to examine themselves, which is exactly what Jesus is doing. It also fits your teaching style because it moves from biblical exposition to personal application.
The central truth could be stated this way:
Our confession is only credible when our conduct reflects the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Or even more in your voice:
A confession without obedience is merely conversation. True faith is demonstrated by a life that submits to Christ.
From there, I'd build the message around the text rather than around opinions.
The Flow
I. The Confession (Luke 6:46a)
"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord..."
- What does "Lord" actually mean?
- Why did Jesus repeat "Lord, Lord"?
- Is it possible to honor Christ with our lips while resisting Him with our lives?
II. The Contradiction (Luke 6:46b)
"...and do not the things which I say."
- Jesus wasn't questioning their words.
- He was questioning their obedience.
- The issue wasn't knowledge—it was submission.
III. The Consequence (Luke 6:47–49)
- Jesus immediately illustrates two builders.
- Both heard His words.
- Only one acted on them.
- The difference wasn't hearing; it was doing.
IV. The Challenge
Every believer should ask:
- Is Jesus my Savior only, or is He truly my Lord?
- Have I substituted religious activity for obedient living?
- Does my daily conduct affirm the confession I make on Sunday?
Closing Thought
I can hear you ending with something like this:
"Church, Jesus never asked us to perfect our image. He asked us to surrender our lives. The question isn't whether you've confessed Him with your mouth. The question is whether your life agrees with your confession. If someone watched you every day but never heard you speak, would they know who your Lord is? Because when our confession doesn't match our conduct, Jesus still asks, 'Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?'"