Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 19:16-30 ESV
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Key Points
- Jesus says we can’t keep everything.
- Keeping isn’t going to save us – it may make us comfy, but it won’t save us.
- In order to follow Jesus – to trust him and give him our lives – we all have to leave something behind.
- The rich young man’s problem is not that he simply does not want to give stuff up, but that he does not want Jesus to tell him what to do with his stuff.
- When we embrace the idea of self-sufficiency, rather than depending on God, we leave nothing behind. When we leave nothing, we receive nothing.
- Those who leave behind much to follow Jesus, will receive so much more in Jesus.
- What is holding you back from believing and following Jesus today that you need to leave behind – entrusting it to Jesus to do with it what he wants?
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
-Matthew 19:24 ESV
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: If you’re reading this today, you most likely have more comfort, security, and power than the rich young man in Matthew 19.
· How does that realization affect the way you read this story?
2: Jesus says the rich young man’s wealth got in the way of him entering eternal life. The man valued his possessions over the salvation of his soul.
· How do you think your wealth gets in the way of you following Jesus?
· Why do you think it is tempting to place a greater value on our possessions than our salvation?
· How have you personally shared in this man’s struggle lately?
3: Be honest. Outside of Jesus, where do you often seek to find:
· Comfort?
· Security?
· Hope?
· Joy?
· Meaning?
4: In the Kingdom of God, we must leave everything to truly receive everything. Only when we give Jesus our lives will he give us the lives we have always desired.
· What does this mean to you?
· Read Philippians 2:4-11.
· How did Jesus show us what it looks like to leave and receive?
5: What is holding you back from believing and following Jesus today that you need to leave behind – entrusting it to Jesus to do with it what he wants?
Pray
Lord, we have picked up a whole lot along the way that looks nothing like the cross. We confess we are quick to reach out for comfort, security, hope, joy, and meaning in so much apart from you. We need eyes to see you reaching out for us – inviting us to leave it all behind to follow you. We have much to unload. Help us believe you are better than it all and worthy of our all.
