This Mother's day, Greg delves into Matthew 19, focusing on the story of the rich young ruler. This passage is a profound exploration of the themes of wealth, discipleship, and the condition of the heart in relation to following Jesus.

Key Themes:
Encounter with Jesus:
The rich young ruler approaches Jesus with a question about eternal life, revealing a deep-seated desire for assurance and fulfillment. Despite his adherence to the law, he senses something is missing in his life.

The Illusion of Goodness:
Jesus challenges the ruler's understanding of goodness, emphasizing that only God is truly good. This highlights the inherent brokenness of humanity and the futility of relying on personal righteousness for salvation.

The Call to Radical Surrender:
Jesus instructs the ruler to sell all his possessions and follow Him, revealing the ruler's attachment to wealth. This call to surrender is not about the money itself but about the heart's allegiance and trust in God over material possessions.

The Challenge of Wealth:
Wealth can become a significant barrier to entering the kingdom of heaven because it often takes the place of God in our lives. Jesus uses hyperbole to illustrate the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the kingdom, emphasizing the need for a heart fully devoted to God.

The Invitation to Trust:
Jesus invites believers to trust Him with their resources, promising that God desires to bless them. This is not a prosperity gospel but a call to live open-handedly, recognizing that everything we have is on loan from God.

The Cost of Discipleship:
Greg concludes with a call to evaluate what we are holding onto that prevents us from fully following Jesus. Whether it's wealth, relationships, or careers, Jesus invites us to say "yes" to Him and experience the true riches of a life surrendered to God.

Small Group Discussion Questions:
Personal Reflection:
How do you relate to the rich young ruler's question about eternal life? What areas of your life do you feel are lacking despite your efforts to "do good"?

Understanding Goodness:
What does it mean to you that only God is truly good? How does this understanding affect your view of your own righteousness?

Surrender and Trust:
What are some things in your life that you find difficult to surrender to God? How does this sermon challenge you to trust God more fully with those areas?

Wealth and Idolatry:
In what ways can wealth or the pursuit of it become an idol in our lives? How can we ensure that our hearts remain devoted to God rather than material possessions?

Practical Application:
What steps can you take to live more open-handedly with your resources? How can you practice biblical generosity in your daily life?

The Cost of Following Jesus:
Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult decision to follow Jesus. What did you learn from that experience about the cost and rewards of discipleship?

Community and Accountability:
How can your small group support each other in the journey of surrendering to Jesus? What practical ways can you encourage one another to live out the principles discussed in this sermon?

This sermon invites us to examine our hearts and consider what we are holding onto that might be hindering our full devotion to Jesus. As we discuss these questions, may we be encouraged to trust God more deeply and live lives that reflect His kingdom values.