Earning God's Favor
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
INTRO:
What can you buy with a Million dollars?
only one item of each kind
try to get to the last penny
Why did no one put God’s love, missions, feeding the poor, etc.?
If you don’t have a phone, use a piece of paper
Why do we like superheroes so much?
They can do the impossible
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What do we think when we hear this verse?
we can do anything with God
God is gonna give me things
I can overcome difficulties
What is the context in which this verse is used?
Difference between what God can do and what He is about
Salvation
Full story:
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.”
Matthew 19:
Your Motive is in Your Heart
Your Motive is in Your Heart
What did the man ask Jesus?
What good deed must I do?
Motive? - How can I earn my way into heaven?
What price can I pay to be right with God?
What is Jesus’ response?
Have a student read vs. 18 & 19
Pay attention to the order
Jesus goes from the, seemingly, easiest one to not break to the most difficult
What is the last command?
Young ruler misses it - thinks he has this in the bag
Matthew 19:
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.”
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.
Young ruler missed the last command
Do you see how Jesus lovingly whittles away at our own self-righteousness?
The Gospel reframes your thinking
can’t compare your goodness to others, they are not the standard, Jesus is
What would your response be to the question that Jesus asked in vs. 21?
What if it wasn’t getting rid of all your stuff, but getting rid of your image and pride? sharing the gospel with your friends? to follow God in purity? to stand on the truth of the Scriptures?
Your actions reveal your motives, your motives reveal your heart
God’s Kingdom Flipped Upside Down
God’s Kingdom Flipped Upside Down
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?”
Why would the disciples be astonished at this saying?
Mindset that the rich are blessed by God
God gives money as a reward for service
Does this thought still play out in 2019?
Why do we value cultural opinions over what God says? Do we know what God says?
Salvation Comes From God
Salvation Comes From God
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
What does not lead to salvation:
Being rich
Being successful
Being popular
Being a good moral person
Being in power
Being intelligent
Man is taken out of the equation
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What is impossible with man?
Salvation
What is the framework for
What are the possible things with God?
The Results of the Gospel:
Salvation
Supernatural healing (not for our own glory but for God’s)
Physical, Addictions, Emotional, Spiritual
Joy in suffering
Forgiveness
Compassion
Mercy towards our sins
A changed life
These are the possibilities with God!