Discussion Questions
- Growing up, were you more of a rule-breaker or a rule-follower? Why do you think you were like that, and has that changed as you've gotten older?
- When Jesus was called good teacher, he responded by saying: "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." Why do you think Jesus said this and what does it mean for us as Christians?
- Pastor Sam talked about fake pearls - things that we value and hold on to that can distract us from following Jesus with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Is there something in your life that you might be holding on to or valuing above God to that is distracting you from Jesus?
READ MARK 10:17-31, THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW
- What does this passage tell me about God and about people?
- If I believe today's teaching is from God and that He loved me so much He sent Jesus to die for me, what is the appropriate way to respond in my everyday life?
- Who can I talk to more about this or share this with?
Spend time sharing prayer requests as a group, and close your time in prayer together.
In this week's passage, we saw that that the rich young ruler seemed to be doing everything right - on the surface. He came to Jesus wanting to follow him and wanting to inherit eternal life. He told Jesus that he strived to follow the 10 Commandments. But Jesus knew there was a deeper problem going on in the man's heart - and Jesus told the man that he must sell everything he has and give it all to the poor before following Jesus. The man left away very sad, for he had many possessions - and he did not commit to following Jesus.
This is not a prescriptive command to all Christians - but it is a challenge to look inwards and reflect on our own hearts. What might we be valuing above Jesus in our own lives? If Jesus asked you to give away your own wealth, home, job, passions, friends, family, or more, would you be willing to give up everything to chase after Him? Are we truly aligning every area of our hearts and lives in accordance with how Jesus has called us to live?
This is not a prescriptive command to all Christians - but it is a challenge to look inwards and reflect on our own hearts. What might we be valuing above Jesus in our own lives? If Jesus asked you to give away your own wealth, home, job, passions, friends, family, or more, would you be willing to give up everything to chase after Him? Are we truly aligning every area of our hearts and lives in accordance with how Jesus has called us to live?
Quote of the Week
What do you love more than God? What takes first place in your life? Maybe it's not money. Maybe it's a relationship. Maybe it's performance. Maybe it's being good enough. Do you get your worth and value about something you do or who you are with? In the passage for the rich young ruler, his material possessions was just what was in the way preventing him from truly following Jesus. What is in the way for you, keeping you from following Jesus? - Pastor Sam
Scripture
Mark 10:17-31 (NLT): As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.'” 20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, 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!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” 28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. 29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
Mark 8:34-36 (NLT): Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Romans 8:3-4 (NLT): The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 3:20 (NLT): For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT): God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Mark 8:34-36 (NLT): Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Romans 8:3-4 (NLT): The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Romans 3:20 (NLT): For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT): God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.