Crossroads – Wk 2
Luke 18:9-14 (NLT)
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
God’s mercy awaits those with humble hearts!
Luke 18:18-30 (NKJV)
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left [a]all and followed You.”
29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:22 (NKJV)
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Jesus meets us at the crossroad of surrender.
The problem: God is not the center of his life, riches are.
1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)
10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
1. Craving money leads to all kinds of evil, but doing good with our money leads to treasure in heaven.
Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2. Our hearts are drawn towards whatever we treasure.
Matthew 27-30 (NLT)
27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left [a]all and followed You.”
29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
What might be the one thing God is asking you to surrender?
COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: When we are searching for more, Jesus meets us at the crossroad of surrender.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Luke 18:9-14. What does the Crossroads of Humility look like in today’s world? How can we as believers be conscious to have a humble heart, or guard the focus of our hearts?
▶ Read Luke 18:18-30. How does having a posture of searching change how we view our lives?
▶ 1 Timothy 6:10, 17-19. Share some Crossroads of Surrender decisions you have made in your lives – big and small ones.
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.
Read Matthew 6:21-22. What one thing was highlighted as a Crossroads of Surrender for you? How do you see God coming through for you to have the heart for this decision and the courage to do it?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Ask God to continue to guide us each personally, and all of us corporately, as we Create Space in hearts for Him.