8_14_2025_Matt_19_Let_Go_or_Walk_Away.docx

In this sermon, we explored three encounters from Matthew 19 that challenge our assumptions about what it means to belong to the Kingdom of God. Jesus welcomes children, not because of their status or achievements, but because of their humble, trusting posture. He then confronts a wealthy young man, revealing that true discipleship requires letting go of what we cling to most tightly. Finally, Jesus addresses the disciples’ questions about reward and sacrifice, teaching that the Kingdom’s values are upside-down: surrender, not status, is what matters. The call is not to perfection, but to release—trusting that God sees, honors, and multiplies every costly choice made for His sake.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Childlike Faith Over Credentials Jesus’ embrace of children shows us that the Kingdom is not accessed by our achievements, knowledge, or spiritual resumes. Instead, it’s about coming to God with open hands and hearts, willing to trust and depend on Him. This challenges us to examine whether we approach God with humility or with a checklist of accomplishments. True belonging starts with surrender, not self-sufficiency.
• 2. The Cost of Clinging The story of the rich young ruler exposes how tightly we hold to our own forms of security—whether wealth, reputation, control, or comfort. Jesus’ invitation to “let go” is not about loss for its own sake, but about making space to receive what only He can give. The things we grip most tightly often become the very barriers to deeper obedience and joy. Surrender is not the end of our agency, but the beginning of true alignment with God’s purposes.
• 3. Surrender as the Soil of Grace Throughout Scripture, those who surrendered—Abraham, Moses, Mary, even Jesus Himself—discovered that release leads to greater revelation, presence, and fruitfulness. Surrender is not passive resignation; it is the active posture that allows God’s grace to take root and grow. When we open our hands, we position ourselves to receive more than we could ever achieve on our own. The paradox of the Kingdom is that losing our lives for Christ’s sake is how we truly find them.
• 4. The Tension Between Sacrifice and Reward Peter’s question—“What will we have?”—reflects a very human desire for assurance that our sacrifices matter. Jesus affirms that God sees and honors every costly choice, but He also redirects our focus from what we get to who we become. The Kingdom’s rewards are real, but they are not always measured in the ways we expect. God’s economy values transformation over transaction, and character over compensation.
• 5. Asking the Better Question It’s easy to keep score in our spiritual lives, measuring faithfulness by what we’ve given up or what we hope to gain. But Jesus invites us to a deeper question: not “What will I have?” but “What are You forming in me?” The journey of faith is less about accumulating blessings and more about being shaped into the likeness of Christ. When we shift our focus from outcomes to formation, we discover the true reward of the Kingdom—becoming people who reflect the heart and character of Jesus.

1. In Matthew 19:13-15, why did the disciples try to keep the children away from Jesus, and how did Jesus respond?
2. What did the rich young man ask Jesus, and what was Jesus’ answer to him (verses 16-22)?
3. How did the young man react to Jesus’ invitation to “let go” of his possessions? What does the text say about his emotional state?
4. When Peter asked, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (verse 27), how did Jesus respond?

1. Why does Jesus say the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to children? What is it about a child’s posture or attitude that Jesus wants us to imitate?
2. The rich young man had kept all the commandments, but still felt something was missing. What does this reveal about the difference between outward obedience and inward surrender?
3. Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” What does this teach about our ability to enter the Kingdom on our own?
4. When Jesus talks about rewards for those who have left things behind for His sake, what kind of rewards do you think He means? Are they always material or visible?

1. Jesus welcomes children because of their humility and trust, not their achievements. In what areas of your life do you find yourself coming to God with a “spiritual resume” instead of open hands? What would it look like to approach God more like a child this week?
2. The sermon talked about “clenched fists”—the things we hold onto tightly (money, reputation, control, comfort). What is one thing you are gripping tightly right now? How might it be keeping you from deeper obedience or joy?
3. Surrender is described as the “soil of grace.” Can you think of a time when letting go of something led to unexpected blessing or growth in your life? What did you learn from that experience?
4. Peter wanted to know, “What will we have?” after sacrificing for Jesus. Do you ever find yourself keeping score in your spiritual life—measuring what you’ve given up or what you hope to gain? How does this affect your relationship with God?
5. The sermon challenged us to ask a better question: not “What will I have?” but “What are You forming in me?” What is one area of your character or heart that you sense God is working on right now?
6. Jesus says, “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Where do you see the values of God’s Kingdom being “upside-down” compared to the world around you? How does this challenge your own priorities?
7. If surrender is not about loss, but about making space to receive from God, what is one practical step you can take this week to “open your hands” and trust Him more fully?