HCCWG | 07.05.26 | Bryan Vincent

Devotional

Day 1: Running Hard Toward the Wrong End Zone

A man runs 66 yards with fierce determination only to discover he’s celebrating in the wrong end zone. Sincerity alone cannot save us from eternal miscalculation. Jesus warns that wholehearted effort means nothing if directed toward empty religion rather than relationship. Like Jim Marshall’s accidental touchdown, we might pour energy into spiritual performance while missing true surrender to Christ’s lordship. Victory comes not through effort but through alignment with God’s will. [32:39]

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been running hard with spiritual sincerity, only to sense Jesus might say, “This isn’t the direction I called you to go”? How might realignment with His will change your daily priorities?

Day 2: Ministry Miracles and Eternal Amnesia

Judas cast out demons yet remained a stranger to grace. Jesus rejects even spectacular acts done in His name if they flow from a heart He never knew. Miracles impress crowds but don’t impress heaven. The scariest truth isn’t that some pretend faith—it’s that some serve Jesus passionately yet never truly love Him. Eternal approval rests on being known, not being useful. [46:21]

“However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20, ESV)

Reflection: When you serve others, do you secretly crave recognition for your work, or find deeper joy in belonging to Jesus? What reveals the difference?

Day 3: Red Sox Hats vs. the Shepherd’s Voice

Owning a jersey doesn’t make you a player. Jesus wants followers who know His voice, not fans who cheer from the sidelines. The difference between a fan and a sheep in the fold is intimacy. Fans admire Jesus’ power; followers walk with Him through valleys. On judgment day, memorized slogans won’t substitute for a life shaped by daily listening. [56:13]

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” (John 10:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: Are you more comfortable talking about Jesus to others, or sitting quietly to hear Him speak to you? When did you last recognize His voice?

Day 4: “I Never Knew You” and the Open Door

Jesus’ terrifying words aren’t meant to paralyze but to provoke. The Judge who says “I never knew you” is the same Shepherd who says “My sheep know me.” Eternal life begins not at death but in the present tense of knowing God. The door closes only for those who never truly walked through it—and remains open for all who come hungry. [58:11]

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV)

Reflection: Does your concept of “being saved” feel like a transaction from the past, or a living friendship today? How does this shift your view of faith?

Day 5: Four Toes and the Proof of Surrender

A convincing story about missing toes crumbles when truth demands, “Show me.” Jesus cares less about our explanations than our evidence. Lip service evaporates under the heat of His gaze, but surrendered lives bear the scars of obedience. Authentic faith isn’t measured by words spoken in a prayer, but by a throne relinquished in daily choices. [42:02]

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: What area of your life still has a “Do Not Enter” sign hung up for Jesus? What would it look like to hand Him the keys today?

Sermon Summary

Jesus warns that a person can sprint hard and still cross the wrong goal line. Matthew 7:21-23 stands like a wake-up letter in the mail that says a real Day is coming. “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” The text puts confession on the table and then tests it. Mouths can say “Lord,” but hearts either surrender or hold the throne. Romans 10:9 still stands, yet the text presses for evidence that runs deeper than words. If Jesus is Lord, the life says, Show me the toe. The Father’s will becomes the believer’s desire, not as the root of salvation but as its fruit.

Jesus moves from talk to activity and tightens the warning. People will point to prophecy, exorcism, and miracles, and they will stack up “in your name” like a resume. Judas proves the point. Ministry success can sit on top of a loveless heart. So Jesus redirects rejoicing. Do not rejoice that spirits submit. Rejoice that names are written in heaven. Salvation rests not in what anyone does for Jesus, but in what Jesus has done for sinners. Only the blood of Jesus saves. Grace received by repentance and faith writes a name in heaven before the person ever gets there.

The hardest line lands plain: “I never knew you.” Jesus is not short on information. He is naming a missing relationship. Fans wear the hat, but followers hear the voice. John 10 fills out Matthew 7. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, and his sheep know him. He calls by name. They come. That is not bare religion. That is life. John 17:3 names eternal life right now as knowing the Father and the Son. The door is open today. Repentance is the hinge. “Come to me” is the invitation. On that day, everything reduces to this: Do you know Jesus, and does Jesus know you. For those known by him, the door is always open.

Key Takeaways

1. Saying “Lord, Lord” is insufficient Confession matters, but confession can be borrowed. The tongue can outpace the heart, and the mouth can finish a sentence the life will not live. Jesus looks for surrender that moves from lips into habits, choices, and a new allegiance. On that day, words without a yielded will will not stand. [38:05]
2. Fruit reveals the Father’s will Works do not earn entry, but they do expose the tree. When Jesus sits on the throne, desire bends toward “your will be done,” and that bend shows up over time. Imperfect but real obedience signals a new root. The absence of fruit is not a paperwork problem, it is a heart problem. [43:27]
3. Ministry success cannot save anyone Gifts can run hot while love for Jesus runs cold. Prophesying, deliverance, and miracles can be done in his name and still be done by a stranger to him. The only safe boasting is in a name written in heaven, secured by Christ’s finished work, not by public results. [45:02]
4. Be known by the Good Shepherd “I never knew you” exposes imitation discipleship. The Shepherd’s knowing is personal and daily, where sheep learn his voice and answer his call. That knowing reorders identity, not just activity. Proximity to holy things is not the same as belonging in his fold. [56:36]
5. Eternal life begins in knowing God Heaven is not merely later time but present relationship. To know the Father and the Son is life that starts today and stretches forever. Repentance opens the door right now, and grace keeps it open. This is the difference between a fan and a follower. [58:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:18] - Wrong end zone illustration
[33:13] - “That day” and hard sayings
[34:08] - Matthew 7 in context
[36:16] - Reading Matthew 7:21-23
[38:05] - Religious talk is not enough
[40:44] - Doing the Father’s will
[43:27] - Works are fruit, not root
[45:02] - Religious activity cannot save
[46:48] - Judas and true rejoicing
[48:16] - Only Jesus saves
[50:40] - Does Jesus know you
[56:36] - The Good Shepherd’s fold
[58:49] - Eternal life is knowing God
[59:56] - Invitation and prayer of surrender

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Observation Questions

What specific actions do the people in Matthew 7:22 claim to have done in Jesus’ name? How does Jesus respond?
According to the sermon, what is the difference between “saying ‘Lord, Lord’” and actually doing the Father’s will? [38:05]
How does Jesus describe the relationship between himself and his followers in John 10:14-15 (referenced in the sermon)?
What illustration about running to the “wrong end zone” was used to explain misplaced spiritual confidence? [32:18]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus reject people who performed impressive religious acts (prophecy, exorcisms, miracles) in His name? What does this reveal about His priorities?
How does the analogy of a “fan” versus a “follower” (like a Red Sox fan vs. a player) clarify the difference between superficial faith and genuine discipleship? [55:46]
The sermon states, “Works are not the root, they’re the fruit.” What does this mean in the context of salvation and daily obedience? [43:27]
Why does Jesus emphasize being “known” by Him (John 10:14-15) as critical for salvation, rather than just knowing about Him?

Application Questions

What “fruit” in your life (habits, choices, desires) might indicate whether your heart is surrendered to Jesus’ lordship? How could you cultivate greater alignment with God’s will? [43:27]
Have you ever relied on religious activity (e.g., serving, attending church) to feel secure in your faith? How can you shift your focus to relationship over performance? [45:02]
The sermon warns against being a “fan” of Jesus rather than a follower. What practical steps could help you move from admiration to daily dependence on His voice? [56:36]
If someone asked, “How do you know Jesus knows you?” how would you answer based on your current walk with Him? What areas of your relationship need strengthening?
The invitation to “come to me” (Matthew 11:28) is for those weary of striving. Where do you need to stop “running” in your own strength and instead rest in Christ’s finished work? [59:56]
Repentance is called the “hinge” of salvation. Is there a habit, attitude, or sin you’ve been avoiding surrendering to Jesus? What would repentance look like in this area?

Sermon Clips

59s

#SavedByGrace

“``Only the blood of Jesus can save us. We're not saved because of the good things we do, we're saved because of the amazing thing that Jesus did. And God's not asking us today to save ourselves. In fact, we can't. Our sin separates us from God. Our sins can't be erased by good deeds. We could never do enough or be good enough or earn our way into heaven. Jesus did it all. He lived that perfect life we could never live, went to the cross and died for our sins. And three days later, he rose again in victory, ascended to heaven. Christ is the Lord. Our salvation is in Christ and in Christ alone.”

80s

#LiveYourFaith

“But here's the thing, it doesn't matter how convincing the story is, there's one way to find out the truth. Simply say, show me the toe. It's what Jesus is saying here. Don't just tell me, show me. I wanna see it in your life. Christianity isn't just a matter of the lips. It's one of our core values. Christianity is a matter of the heart. Paul said, if you declare with your mouth and believe in your heart, you will be saved. And what happens in our heart is always proclaimed in our life. Jesus is Lord. What does that mean? It means I'm not the Lord of my life anymore. Jesus is. He's God. He's got all authority. And he sits on the throne, I'm stepping off. It's the ultimate surrender to Jesus.”

78s

#FollowerNotFan

“See, there's a difference between a fan and a follower. I'm being honest. Jesus doesn't need any fans. He's looking for followers, genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. People who are who know him and are known by him. What is that? What does that look like? Well, Jesus gives us an amazing picture in John chapter 10. I never made this connection before, but this is almost like the parallel of Matthew chapter seven. Jesus gives us this picture, beautiful picture. He says, I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Just as the father knows me and I know the father. Did you catch that? Jesus wants to know you, and so you're known and known by Jesus, the same way that Jesus is known by the Father. That's not religion, that's a relationship, the deepest one possible.”

81s

#ForgivenByGrace

“I ask you today, do you wanna be forgiven? Do you want your name written in heaven? Your name has to be written in heaven before you get to heaven. How does that happen? We come to Jesus with nothing but our sin. And by grace through faith, repenting of our sin and trusting in Jesus, he forgives us, he saves us, he gives us eternal life. It's the only way. How about you? Have you trusted in Jesus? See, don't want any of us to stand before Jesus one day and say, what? I taught in Kids Connection. I I played in the worship team. I gave. I volunteered. I went on that mission trip. What do you mean, Jesus? Jesus says, many will say to me on that day, Lord, did we not? Church, I don't want us to be among the many.”

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HCCWG | 07.05.26 | Bryan Vincent | I Never Knew You