Embracing Surrender: The Path to Transformation

Today’s focus is on the deep, ongoing work of surrendering our whole selves to God, especially those parts of us we’re most reluctant to let go. Drawing from the sixth step of the 12 Steps—“We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character”—the invitation is to recognize that this is not just a process for those struggling with addiction, but for every one of us. We all have our own brokenness, our own “defects of character,” and the call is to become fully willing for God to change us, not just in the areas we’re comfortable with, but in the places we most want to keep for ourselves.

The story of the rich young man in Mark 10 illustrates this perfectly. He comes to Jesus, eager to do what’s right, but when Jesus pinpoints the one thing he’s not willing to surrender—his wealth—the man walks away sad. For each of us, there is something we hold back, something we’re not yet ready to let God touch. The question Jesus asks, “Do you want to be healed?” is not just for the obviously broken, but for all of us. It’s a question that cuts to the heart of our willingness to let God do the work only He can do.

This journey of surrender is not a one-time event, but a lifelong process. As we move through different stages of life, new challenges and new areas of resistance emerge. The person we are at 15 is not the person we are at 95, and God’s work in us continues through every season. The key is not to try harder or fix ourselves, but to recognize that we are the car, not the mechanic. God is the one who does the transforming; our part is to be entirely ready and willing for Him to do so.

True strength in the Christian life comes not from self-effort, but from surrender. Victory is found not in our own striving, but in letting go and allowing God to change us, even when it shakes up everything we know. The love of God is what motivates this change—He looks at us, sees what we lack, and loves us enough to call us into something deeper and freer. The invitation is to voice what needs to change, to admit where we’re not yet ready, and to trust that God’s desire to transform us is rooted in His deep love for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Surrender is the Heart of Transformation True change begins when we become entirely willing to let God address every area of our lives, not just the ones we’re comfortable with. Surrender is not a passive resignation, but an active readiness to let God do what we cannot do ourselves. This is the foundation of spiritual growth and freedom. [27:31]
• 2. The “One Thing You Lack” Principle Each of us has something we hold back from God—an area we’re not ready to surrender. Like the rich young man, we may do many things right, but Jesus lovingly points out the one thing that stands between us and deeper freedom. Identifying and naming this “one thing” is a courageous step toward wholeness. [37:13]
• 3. Lifelong Process, Not a Quick Fix Transformation is not a one-and-done event, but a journey that spans our entire lives. As we grow and change, new areas of resistance and brokenness come to light. The call is to continually return to God with openness, recognizing that we will always be in need of His ongoing work. [47:12]
• 4. We Are the Car, Not the Mechanic Our role is not to fix ourselves, but to be ready for God to do the work in us. The analogy of the car and the mechanic reminds us that we are not in control of our own transformation—God is. Readiness is about letting go of self-reliance and trusting God’s ability to heal and restore. [41:20]
• 5. God’s Love is the Motivation for Change God’s desire to transform us is rooted in His deep love for us. When Jesus looked at the rich young man, He loved him before calling him to surrender. God’s call to let go is not about deprivation, but about inviting us into greater freedom and fullness of life. [78:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:32] - Lost Car Keys and Announcements
• [10:33] - Opening Prayer
• [27:31] - Introduction to Step Six
• [34:25] - “Do You Want to Be Healed?”
• [36:08] - The Rich Young Man’s Dilemma
• [37:13] - The “One Thing You Lack” Challenge
• [41:20] - Mechanic and Car Analogy
• [47:12] - Lifelong Process of Change
• [49:52] - Why Surrender is a Habit
• [60:02] - Two Questions for Reflection
• [61:12] - Are You Ready for God to Work?
• [62:25] - The Cost and Freedom of Surrender
• [78:23] - God’s Love and Our Transformation
• [79:44] - Closing and Blessing

Bible Reading

Mark 10:17-27 (ESV) — 17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”
20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 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 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Observation Questions

1. What did the rich young man claim he had done since his youth, and how did Jesus respond to him? (Mark 10:20-21)
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase “one thing you lack” in the story of the rich young man? [37:13]
3. What analogy did the pastor use to describe our role in the process of change and surrender? [41:20]
4. How does Jesus’ attitude toward the rich young man show us something about God’s motivation for calling us to surrender? (Mark 10:21; [01:18:23])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus asked the rich young man to give up the one thing he valued most, rather than something easier for him to surrender? [37:13]
2. The sermon says, “We are the car, not the mechanic.” What does this mean about our ability to change ourselves, and what does it say about God’s role? [41:20]
3. The pastor mentioned that surrender is a lifelong process, not a one-time event. How might this perspective change the way someone approaches their spiritual growth? [47:12]
4. In the story, Jesus looked at the man and loved him before asking him to surrender. What does this tell us about God’s heart when He asks us to let go of something? [01:18:23]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to identify our own “one thing” that we hold back from God. What is an area in your life that you find hardest to surrender? What makes it difficult to let go? [37:13]
2. The pastor asked, “Do you want to be healed?” Is there something in your life you know needs to change, but you’re not entirely ready to let God change it? What would it look like to become willing? [01:00:02]
3. Thinking about the analogy of the car and the mechanic, are there ways you’ve tried to “fix yourself” instead of letting God do the work? What would it look like to trust God more in those areas? [41:20]
4. The sermon said that surrender is not a passive resignation, but an active readiness. What is one practical step you could take this week to show God you are ready for Him to work in a specific area of your life? [27:31]
5. The pastor described surrender as a habit that needs to be practiced over a lifetime. What are some ways you can make surrender a regular part of your spiritual life, not just a one-time decision? [49:52]
6. Jesus’ call to surrender comes from a place of love, not deprivation. How does knowing God loves you change the way you think about letting go of something important to you? [01:18:23]
7. As you look at different stages of your life (teens, 20s, 30s, etc.), what are some new areas of resistance or brokenness that have come up? How can you invite God into those areas today? [47:12]