Am I Doing The Right Thing? - Elder Corey Hardy 6-28-2026

Devotional

Day 1: Running to Jesus While Holding Your Tunic

The rich young ruler ran to Jesus despite social expectations, knees exposed and dignity risked. His urgency revealed a hunger deeper than religious routine. Yet his grip on possessions betrayed a divided heart. True pursuit of Christ demands full surrender, not just passionate gestures. Eternal life begins when we release what we clutch tighter than God. [52:47]

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?” (Mark 10:17, NLT)

Reflection: What visible sacrifices have you made recently to pursue Christ? Do your daily choices reflect more urgency to keep comfort or to know Jesus?

Day 2: “Good Teacher” and the Mirror of God’s Holiness

Jesus’ question—“Why do you call me good?”—exposes our shallow definitions of righteousness. Like the young man, we often measure ourselves against human standards rather than God’s perfection. True goodness begins when we stop justifying our “good enough” and kneel before the only One who is holy. [56:52]

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments…” (Mark 10:18-19, NLT)

Reflection: When was the last time God’s holiness made you aware of a specific flaw? How does calling Jesus “good” reshape your view of personal righteousness?

Day 3: Empty in the Synagogue

The ruler obeyed commandments yet left unfulfilled. Church attendance, moral living, and even ministry work can become hollow rituals if Christ isn’t the center. Emptiness persists when we prioritize religious performance over transformative relationship. [59:13]

“I obeyed all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” Jesus told him. (Mark 10:20-21, NLT)

Reflection: What spiritual routine have you recently done out of habit rather than love? Where do you sense hollow spaces in your faith?

Day 4: When Possessions Have You

The man’s grief over selling riches revealed his true god. Wealth isn’t evil, but whatever we refuse to release becomes an idol. Jesus’ radical demand exposes the cost of discipleship: treasuring Him above every earthly security. [01:00:50]

“Go and sell all your possessions… then come follow me.” At this, the man’s face fell and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (Mark 10:21-22, NLT)

Reflection: What practical comfort—finances, reputation, control—do you hesitate to surrender? How would your life look different if Christ alone was your security?

Day 5: “I Never Knew You” and the Fear of Missing Christ

Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:23 pierces religious pretenders. The young ruler did everything “right” yet missed eternal life. Self-examination isn’t about doubt but ensuring our hearts cling to Christ, not church activities. [50:01]

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21, NLT)

Reflection: If Jesus evaluated your life today based on relationship rather than religious resume, what would He emphasize? Where have you substituted ministry work for knowing Him?

Sermon Summary

Jesus sets the scene on the road to Jerusalem, where a rich young ruler runs, kneels, and asks the right question with the wrong heart, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? The text answers by lifting eyes first to heaven. Scripture paints paradise as real and near, a place of no more tears, no more death, streets like gold, a city lit by God’s own glory. Yet the best part of heaven is not the gold, but Jesus. Paradise is paradise because Christ is there, the One who snatched sinners from the enemy’s hand, covered shame, and stayed on the cross with their names on his mind.

The warning lands hard. Many will say, Lord, Lord, and hear I never knew you. The call is to examine the heart, not to assume a place in glory because of church habits or ministry titles. One son was lost in a far country, and one was lost in the father’s house. Empty in the synagogue is still empty.

Mark’s story pulls that curtain back. The ruler runs when dignified men do not run, kneels when proud men do not kneel, and calls Jesus good when only God is truly good. Jesus is not denying his goodness. Jesus is pressing the man to answer his own salutation. If only God is good, then where does that leave human righteousness? Paul says, in the flesh dwells no good thing. Isaiah says even the best rags are filthy. Salvation is by grace through faith. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by him.

The commandments roll out and the man checks every horizontal box. No murder, no adultery, no theft, no lies, honor to parents. Jesus looks at him with genuine love and finds the missing piece. One thing you lack. Go, sell, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. The sorrow that follows exposes a rival god. Possessions are fine, until possessions have the person. The issue is not wealth, the issue is worship. The first commandment, the vertical line, is cracked. No other gods means no other masters.

The answer to am I doing the right thing sounds simple and sharp. Put God first. Drop the act of self-made goodness. Use influence to lead in public worship, not in public compromise. Follow Christ. Believe that he died for sin and rose on the third day. Choose treasure in heaven over trinkets on earth. Do not be near Christ and miss Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Heaven’s joy is Jesus himself The promise is not mainly mansions, gems, or golden streets. The prize is the presence of the One who covered shame, healed wounds, and stayed on the cross with names on his heart. Desire for heaven matures when the heart wants Christ more than any reward he gives. Longing for glory sharpens when treasure and treasurer are not confused. [47:21]
2. Religious success can miss Christ Singing, serving, and giving do not guarantee, I know you. Jesus warns that impressive ministries can hide an unknown heart. Self-examination is mercy, not condemnation, because it sends the soul to Christ instead of to a resume. Better to lose false assurance now than to hear I never knew you later. [49:38]
3. Only God is good, so surrender Good Teacher provokes the deeper mirror, because if only God is good, then self-salvation is a dead road. Grace begins where self-confidence dies, and faith breathes where surrender says, have your way. The way to life is not one more box checked, but one more idol dropped. [56:52]
4. Possessions reveal the real master The problem is not owning much, but being owned. When treasure on earth outranks treasure in heaven, love’s allegiance is already spoken for. Christ’s call to sell, give, and follow unmasks what the heart trusts most, and invites a better wealth that death cannot touch. [61:04]
5. Lead with public, humble worship The ruler runs and kneels in daylight, not in secret, and that posture still preaches. Influence is stewardship, so leadership chooses praise over performance and repentance over image. Public humility turns status into a signpost that points past the self to the Savior. [53:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:04] - Call to worship and Hallelujahs
[40:14] - Reading Mark 10:17-22
[43:06] - Longing for heaven
[45:15] - Scripture’s picture of heaven
[47:21] - Jesus is heaven’s joy
[49:38] - Warning: I never knew you
[52:26] - Meet the rich young ruler
[53:16] - Leader runs and kneels
[55:05] - Grace, not goodness, saves
[56:52] - Only God is truly good
[58:40] - Loved yet lacking one thing
[60:24] - Sell, give, then follow
[61:04] - When possessions possess you
[62:49] - Doing the right thing: put God first

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Mark 10:17-22 (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.

Observation Questions

What specific actions did the rich young ruler take when approaching Jesus, and how might these actions contrast with cultural expectations for someone of his status?
Which commandments did Jesus list in response to the man’s question, and which ones did He omit?
How did the man react when Jesus told him to sell his possessions, and what does this reveal about his priorities?

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus respond to the man’s question by focusing on the commandments related to human relationships (e.g., murder, adultery) rather than those directly about loving God?
The man claimed to have kept all the commandments since his youth. What might this reveal about his understanding of righteousness versus Jesus’ definition?
Jesus said, “Only God is truly good” (v. 18). How does this statement challenge the idea of human self-sufficiency in earning salvation?

Application Questions

The rich young ruler’s sorrow exposed his attachment to possessions. What practical step could you take this week to identify and release something you might be holding onto more tightly than God?
Religious routines (like church attendance or service) can sometimes mask a lack of genuine relationship with Jesus. How would you evaluate whether your spiritual habits are rooted in love for Christ or mere performance? [50:29]
Jesus told the man, “Come, follow me” (v. 21). What does “following” look like in your current season of life, and what adjustments might this require?
The man prioritized earthly treasures over heavenly ones. How could you intentionally invest in “treasure in heaven” through your time, resources, or relationships this month?
The sermon warns against being “empty in the synagogue.” When have you felt spiritually empty despite religious activity, and how did you address it? [58:58]
Jesus highlighted the vertical commandment (“no other gods”) as the man’s core issue. What modern “gods” (e.g., success, approval, comfort) compete for your worship, and how can you actively prioritize God over them?

Sermon Clips

72s

#HeavenIsJesus

“``But I don't want you to get it twisted this morning because the best thing about heaven is not about the gold because some of y'all are wearing gold right now. It's not about the mansions or the rewards because some of y'all got rewards and plaques, but the best thing about heaven is we will be with Jesus. You know who I'm talking about, the one that snatched us from the enemy's hand, The one that took away our shame and our guilt and gave us a identity. The one that covered you and didn't expose you, but he kept you safe. I'm talking about the one who watched over you when you were wild and reckless and making mistakes. I mean, time after time, you kept making mistakes, but god seen you through that situation. one that healed you when the doctors didn't have an answer. The one that didn't give in to temptation because he had us on his mind. Who was willing to go on the cross and lay his life down to save us and give us access to eternal life.”

61s

#RelationshipNotReligion

“One of the greatest seven words a believer can ever hear from God is well done, my good and faithful servant. But I wanna tell you this morning, what if we never hear that those words from Jesus? if you've been in church your whole life? What if you sung in the choir and you served in ministries and you gave your tithes and you did the right thing, but Jesus tells you he doesn't tell you what you wanna hear. Jesus said in Matthew seven twenty three 21 to 23, many will say to me on that day, lord, lord, I have prophesied in your name and I cast out demons. But Jesus will reply and say, I never knew you. Depart from me, you worker of iniquity.”

58s

#DontServeTwoMasters

“The problem is when the possessions have you. He made his possessions a god. And like the prodigal son that ran away, he wanted his inheritance This man didn't want to wait for the treasure in heaven. He wanted to keep what he had on earth. But how many know we can't take nothing with us when we die? Which exposes his heart. He made his possessions a god, but we can't serve two masters. He chose religion over relationship. failed to let go, to surrender, and to make a sacrifice. Watch this. He denied his treasure in heaven and he also denied Christ, and he walked away without attaining eternal life.”

81s

#GiveUpToFollow

“Jesus says, so you wanna be perfect. Now, y'all know that none of us can be perfect. He says to the man, sell everything you have and give the money to the poor. He says, then you will have a treasure in heaven. And then he says, come follow me. He became sad because he had many possessions and it says that the man, the young man walked away sorrowful. It's hard because he concerned himself with other things and he end up walking away. He wanted to keep some of those things that he had and he end up walking away. But listen to what the scripture says, but what profit a man to gain the whole world but to lose his soul? I want you to understand there's nothing wrong with having money, nice cars, nice home. There's nothing wrong with having possessions. The problem is when the possessions have you.”

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Am I Doing The Right Thing? - Elder Corey Hardy 6-28-2026

Devotional

Day 1: Running to Jesus While Holding Your Tunic

Day 2: “Good Teacher” and the Mirror of God’s Holiness

Day 3: Empty in the Synagogue

Day 4: When Possessions Have You

Day 5: “I Never Knew You” and the Fear of Missing Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Am I Doing The Right Thing? - Elder Corey Hardy 6-28-2026

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