Unfinished, Part 2: Surrender
October 27, 2024

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Message Review

Big Idea: The first posture we must take for God to “carry on to completion” His unfinished transforming work is surrender. Discover what surrender is and why surrender positions us for transformation. God uses generosity to generate transformation because true generosity requires surrender.

Scripture References: Philippians 1:6; Matthew 6:10; Luke 18:18, 20-23, 29-30

Discussion Questions

  • What were your initial thoughts or takeaways from the sermon?

  • Is there anything in your life that if you were asked to give it up, you’re not sure that you could? What is that thing, and why is it so important?

  • One might say the opposite of surrender is control, and we as a society are often ‘control freaks’ when it comes to most of the stuff and situations of our life. Tim Keller refers to it as “the idol of control.” Why do we so often feel the need to control things ourselves?

  • Read Luke 18:18-30 as a group.

    • This rich young ruler truly desired to please God. Why did he go away sad?

    • Why is it more difficult for a ‘rich’ man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? (We put ‘rich’ in quotations because most all of us here in the US could be considered ‘rich’ from a global perspective.)

  • Jesus is asking this rich young ruler something very specific to him - to sell everything he has and give it to further God’s kingdom; however, that ISN’T a directive He is giving to everyone. What is the main application here for every follower of Christ?

  • God isn’t asking all of us to sell everything and live in a cardboard box. If God asks you that individually, then that is between you and God and may have more to do with your heart (like in this passage) than it does with your resources. But what God IS asking of ALL of us very clearly is actually more difficult than selling everything. While He isn’t asking us to GIVE 100%, He IS asking us to HONOR Him with – or STEWARD – 100%. That could be much more challenging for many of us ‘control freaks.’ How does this personally and specifically challenge you?

  • Often times God is less interested in what we ARE giving and is more interested in what we’re NOT giving and WHY. That is the heart of surrender and the heart of this passage. What would you say you aren’t yet surrendering over to God?

  • Surrendering a resource to God may look like directly giving it away, or it may also look like stewarding that resource more effectively for the kingdom of God. Is there a resource you currently have in your possession that you feel God isn’t necessarily asking you to sell and give away but rather to begin stewarding it more effectively for His kingdom?

  • Read Matthew 6:19-24 as a group. Inside of this passage is found the familiar phrase, “Where your treasure is, there is your heart.” How would you evaluate where your heart currently resides?

  • What are specific ways we can pray for you as you seek to take next steps of surrender in this Unfinished season? Be as personal and specific as you feel comfortable being and consider what next steps God may be asking you to take.

To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.