The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Mark 10:17-31 New Living Translation
The Rich Man
17 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?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!”24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, 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 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”


What It This Scripture Really Saying?

✅ Simple Summary:
This passage teaches that following Jesus requires wholehearted trust in God rather than in wealth, possessions, or status. True life in God’s Kingdom comes through surrender, generosity, and faith.



Here is How I Have Lived With The Themes In This Scripture

1. It’s About Trust
Who do you trust for:
Your future
Your identity
Your security

2. Selflessness vs Self-Centeredness
Kingdom living means:
Giving
Forgiving
Serving others


3. How We Handle Money Reveals Our Heart
Money tests:
Trust
Control
Faith

Healthy actions that I use to remind/help me to trust and release control:
Bless others (tip generously, help people)
Give
Avoid debt
Plan and budget
Save wisely (no get rich quick schemes)


4. Kingdom Living Expands Your Life
Living for God moves us from:
Self-focused life vs Kingdom-sized life


5. Gratitude and Stewardship
Appreciate what you’ve been given and use it to bless others.

Pastor Jon Verwey

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

[44]

45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

[46]

47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” — Mark 9:42–50 NIV

Does what I am doing move me toward Jesus or away from Him?

Does what I am doing make me more like Jesus or less?

Everyone will be salted with fire. v. 49

Being “salted with fire” happens when we offer ourselves to Jesus by submitting to Him and His ways. Then the trials of life become a fire that strengthens, purifies, and preserves us instead of destroying us.

…let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. — Galatians 5:16 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. — Galatians 5:22–23 NLT

Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other. v. 50b

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…— Hebrews 10:25 NLT

“The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? v. 50a

Don’t manage sin—fight it, so that we can be a purified people who bring the life-giving presence of Jesus to the world.

A War Against Sin through the Call to Be Salty

03/01/26

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.

[44]

45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.

[46]

47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” — Mark 9:42–50 NIV

If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble… v. 42

…encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. — Hebrews 3:13 NIV

theft, hatred, jealousy, envy, sexual immorality, witchcraft, greed, murder, rage, selfish ambition, causing division, lying, drunkenness, orgies, slander, gossip, arrogance and boastfulness, lack of mercy, obscenity and filthy speech…

Does what I am doing move me toward Jesus or away from Him?

Does what I am doing make me more like Jesus or less?

“All sin leads to spiritual ruin and death — and that drastic measures are necessary to fight it.”

We can’t just do sin management; we need to fight it aggressively.

Everyone will be salted with fire. v. 49

…let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. — Galatians 5:16 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. — Galatians 5:22–23 NLT

Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other. v. 50b

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…— Hebrews 10:25 NLT

“The Church is the Church only when it exists for others.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? v. 50a

Don’t manage sin—fight it, so we can be a purified people who bring the life-giving presence of Jesus to the world.

How do we fight sin instead of managing it?

We start with questions

• Does what I am doing move me toward Jesus or away from Him?
• Does what I am doing make me more like Jesus or less?

We offer ourselves to Jesus every day.

• We submit to His authority.
• We walk in step with the Holy Spirit.

Why do we fight sin instead of managing it?

So we become “salty”

• So our lives make people thirsty for Jesus.
• So our homes, our tables, and our relationships reflect His love and peace.

Pastor Jon Verwey

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. — Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

The way of the Kingdom is not striving for greatness through power and control but choosing last place through humility and service.

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. — Mark 9:30–34 NIV

35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” — Mark 9:35–37 NIV

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last… and servant of all.”

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.

41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. — Mark 9:38–41 NIV

“…those who face the mess they’ve made of their lives, repent of it, and trust [Jesus] as Lord and Savior [will] receive eternal life — something far beyond anything humanity can manufacture.” — Professor John Lennox

The way of the Kingdom is not striving for greatness through power and control but choosing last place through humility and service.

Glorious on the Mountain, Gracious in the Valley

02/15/26

His face shone like the sun … and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. — Matthew 17:2a; Luke 9:29b NIV

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.

3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” — Mark 9:2–7 NIV

“This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” vs. 7b

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. — Mark 9:8 NIV

No one lives on the top of the mountain. It’s fine to go there occasionally -for inspiration, for new perspectives. But you have to come down. Life is lived in the valleys. That’s where the farms and gardens and orchards are, and where the plowing and the work is done. That’s where you apply the visions you may have glimpsed from the peaks. —Arthur Gordon Webster.

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. — Mark 9:14–15 NIV

As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder… vs. 15

The stories are connected because the God who we experience on the mountain top is the same God who walks with us in the valley.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? — Mark 9:16-19 NIV

22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” — Mark 9:22 NIV

23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” — Mark 9:22 NIV

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” — Mark 9:24 NIV

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. — Mark 9:25-27 NIV

…Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. — Mark 9:27 ESV

The God we meet in moments of glory on the mountain is the God who walks with us through moments of desperation in the valley.

Pastor Jon Verwey

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? — Mark 8:34-37 NIV

“When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

To bind a Roman citizen is a crime;

to flog him is an abomination;

to slay him is like killing a relative;

to crucify him is—what?

There is no fitting word that can possibly describe so horrible a deed.

Whoever wants to save their life will lose it,

but whoever loses their life for Me and the gospel will save it. v. 35

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? vv. 36-37

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. — 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Jesus alone is worthy of our “everything”—because only He can turn it into something good, beautiful, and lasting.

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it.

Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

…you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. — 1 Corinthians 11:28 NLT

Have I surrendered my life to Him—given Him my “everything”?

Do I believe all that we are remembering and proclaiming in communion?

Pastor David Pietsch

Luke 10:38-42 NIV

Practice 1: Come Sit

Practice 2: Follow

Practice 3: Delight