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Week 1 - Three Minutes After Death - Stop Storing, Start Living, and Make Jesus Everything

Updated: 3 days ago






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Title: "Stop Storing, Start Living, and Make Jesus Everything"

 

MESSAGE SUMMARY

This sermon challenges us to shift our focus from temporary possessions to eternal priorities. Drawing from Jesus’ parable in Luke 12:13-21, it underscores the fleeting nature of life and the importance of investing in things that matter for eternity. Jesus warns against greed and storing treasures on earth, urging us instead to be “rich toward God.” The message concludes with the ultimate hope of heaven, where Jesus is central.

 

KEY SCRIPTURE

Luke 12:13-21 – The parable of the rich fool highlights the futility of accumulating material wealth at the expense of eternal riches.

 

START TALKING

  • What’s one thing you’ve been holding onto lately that feels hard to let go of?

  • Share a funny or memorable story about a time you saved for something big.

  • Did you have thoughts about eternity and what that looks like as a child or currently?


START THINKING

  1. Read Luke 12:15. Why do you think Jesus begins this teaching with a warning about greed?

  2. How does Jesus’ perspective on “abundance” differ from our culture’s definition?

  3. In what ways does this parable challenge the way we think about success and security?


START SHARING

  1. What are some “barns” in your life that you’ve been building? How do they reflect your current priorities?

  2. How does the idea that “you can’t take it with you” resonate with or challenge you?

  3. If heaven is all about Jesus, what changes might you need to make in how you live today?


START PRAYING

  • Gratitude: Thank God for the eternal hope we have in Jesus.

  • Confession: Ask God to reveal areas where you’ve been “storing up treasures on earth.”

  • Commitment: Pray for the courage to release what’s temporary and embrace what’s eternal.


START DOING

  1. Declutter Your Heart: Reflect on one thing you’ve been prioritizing over God. Write it down and commit to surrendering it this week.

  2. Rebuild Relationships: Reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to reconnect with. Send a text, make a call, or schedule a coffee.

  3. Be Rich Toward God: Find one way to invest in God’s kingdom this week—whether it’s serving, giving, or encouraging someone.


OPTIONAL: DIG DEEPER

  • Scripture Study:

    • Matthew 6:19-21 – Treasures in heaven vs. treasures on earth.

    • Ecclesiastes 3:11 – Eternity in the human heart.

    • John 14:6 – Jesus as the way to eternal life.

  • Reflection Question: How does your view of eternity shape your daily choices?

  • Action Step: Spend 15 minutes journaling about what it means to make Jesus “everything” in your life.


Reminder: Don’t let this study replace the importance of sharing, praying, and caring for each other in your group!


Transcript:

We are in a new sermon series called Three Minutes After Death. The reason we're in this series is that sometimes when we encounter life’s challenges, we don’t realize the truth about how we are supposed to live until we face the reality that life is short. We understand from scripture—and from God’s promises—that there is life beyond this brief moment.


I know several people—even in my own circle—who are struggling with grief and asking, “What happens after this?” I have two friends in their twenties, whom I knew as kids, whose father recently passed away. As I grieve with them and talk with them, I’m reminded that death is real and that our understanding of what happens after death is incredibly important.


I must admit that I originally began thinking about this series because I wanted to explore what we would be doing in heaven. Would we be golfing or playing pickleball? I thought about diving deep into what heaven looks like. But then I realized that describing heaven with a “retirement plan brochure” does not change the way we live today. Instead, it shows us that our perspective on heaven is essential to how we live now.


If you have your Bibles open to Luke 12—chapter 12, verse 13—we will read that together. I also want to share a celebration: a few weeks ago, we prayed over Mike and Caitlyn as they awaited the birth of their child, and they had a healthy baby girl yesterday. We celebrate that as a church family.

Luke 12 is a great passage. In it, Jesus teaches before thousands of people. In verse 13, someone in the crowd interrupted by saying, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” We all understand that when death comes, there is often turmoil and overwhelming paperwork. In response, Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Then He told them a parable about a rich man whose land yielded an abundant harvest. The man thought, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” So he said, “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones to store my surplus grain. I will say, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and be merry.’” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.


This scripture is powerful. Jesus is addressing the entire crowd. One person’s personal concern about inheritance is used to shock everyone—much like the shock in our series title, “Three Minutes After Death”—to make us realize that we are not immortal. Jesus warns us: pay attention!

Today’s sermon is titled, “Stop Storing, Start Living, and Make Jesus Everything.” Write that down if you’re taking notes. It is a call to stop storing up what will not last and to start living for what endures.

Let’s pray:

"Lord God, we pray that Your presence fills these words as we read Your Word. May we learn from it, draw closer to You, and understand that Your Word is authoritative. Change our lives; break down barriers and open our ears and soften our hearts by the power of Your Word and the Holy Spirit. Transform our hearts so that we know You so clearly that the words we speak are not our own but are those You have placed in our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen."

It is good to be here. I have an interesting view of heaven—one I was surprised to discover as I grew in my faith. My early ideas of heaven were shaped by Saturday morning cartoons. I once thought that in heaven we would have wings, harps, or even wear diapers—images from Looney Tunes, SpongeBob, or Fairly Odd Parents. But scripture tells us something very different.

In cartoons and movies, we might see people floating up into clouds with harps and halos, playing music forever. But as I read scripture, I realized there is more to heaven than that. What is heaven really like? That curiosity is placed in our hearts from a young age. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in the human heart. We are the only species that contemplates the afterlife because we are made in God’s image.

I remember, even in second grade, talking with friends about what heaven might be like. We imagined white clouds and flying everywhere. I even joked that the one thing I hoped for in heaven was a Mortal Kombat arcade—a fighting game I loved as a '90s kid. Of course, that was just a child’s imagination, not what scripture teaches.

As I explored heaven and eternity, I realized that while I can paint a picture of heaven, my heart is set on how that view should change the way we live today. I want scripture to speak for itself.

Later in Luke 12, Jesus teaches further. In verse 15, after someone interrupts with a personal request about dividing an inheritance, Jesus uses that moment to teach everyone: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Notice the emphatic command, “Watch out!” Jesus raises a red flag, urging us to examine our hearts.

Then He tells the parable of the rich man with an abundant harvest. The rich man did not have enough storage for his crops, so he tore down his barns and built bigger ones to hold his surplus. He thought that if he could build bigger storage, he would be secure. But God called him a fool, saying his life would be demanded that very night. Who will then receive what he has stored up?

This teaches us our first point: Stop storing what won't last. Our hearts often focus on possessions—Amazon packages, the latest gadgets, and even intangible things like approval or achievements that ultimately will not matter when life is over. We may try to control our lives by accumulating these things, but when life gets hard, they slip away.


In Matthew 6:19, Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, because time will take its toll. Look at the celebrity collections that turn to dust over the years. I once saw an image outside a movie studio showing famous celebrities from decades past, and I realized I didn’t even recognize most of them. Their treasures have been destroyed by time. Instead, Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven—treasures that are eternal.


Many of us are so busy building our barns of possessions that we forget to build altars to God. We chase what looks good, even though we know deep down it is temporary. In reality, what we need is a bigger faith—a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus.


This leads to my second point: You cannot take your possessions with you. At a funeral, all that really matters is family and friends—not the material things you accumulated. You cannot bring your new kitchen remodel, car, or investment portfolio to heaven. Those things stay here. Only what truly matters—your relationship with Jesus and the relationships you build with others—will follow you.

Jesus uses vivid language in Luke 12:20 by calling the rich man a fool. He warns that the things you are storing up may give Satan a foothold if you don’t check yourself. The reality is that earthly treasures will not accompany you into eternity. Our focus should be on investing in relationships—with God, with others, and with ourselves.


I’ve experienced the importance of relationships in ministry. At a recent church conference, I felt like I was at a family reunion. People ran up to me, remembered me from junior high, and shared how my teaching had impacted their lives. These moments remind me that heaven will be a joyful reunion with people—where relationships matter far more than possessions. God is saying, “Don’t attach eternity to a U-Haul full of stuff; attach it to the relationships you build.”


Finally, heaven is about Jesus—and Jesus alone. Scripture describes heaven with images like streets of gold, gates of pearls, and a crystal-clear river flowing from God's throne. But none of that matters if Jesus is not there. How we live today is vital because if we spend eternity with Jesus, we must have our hearts set on Him now.


I want to close by sharing that many people who have had near-death experiences describe an overwhelming presence of joy and love—a glimpse of heaven that they long to experience permanently. They realize that this love and joy are found in Jesus. A true relationship with Jesus is the only lasting treasure.

Let’s pray together:

"Lord, Heavenly Father, we understand that heaven and eternity are ultimately about You—not about our possessions or treasures. We are fools if we think that earthly wealth matters. Shape our hearts so that we surrender everything to You, knowing that life is short and can be demanded at any moment, but our eternity with You lasts forever. Help us to live today with an eternal perspective. In Your holy and mighty name, Jesus, Amen."

*This transcript has been prepared to enhance readability and accessibility. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors or discrepancies may remain. For the most precise representation, please refer to the original video.



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