Good, But Not Good Enough

## Theological Framing This session builds on the sermon Good, But Not Good Enough, anchored in Matthew 19:16-22. The goal is to help students see that the rich young ruler represents everyone who trusts in their own morality. Jesus does not negotiate with self-righteousness; he exposes it. The law functions as a mirror (Romans 3:19-20) to show us our need, not as a ladder to earn salvation. The good news is that God has manifested righteousness apart from the law through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-26). Christ, who kept the law perfectly, became our propitiation—turning away God\'s wrath by his blood. Students often believe they are \'good enough\' or that their sincerity counts. This guide aims to demolish that confidence without leaving them hopeless, pointing them to grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

## Question 1: The Ruler\'s Mistake (8 minutes) Read Matthew 19:16-22 aloud.

And behold, a man came up to him, saying, \'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?\' ... Jesus said to him, \'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.\' When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Ask: What does the young man\'s question tell us about how he understood eternal life and his own goodness?

LEADER NOTE — Expected Answers: He assumed eternal life was something he could earn by performing a good deed. He trusted in his own moral ability and achievements rather than seeing his need for grace. His question reveals a works-based mindset that thinks God owes us salvation if we are good enough. Jesus\' response about selling everything exposed that the ruler loved his possessions more than God and could not meet the law\'s demand for perfection.

Redirect: If students focus only on money, remind them the sermon said the issue was deeper—his money revealed a heart that failed to love God supremely (Deuteronomy 6:5). The problem was self-righteousness, not merely wealth.

Transition: The ruler walked away sad because Jesus held up a standard he could not meet. That leads us to ask—what is the law actually for?

## Question 2: The Mirror, Not a Ladder (7 minutes) Read Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, and Romans 3:19-20.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ... You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Ask: Jesus pointed the ruler to commandments that summarize these two laws. How does measuring ourselves against \'love God completely and love your neighbor selflessly\' expose our sin?

LEADER NOTE — Scripture Context: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 are the great commandments Jesus says sum up the whole law. Paul writes to the Roman church to explain that both Jew and Gentile are under sin. The law was given to Israel not as a means of self-salvation but to reveal sin and silence every excuse. No one can stand before God claiming innocence once the law has done its exposing work.

LEADER NOTE — Expected Answers: The law reveals our selfish motives, hidden anger, and failure to love God completely. Like a mirror showing a crooked tie, it does not fix the problem; it only exposes it. We might think we are decent people until we measure ourselves against God\'s perfect standard. The sermon emphasized that through the law comes knowledge of sin, not knowledge of our goodness.

Redirect: If a student says the law is bad or unfair, clarify that the law is holy and good, but it cannot save. It was designed to expose our need for a Savior.

Transition: If the law shows us we fall short, we need to be honest about how far short we fall.

## Question 3: Falling Short (7 minutes) Read Romans 3:23 and Matthew 5:48.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ... You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Ask: Why is being \'pretty good\' or \'better than most\' still not enough to stand before a holy God?

LEADER NOTE — Scripture Context: Romans 3:23 is the great leveler—Paul has just argued that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin. Matthew 5:48 concludes Jesus\' teaching on the law\'s true intent, showing that external obedience is insufficient; God demands heart-level perfection. Together these texts crush the idea that relative goodness impresses God.

LEADER NOTE — Expected Answers: God requires perfection, not just improvement. Being better than other people is a low bar because every human being is a sinner. The sermon stressed that we have sinned in the past and we fall short in the present—we continue to sin today. A good judge does not grade on a curve; he punishes every crime. Our \'goodness\' is still stained by sin and cannot satisfy God\'s justice.

Redirect: If students compare themselves to criminals or bullies, ask them if a judge would let someone go because they are less guilty than a murderer. God demands perfection, and even one sin makes us guilty.

Transition: If we cannot save ourselves by being good, there must be another way to be right with God. The sermon showed us that this righteousness comes from outside ourselves.

## Question 4: Righteousness as a Gift (10 minutes) Read Romans 3:21-26 and Galatians 2:21.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law ... the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. ... whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Ask: What does it mean that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, and why did the sermon emphasize the word \'propitiation\'?

LEADER NOTE — Scripture Context: Paul shifts from the bad news (Romans 3:19-20) to the gospel. \'Propitiation\' refers to the mercy seat in the Old Testament where blood was sprinkled to satisfy God\'s wrath. Here it means Jesus\' sacrifice turns away God\'s righteous anger against sin. This was not a side payment but a public display of God\'s justice and grace. Galatians 2:21 defends this by saying that if we could earn righteousness, Christ\'s death was pointless.

LEADER NOTE — Expected Answers: Righteousness is a gift granted to us when we trust in Christ, not a paycheck we earn. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live and died the death we deserved to die. Propitiation means God\'s wrath against sin was fully satisfied by Christ\'s blood, so he can be both just and the justifier of those who believe. Faith is the empty hand that receives this gift; it adds nothing of our own merit.

Redirect: If students treat faith as a work—\'I have to believe hard enough\'—remind them that faith is simply resting in Christ\'s finished work. The object of faith matters, not the strength of it.

Transition: Understanding grace should change how we view ourselves and our efforts. But many people still mix grace with works.

## Question 5: Debate Springboard — Grace vs. Merit (10 minutes) Read Luke 18:9-14 and Acts 16:31.

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt ... But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, \'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!\' ... \'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.\'

Ask: Some people say, \'God helps those who help themselves.\' Others say, \'God helps those who admit they cannot help themselves.\' Using these two passages, build a case for why self-reliance is the enemy of the gospel.

LEADER NOTE — Expected Answers: The Pharisee in Luke 18 trusted in his own fasting and tithing, but Jesus said the tax collector went home justified because he cried for mercy. Acts 16:31 offers salvation through belief alone, not through our efforts to clean ourselves up first. The sermon argued that human goodness falls short of perfection, so relying on ourselves insults the finished work of Christ. Grace is only good news to people who know they are helpless.

Redirect: If the debate stalls, ask: \'If you had to rate your goodness on a scale of one to ten, would you feel comfortable standing before God with that score?\' Then ask, \'What if the passing grade is perfection?\' Help them see that grace is not a backup plan for mediocre people; it is the only plan for all people.

Transition: If grace is the only plan, then our daily lives and conversations should look different.

## Question 6: Living Grace (8 minutes) Read 2 Corinthians 5:21.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ask: This week, how does trusting in Christ\'s righteousness instead of your own change the way you handle failure, relate to parents or friends, or talk to someone who thinks they are \'good enough\'?

LEADER NOTE — Expected Answers: We can admit our mistakes without despair because our identity is in Jesus\' perfection, not our performance. We stop looking down on others because we know we are sinners saved by grace alone. When talking to friends who think they are good enough, we can gently explain that everyone falls short of God\'s glory, but Jesus offers his perfect record to those who believe. This produces humility and confidence at the same time—humility about ourselves, confidence in Christ.

Redirect: If students say this makes them want to sin more because grace covers it, remind them that true faith produces love and gratitude, not license. The sermon closed by pointing us to Jesus as our priceless treasure; when we treasure him, obedience follows joyfully, not as a payment.

Closing Prayer (2 minutes): Thank God for exposing our sin through the law and clothing us in Christ\'s righteousness. Ask for boldness to share this grace with friends who still trust in their own goodness.