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The sermon, titled "Be Careful What You Hold On To," focuses on the biblical story of the rich young man from Mark 10:17-31, using it to challenge the congregation on the themes of love, truth, and surrender. The sermon emphasizes three key takeaways: first, that God loves us enough to tell us the truth, even if it is a painful truth, not to shame us but to bring conviction, restoration, and freedom, as real love challenges us to grow. Second, it warns against creating a "Jesus of your own making," noting that many people want Jesus on their own terms, which leads to a consumer-based faith that stunts spiritual growth. Finally, it urges the audience to "let it go" and hold on to Jesus tightly while holding everything else—such as money, personal time, or comfort—loosely, reminding them that holding on tightly to anything other than Jesus leads to regret and slowly deforms one's character, making them less human and less like Christ. The core message is an invitation to surrender fully to God's will and choose freedom over self-curated comfort, using God's kindness as the motivation for repentance.
