What a Difference One Letter Can Make Week 4

Song Connection: 

Bridge – “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose.”

Key Scriptures:

Matthew 6:19–21 – "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (ESV)

2 Corinthians 4:18 – “…the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Introduction:

Jim Elliot’s quote is amazingly powerful: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

It helps us remember that every choice we make has eternal consequences.  We have to know that everything this world has to offer—money, fame, beauty—will fade. But eternal life, salvation, and rewards in Christ last forever. Jesus reminds us that this life isn’t all there is.  Living for Jesus may mean sacrifice now, but the eternal gain is far greater. Every choice we make has eternal consequences. We can either live for temporary treasures—or live for eternal ones. At the end of life, we will spend eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell.

Matthew 6:19–21 Breakdown:

Key Words:

  •      “Treasures” (Greek: thēsauros)

    o    Means wealth or valuables stored up. Jesus uses it both for earthly possessions and eternal rewards.

    o    Question: Where are you storing your treasure—on earth or in heaven?

  •      “Lay up”

    o    Refers to stockpiling, hoarding, or investing. Jesus says don’t invest in what won’t last.

  •      “Moth and rust destroy”

    o    A picture of decay. Clothes wear out, metal corrodes, technology becomes outdated. Earthly stuff never lasts.

  •      “Thieves break in and steal”

    o    Even if you protect earthly treasures, they can still be lost—through theft, disaster, or death.

  •      “Treasures in heaven”

    o    Eternal rewards: salvation through Christ, lives impacted for the gospel, obedience to God. These are secure forever.

  •      “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

    o    Your priorities reveal your heart. What you value most shows who or what you love most.

The Eternal Reality:

  •      Life is temporary. Earthly treasures disappear the moment we die (Hebrews 9:27).

  •      Eternity is forever. Jesus speaks more about hell than anyone else in Scripture—because it’s real.

    o    Hell: eternal separation from God (Matthew 25:46).

    o    Heaven: eternal joy in God’s presence (Revelation 21:3–4).

  •      Our choices matter. Salvation is only in Christ (John 14:6). Rejecting Him leads to eternal loss; trusting Him secures eternal treasure.

Application: Living with Eternity in Mind:

•        Examine your investments. Are you investing more in things that fade (money, status, comfort) or in what lasts forever (God’s Word, people’s souls, obedience)?

•        Seek God’s kingdom first. Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

•        Share Christ. The only treasure we can take with us into eternity is people who come to faith in Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some things people chase after that won’t last?

2. How does living with eternity in mind change your daily choices?

3. What do you think Jim Elliot meant by his famous quote?

Challenge: 

Make one practical change this week to focus less on the temporary and more on the eternal (e.g., spend less time scrolling online and more time in prayer).

Conclusion & Application:

Everyone is storing up treasure somewhere. Jesus makes it clear: only treasure in heaven lasts. At the end of life, we will either enjoy eternal life in heaven or face eternal judgment in hell. What you value now reveals where your heart truly is.

Watch DeBunked 26 - “Hell Ain't Such a Bad Place To Be . . . DeBunked!"

Takeaway:

Don’t live for what you can’t keep. Live for what lasts forever—because eternity is real, and everyone will spend it in either heaven or hell.

Final Wrap-Up:

At the end of the 4 weeks, have students share their biggest “one letter difference” moment—how God shifted their thinking from the world’s lies to His truth.