**Sermon on Matthew 16:26: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"

*Imagine we're seated in a room with dimmed lights, a simple stage setup, and an atmosphere of palpable anticipation.* Palpable is something that can be touched or felt,

I hope you're truly present here today. Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. Today's message is something that we, especially as young adults, need to grasp deeply.

You know, in our world today, with social media, constant comparisons, and the constant pursuit of success, it's so easy to get caught up. It's so easy to become obsessed with gaining the "whole world" - the likes, the followers, the recognition, the promotions, the degrees, the relationships... But Jesus asks a challenging question in Matthew 16:26: *“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”*

Let's break that down a bit.

1. **The Illusion of "Gaining the World"**

In today's age, what does "gaining the world" even look like? Is it getting that dream job? Being famous on TikTok? Having a million followers on Instagram? Maybe for some, it's just being accepted, loved, or feeling like they're enough.

But here's the thing, the chase never ends. There's always someone with more followers, a better job, or a happier looking life. The cycle never stops.

You know, it's like running on a treadmill that just keeps speeding up. Sure, you might be running faster and faster, feeling like you're achieving so much, but are you really moving forward?

2. **The Value of the Soul**

Your soul. It's the very core of who you are. It's eternal. It's priceless. Yet, how often do we trade bits and pieces of our soul for temporary satisfaction?

When you compromise your values for acceptance, when you give up authentic relationships for superficial ones, or when you mute your convictions to fit in, what you're doing is essentially trading the invaluable for the fleeting.

Remember, everything in this world will fade. But your soul? It's eternal. It either spends eternity with God or separated from Him.

3. **Redefining Success**

Young adults, hear me on this. I get it. The pressures are real. The desire to belong, to succeed, to feel valued - they're real. But we need to redefine success. True success isn't about gaining the world; it's about being true to who God made you to be.

God doesn't look at your follower count or your bank balance. He looks at your heart. He sees your soul. And there is NOTHING more valuable to Him than that.

---

Let's get real for a moment. Life's short. The pressures of this world are intense. But we can't keep trading our souls for things that don't last. Remember, Jesus gave EVERYTHING to save your soul. He thinks you're that valuable.

So, as you walk out of here today, I challenge you to reflect on this: What are you chasing? And is it worth the price of your soul?

Let’s pray...