Sermon on the Mount – Pt 9
Matthew 7:13-29 (NLT)
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
GENUINELY FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES FACING REAL OPTIONS:
1. Two roads.
– Indifference to Jesus is an easy path, and many will choose it, but it is the road to destruction.
– Being faithful to Jesus is a difficult path, and only a few will find it, but it is the road to life.
2. Two trees.
– False prophets deceive themselves and others.
– True disciples do the Father’s will, not their own.
John 5:39 (NLT)
39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
John 5:46 (NLT)
46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.
3. Two houses.
– The foolish listen but ignore the teachings of Jesus to their own destruction.
– The wise listen and practice the teachings of Jesus to build a firm foundation.
SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Count the cost of following Jesus.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Matthew 7:13-14. What makes choosing the road with the narrow gate worth the challenge?
▶ Read Matthew 7:15-20. Where have you seen good fruit from someone’s “tree”?
▶ Read Matthew 7:21-23. How can we guard our hearts to know and be known by God?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.
Read Matthew 7:24-29. Ask God to reveal one difficulty that is trying to wear away the foundation of your house and how He wants to help you guard against it?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
As we finish up this Sermon on the Mount series, pray that we will move as growing followers of Jesus who love God and love others.