This Is The Way: The Words + Ways Of Jesus

Week 20

Matthew 7:13-20 CSB

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 
14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 
16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 
19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 
20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

Message Title: The

Line

Introduction

A perpendicular line is a line that

with a different line at a

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angle.

Career fields that uses perpendicular lines:

&

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Because while we were on our own road, doing our own thing, living life our own way, Christ came in like a perpendicular line to shift us into a new direction, to bring a new way of life, and to send you down a new road to live by – known as the Kingdom of God.

• “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” – Romans 5:8-9

Point 1:

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is The Perpendicular Line

• 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. (Matthew 7: 13-14 CSB)

• The analogy of bed sizes compared to the narrow and wide gate.
  o The analogy of the twin size mattress in this story is directly related too the narrow road. When we choose the narrow road (although it comes with difficulty), Jesus will give us quality over quantity.
  o In John 14:6, Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me. (Read John 15 in your alone time)

• Is there anything that is keeping your heart from fully committing to Christ and His way of living?

Point 2:

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of the

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15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:15-16

• The scripture about a false prophet
  o Read Jeremiah 28

• A false prophet is equated to a ravenous wolf.
  o Wolf in this metaphor means “cruel,
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  , rapacious, and destructive men.”
• Prophecy is a fruit because prophesy comes from the mouth.
  o Proverbs 18:21 –
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  and death are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Who are you listening too, and what fruit is it producing in your life?

Point 3:

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the

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17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. (Matthew 7:17-20 CSB)

In fact, how could God call

, the harlot righteous, knowing that she was out here doing here own thing?

How could God know

by his faith, when

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was a man who was fearful? He gave his wife up to be married to a King of another nation out of fear for his own life.

The only way to determine the true fruit of a person is by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Rahab was counted righteous because of the fruit that she displayed

. Abraham was counted righteous because he

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God.

The only way a tree can be counted either good or bad is because it is either in

or it is not of

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.

Small Group Questions

1. Was there anything that stood out to you from today’s sermon? If so, what was it? (Do not feel pressured to answer if you do not have an answer)

2.Matthew 7:13-14 says: 13 Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Does this passage challenge you to examine your own walk with Christ and the choices you make in life? If so, how? If not, why?

3.What is a monumental moment that you have seen the goodness of God in your life? (Share your faith.)

4.Is there any fruit that you have beared this week that was not produced from faith? As we share, take a moment to pray for one another 1 on 1