Announcements
- Youth Fundraiser between services this Sunday, Nov 3 and next Sunday, Nov 10
- Night of Prayer and Worship this Tuesday, November 5, 7:00-8:00pm
- Prayer walk this Friday at 9:30am
Sermon Notes
I. The way (v. 13-14)
II. teachers (v. 15-20)
III. and faith in Jesus (v. 21-23)
IV. what God says (v. 24-27)
Going Deeper
Matthew 7:13-27
1. Read Deut. 30:19; Deut. 11:26 ; and Josh. 24:15. What choices are the people
of God given in these verses? What choice will you make? How is the right choice
a challenge for you?
2. Read Matt. 7:13-14. What make the narrow gate difficult to find? What makes
the broad road to destruction easy? Dan Doriani says: “The gate is narrow because
Jesus forbids certain acts. He commands ‘do not’ in 5:34; 36, 39, 42; 6:3, 7, 16,
19, 25, 31, 34; 7:6. These prohibitions restrict or narrow options for behavior.”
3. Read Matt. 7:15-20. What is Jesus’ warning? Who are the wolves? How will we
know who the wolves are? Douglas O’Donnell says: “Do not underestimate the
influence of bad theology and false teaching. So many people choose the wide
way to destruction because of these clanging cymbals, these showy charlatans
who teach “‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11), who
deliver moving sermons and work wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:8, 9;
Deuteronomy 13:1-3), yet who preach a “different gospel” that is no gospel at
all (Galatians 1:6, 7)—the gospel of “a God without wrath [who] brought men
without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a
Christ without a cross.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes false teachers: “Knowing that Christians are credulous
people, he conceals his dark purpose beneath the cloak of Christian piety, hoping
that his innocuous disguise will avert detection.”
4. Read Isaiah 30:10-11 and 2 Tim. 4:3. Instead of sound doctrine what do people
desire? Why do they desire it? Dan Doriani says: “False teachers love money (1
Tim. 6:3–10); elders should not (Titus 1:7; cf. Acts 20:33; Amos 7:12–13 [in
full context]).”
5. Dan Doriani says: “If Matthew 7:16–20 stressed the necessity of good
fruit, 7:21–23 insists that good fruit be assessed correctly. For acts to be truly
good, they must meet God’s standards (his laws and values), have the right
motives (love for God and neighbor), and pursue the right goal (the glory of God
and the good of his creation).The starting point is faith.”
6. What does Jesus say in Luke 6:46? What is stressed here?
7. Read Matt. 7:24-27. What is the difference between the two hearers? Is hearing
enough? Why or why not? Read 1 John 1:6; 2:4.
8. John Stott: “The world is a dark and dismal place, lacking sunshine, living in
shadow; Jesus’ followers are to be its light, dispelling its darkness and its gloom.”
9. How will you live differently this week in response to Matt. 7:13-27? What is one
specific way you will choose to obey God’s Word?
