2.7.11 2.7.2021 Matthew 7.13-29 Discerning Discipleship
Finding Hope in Following Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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Entice: The authority of the pulpit is about showing you Jesus. The Master whose authority is unmistakable.
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Engage:
His touch was transforming.
His touch was transforming.
His images arresting.
His images arresting.
His charisma,
His charisma,
kindness
kindness
and
uncompromising stance
uncompromising stance
obvious.
obvious.
Expand: This text is filed with some of His most memorable word pictures. All of them point to the same single conclusion: Sound discernment means choosing Jesus.
Choosing Jesus to give direction.
Choosing Jesus to give direction.
Choosing Jesus to allow us to Flourish.
Choosing Jesus to allow us to Flourish.
Choosing Jesus as the central relationship in our lives.
Choosing Jesus as the central relationship in our lives.
Choosing Jesus to help us build our todays and our tomorrows.
Choosing Jesus to help us build our todays and our tomorrows.
Excite: The focus of the Church is Jesus. Everything we do should lift Him up as our life’s most important choice. Jesus changes our life by changing the one living it. Circumstances. Events. The issues we confront. These are essentially the same. But when we are in a relationship with Jesus we, you and I are different.
Explore:
The central choice of our life the mark of maturing discernment is choosing Jesus, His words and His way.
The central choice of our life the mark of maturing discernment is choosing Jesus, His words and His way.
Explain: Jesus Illustrates for us several different dimensions of choosing a relationship with Him.
Dimension 1
Choosing the Right Path.
Choosing the Right Path.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
This means Overcoming the magnetism of ease and numbers.
It requires the courage of choosing to choose and following only Jesus.
Dimension 2
Bearing the Right Fruit.
Bearing the Right Fruit.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Responsibly examining the fruit of others.
Consistently cultivating our own harvest.
Dimension 3
Doing the Right Thing.
Doing the Right Thing.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Doing the right thing=doing the will of the Father.
The will of the Father=knowing and being known by Jesus. Relationship.
The final dimension
Building on the right Foundation
Building on the right Foundation
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The wisdom of following God’s architectural plan for life=hearing and acting upon the words of Jesus.
In the end it is not the raging storms that define us but the foundation we build upon. How’s yours?
Shut Down:
How fitting that such powerful, transforming words can be reduced to a children’s song. Choosing Jesus should be as elementary as breathing when we look at the alternatives.
I offer you Jesus. Our job is to offer Jesus. It is not always easy. He is certainly not what many are looking for. He is what is needed. He is the ultimate foundation for life. His foundation. A relationship. Healthy fruit. The right path. All of these choices are really one. Jesus.