130428 sm 24 most likely to succeed matthew 7 13-14 (abridged)

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEEDMatthew 7:13-14

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOKStudies in the Sermon on the Mount

THE DISCIPLE’S HANDBOOK

Disciple’s Character

Code

Worship Economy

Relationships

Choices

THE DISCIPLE’S CHOICESMost Likely to Succeed

Beware of Sheep Imitations

Location, Location, Location!

TWO OPTIONS – TWO OUTCOMES

Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13a NET

Enter through the narrow gate …

OPTION ONEMatthew 7:13b

Matthew 7:13b NET

… because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are

many who enter through it.

Two Options – Two OutcomesThe Road to Death:

Onramp: Wide

Road Conditions: Spacious

Traffic report: Many

Destination: Destruction

The Road to Life:Onramp: Narrow

Road Conditions: Constricted

Traffic Report: Few

Destination: Life

OPTION TWOMatthew 7:14

Matthew 7:14 NET

But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Two Options – Two OutcomesThe Road to Death:

Onramp: Wide

Road Conditions: Spacious

Traffic report: Many

Destination: Destruction

The Road to Life:Onramp: Narrow

Road Conditions: Difficult

Traffic Report: Few

Destination: Life

TWO OPTIONS–ONE CHOICEThe Gospel of Jesus OR The Gospel of Oprah?

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except

through me.”

Acts 4:12

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which

we must be saved.

1 John 5:11-12

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does

not have the Son of God does not have life.

WHICH WAY WILL YOU CHOOSE?

The Road Not TakenTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

Butler Peak Fire Lookout

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT

"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.