sermon on the mount - narrow & wide gates

Matthew 7: 13 - 14

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13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7 (NIV)

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• Small beginning to a great ending

• Jesus gives lots of entry points for open hearts

• “Enter” is a doing word. You have to do something

1. Enter Kingdom of God Principle

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Gates

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2. Gates …. what are they?

• Pathways to applying / responding to revelation

• Everything Jesus spoke about in this “Sermon on the Mount” calls for a decision to enter through a narrow gate

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2. Gates …. what are they?Last week’s handout …..

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3. Choice of Gate

• Not a choice for enter or not

• A choice for one gate or the other

• Can make Kingdom choices daily

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13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

Matthew 7 (NIV)

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4. Wide Gates and Broad Roads

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• Broad and easy gate = culture around us

4. Wide Gates and Broad Roads

• Requires no Holy Spirit operation

• Believers choose paths in their lives daily

• Choosing broad is our default

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14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7 (NIV)

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5. Small Gates and Narrow Roads

• Lead to life and Kingdom of God

• Kingdom of God can come to a whole community because of one person who chooses to enter through the narrow gate

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5. Small Gates and Narrow Roads

“…. and only a few find it.”

Not a reference to “the elect” or “eternal destiny”

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6. Entry to the Next Level Principle

• Road starts narrow and windy

• Have to push through the small beginning

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So What ….??• Decide to “enter” …. need to do something

• Your choice for the narrow gate can bring life to communities

• Choose the narrow gate … shun common culture

see the “How Kingdom People Are Deferent” Handout for a starting point

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So What ….??

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Last week’s handout …..

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