Luke 13:22-24 22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, 24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. “

Where does the question come from? Unidentified man Calls Jesus “lord” Insiders and outsiders – Jews and gentiles Insiders have special track

Are only a few going to be saved? What would it change if only a few would be saved? About God’s Character? About the extent of his love? Reality Check – we don’t know the number! JESUS doesn’t say! Instead he points to them and reminds them of their responsibility It is not how few who are saved that will shock this crowd, but who many of these “few” are. Even if we did know how many, that’s no reason not to share!

Everybody want’s to go to heaven, nobody want’s to pay the price of admission

Strive vs. seek strive = fight, (or) do one’s best, compete (as in an athletic contest). Make every effort So… we’re not already counted in? Seek – or desire, wish, want YOU CAN’T BE PASSIVE Free concert… you still have to go, get in line, be present, Shocked israelites that they weren’t already counted in Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11, NASB). Mills, M. S. (1999). The Life of Christ: A Study Guide to the Gospel Record (Lk 13:2230). Dallas, TX: 3E Ministries.

Luke 13:25-30 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' 26 "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' 27 "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 "There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

Narrow way Narrow Way Small is the gate The humble door at the church of the nativity The sermon on the mount isn’t for everyone Narrow is the way – ESV “the way is hard that leads to life,” Why isn’t everyone Christian? – it’s not easy Few find it. Nobody seems to like exclusive unless they’re included in the exclusive group. I.E. Hipsters FORREST GUMP – “did you find Jesus Gump? I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him!” The Narrow and Wide Gates 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. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7 A Tree and Its Fruit 15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ The Wise and Foolish Builders 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Luke 13:22–30 22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Exclusive claim is strong

If you enter the narrow gate You must enter individually It can’t be by your grandma’s faith It can’t be for your girlfriends sake Not because you go to church every Sunday Not because you go to a Christian School Not because you went to camp, Awana, VBS Not because you call yourself a Christian It must be your individual response

Enter through the narrow gate Not a command, An invitation!