Make Up Your Minds Be Smart November 25

Okra or Chocolate chip cookie You Choose! Choose one word from each of the pairs of words that appear There is no right or wrong answer Just choose … Eat or Sleep Football or Baseball Needlepoint or Golf Cold or Hot Work or Play Talk or Listen Red or Blue Tie or Turtleneck Hat or Scarf Okra or Chocolate chip cookie Coffee or Tea

You Choose! These choices were just for fun and were usually easy to make … other choices we make are more serious and can affect our lives more significantly.  Today we look at the most important choice each person must make in their lifetime The question is, “Have I decided to follow Jesus Christ?”

Listen for four things that Jesus contrasts in this passage. Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) "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.

About Life’s Directions What are the words which describe the four contrasted elements? What causes you to be frustrated about being forced to make a decision? Elements Default Deliberate Entry Pathway Destination Proportion

About Life’s Directions Why do you think people in today’s world would rather be uncommitted spiritually? If the wide gate leads to destruction, why do you think so many people enter that gate and follow the broad road? What kinds of things do they encounter along this broad road which continues to attract them?

About Life’s Directions If the narrow gate is the right gate, God’s gate that gives abundant life and eternal life, why is it a difficult and hard way? What are some genuine compensations derived from the “difficult” road one encounters through the narrow gate? How do we know that God has not placed numerical limits on how many enter the narrow gate and travel that road?

Listen for how to identify false prophets. Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. [16] By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? [17] Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit

Listen for how to identify false prophets. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus, 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

Listen for how to identify false prophets. will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many 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?' [23] Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

About Life’s Influences What characteristics of false prophets does Jesus list here? What kind of “fruit” should be being produced in our lives so we do not act as false prophets?

About Life’s Influences What kind of “fruit” should be being produced in our lives so we do not act as false prophets? How then were they “evildoers?”

Listen for similarities and differences of the two houses in this parable. Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV) "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. [25] The 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. [26] But everyone who hears these words of

Listen for similarities and differences of the two houses in this parable. mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Listen for similarities and differences of the two houses in this parable. [28] When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, [29] because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

About Life’s Foundations What happens to a house that is not built on solid ground? How would this apply to your spiritual life? What kind of storms attack our lives and threaten to destroy them?

About Life’s Foundations The children’s song, “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock” has a verse that says, “So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ.” What does this passage actually say? Why will our lives not be destroyed when we build them on the rock of God’s words to us?

Application Consider the “narrow gate” to salvation Have you entered that gate by confession, repentance, and faith? Beware of deceptive and dangerous false prophets Ask yourself what you are building your life on

Make Up Your Minds Be Smart November 25