JesusPeople it’s about…

Life in the Kingdom A Kingdom of the Unlikely A Kingdom of aligned hearts not just actions A Kingdom of purity in devotion A Kingdom of life lived unto eternity

THE PATH OF LIFE life outside the box

Matthew 7:13, (NIV84) Matthew 7:13, (NIV84) ““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 7:14, (NIV84) Matthew 7:14, (NIV84) ““But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

THE PROBLEM WITH JESUS the path of life

Matthew 7:13 (NIV84) “Enter through the narrow gate.”

He Is the Only Way “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NLT)

One Life; Two Choices Destruction or Life

TWO GATES the path of life

“…wide is the gate… that leads to destruction.”

…but small is the gate…that leads to life

The “Gate” – Where It All Begins A metaphor for the entrance point of our journey with Christ toward full life in the Kingdom of God.

The Narrow Gate Requires Abandonment to Self We admit our spiritual povertyWe admit our spiritual poverty We grieve our sinWe grieve our sin We come hungry and thirstyWe come hungry and thirsty We lay aside pride and embrace meeknessWe lay aside pride and embrace meekness

Jesus Is Where We Start “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9, NIV84)

TWO WAYS the path of life

…broad is the road that leads to destruction…

“…narrow the road that leads to life,”

Two Ways Broad Easy in the short term Requires nothing of us Worn smooth by popular opinion Guided by the wisdom of man Void of God’s presence Narrow Difficult in the short term Requires deep personal sacrifice Made rugged by its seldom walked course Guided by the Spirit and the Word Made possible by the Spirit’s power

A Prayer for the Journey “Show me the right path, O L ORD ; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (Psalm 25:4–5, NLT)

TWO DESTINATIONS the path of life

life

destruction destruction

Psalm 1:3–5, (NLT) “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.”

TWO CROWDS the path of life

…the few

…the many

Will only a few truly be saved? “Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

Will only a few truly be saved? “He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ ”” (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

Will only a few truly be saved? Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

Will only a few truly be saved? “And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”” (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

Beginning the Journey of the Few Admit Your Spiritual PovertyAdmit Your Spiritual Poverty Receive Spiritual Rebirth through ChristReceive Spiritual Rebirth through Christ Dedicate Your Life to the JourneyDedicate Your Life to the Journey Cling to the Hope of His Overcoming PowerCling to the Hope of His Overcoming Power