1. Matthew 7

2. It Starts with Me! God expects me to see my sin and to change God expects me to see my sin as my biggest concern God expects me to lovingly help others God expects me to be wise with when and who I give advice to

3. We Have a Gracious Father! He has given us His Word He sent Christ to die so that we could please him He provides us with the Comforter who allows us to be righteous even in the worst of circumstances – I Cor 10:13

4. We Have a Gracious Father! Therefore, be gracious to others We are expected to love God Supremely and others Sincerely

5. Me or Others?

6. We Have a Choice! Two Decisions on the Shelf: Pleasing God or Pleasing Self!

7. Decision Point Pleasing Self Pleasing God Which do I want or value more? Hard Easy Result: Hard Result: Easy (er)

8. We (believers) Produce Fruit Our fruit shows where our heart is We can determine other’s hearts by their fruit Our fruit will eventually look like the trees we plant ourselves with – Diseased – Healthy

9. We will Stand! Wise – Work: Built a House – Circumstance: Torrential Storms – Result: House did not fall – Why: It was built on rock Fool – Work: Built a House – Circumstance: Torrential Storms – Result: Violent Destruction – Why: It was built on sand

10. We will Stand! Same: – Resources: Hearing Jesus’ Word – Circumstances: Rough Trials Difference – Wise man heard and DID – Foolish man hear and DID NOT

11. Never Stop Being Amazed! Christ promises hope for your life: – Your marriage – Your parenting – Your job God’s Word is Sufficient – It provides you the pathway to godliness – It shows you how to stop pleasing self and how to please God

12. Implications for Life Will you take your sin seriously? Will you spend more time thinking about your struggles than those around you? – The problem with our relationships is that I spend as much time thinking about your sin as you should be thinking about your sin. And you are spending as much time thinking about my sin as I should be thinking about my sin!

13. Implications for Life Do you seek and knock on your heavenly Father’s door? Is your attitude like the child who is helpless to feed himself with the hand of his parent? Which path are heading down? What kind of tree are you?

14. Implications for Life Are you wise? Do you consistently do God’s Word? Are you constantly “amazed” at God’s Word?

15. Matthew 7