Sermon Central
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The Narrow And Broad Way Series
Contributed by Pastor Bruce A. Shields on Aug 23, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 19:Sermon on the Mount Series - ...for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction...
The Great Commission
Part 19 – Sermon on the Mount – The Narrow & Broad Way
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org
WELCOME
INTRODUCTION TO SERMON
† The Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes
† We are the Salt, staying pure with God’s Holy Word
† We are the Light, showing that Word to the World
† Hate is same as murder - Lust the same as adultery
† Divorce, Oaths
† The Law of Love, Giving
† How to Pray - Fasting
† Treasures in Heaven
† Worry & Anxiety
† Judge Not
† Receiving from God
INTRODUCTION
Matthew 7:13 – 14 The Narrow & Broad Way (Literal)
13 Go through the straight gate because wide is the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going through it;
14 How straight is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and few are those finding it!
I. GO THROUGH THE STRAIGHT GATE
a. What is the straight gate?
John 10:9 – 10 (Jesus speaking)
“9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
All those who enter through Jesus will be saved.
Coming in and going out refers to what sheep did. They came into the gate for protection, and went out for pasture.
The thief is the devil and his servants are false prophets.
They only come to steal, kill and destroy.
Jesus comes that we may have life, and to have it abundantly!
There is a relation between our childhood memories of father and how they relate to our understanding of God.
b. Only one way to the Father. Jesus
John 14:4 – 6
“4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is only one way because Jesus was the only one who paid the wages of sin for you. There are two covenants right now, one leads only to death, the covenant of LAW, and the other leads to life, the new covenant in Christ.
You will be judged by one of these covenants and the choice is yours.
c. I lay life & death before you, choose life!
Deuteronomy 30:19 – 20
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life…
II. Because WIDE is the GATE & BROAD is the WAY that LEADS to DESTRUCTION.
a. Wide gate = easy to pass through.
b. Broad road = easy to stay on and travel.
It’s not hard to sin against God. It’s not hard to live in sin.
Remember; everyone commits sin but not everyone lives in sin.
Committing a sin – we repent & ask for forgiveness and are forgiven.
Living in sin – we sin & do nothing about it, and therefore live in Unforgiveness.
If we have never accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and commit ourselves to Him, we are living in sin, and a state of Unforgiveness. And we will be judged by the Covenant of LAW, by which we are all guilty.
i. Already condemned.
John 3:17 – 18
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
We are already condemned because if we have not accepted the New Covenant, we are judged under the Old Covenant.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Jesus came to rescue us, the prisoners of sin.
We are to do the same, rescuing those who are still prisoners.
For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
c. Wide path Leads to destruction = it’s a “path to” not the “destination of”
If you are still alive, you have not been destroyed yet! And there is hope!
But the path you are on, if you do nothing about it, WILL LEAD TO YOUR DESTRUCTION!
