The Narrow Road

THE NARROW ROAD

Mt. 7:13-14; Lk. 13:24

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: CALL FROM ALMIGHTY GOD

1. A pastor was working late on Saturday night at the Almighty God Tabernacle. Around 10:00 PM he decided to call his wife before he started for home; she didn't answer. Later he figured out he’d dialed the wrong phone number.

2. The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church. The caller wanted to know who had this number and the pastor said it was a church

3. The caller said, "Let me tell you my story. On Saturday night I was planning on leaving my wife, but before I did, I prayed, 'God, if you're there, and you don't want me to do this, give me a sign.’”

4. “At that moment my phone started to ring. I looked at the Caller ID, and it said, 'Almighty God.' I was just too afraid to answer!"

5. God’s trying to call our number this morning through His Word. Read with me.

B. TEXT

1. “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.” Mt. 7:13-14.

2. “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Lk. 13:24.

C. EXAMPLE & DRAMA

1. My nephew, Kylen Morrison, is in Junior High. All last year he took great pleasure asking his fellow students, “Do you think the road to heaven is wide or narrow?” Without exception all of them said, “It’s wide.” His reply, “Nope! That’s not right. The Bible says it’s narrow.” That explains why 97% of Americans think they’re going to heaven!

2. DRAMA: JESUS CALLING HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH TO WALK WITH HIM ON THE NARROW ROAD. (only 2 actors)

a. Put up a wall with a narrow door on platform.

b. Jesus stands beyond the door; “Come church, My bride and walk with me.”

c. Bride in white dress, with 4 suitcases strapped to her, tries to join Christ, but can’t get through the narrow door.

d. Jesus says, “You must put aside your PRIDE to walk with me.” She takes off suitcase labelled Pride. Still can’t get thru.

e. Jesus tells her to let go of her POPULARITY, then SELF, then MONEY (because she still can’t get thru). At last, with all removed, she enters through the door & walks off with Christ!

3. That’s what this message is about, “The Narrow Road.”

I. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE WIDE ROAD

Jesus taught that there are two roads, two destinies in life. He didn’t give us a third alternative. You’re on either one or the other. Our task today is to see which road we’re on!

A. WHO’S ON THIS ROAD

1. Everyone in the world starts out on the wide road. You’re on it now. Only if you’ve surrendered your life to Jesus are you on the narrow road. The “wide road” is called “wide” because you can carry all your sins with you on this road -- your selfishness, your prejudice, your hate, your lust, your intolerance, your bigotry.

2. There’s all types of people are on the wide road. There are the immoral, the dictators, the murderers. But there are also many moral people and even church people on this road. All who have one foot in the world and one foot in Heaven are actually on the wide road.

3. This wide road is also a crowded road; there are many who travel it. Conformity is one of the most deceptive sins. People justify themselves saying, “Everyone’s doing it.” But in God’s eyes sin is still sin, whether or not it’s the majority doing it.

B. WRONG CONCEPTS OF ENTRANCE

1. Everybody’s got an idea about how they’re going to get to Heaven. Some say, “Well, I’m sincere. Won’t that get me to Heaven?” No, it won’t. You can be sincerely wrong.

2. And some say, “Well, I’m going to follow my conscience.” But your conscience is no safe guide. Our conscience can be twisted to our own standards, not God’s.

3. Others say, “If I try to do my best and live by the Golden Rule, won’t that get me to Heaven?” No! The Bible says it’s by grace you’re saved, through faith, and surrendering to Jesus. That’s the ONLY way. You can’t work your way to Heaven or be good enough to merit heaven. The only thing we merit is hell.

4. We don’t deserve God’s salvation or forgiveness. That’s why God sent His Son to pay the price for our sin. God says, “If you surrender your life to My Son, I’ll forgive your sins, wipe out your past, & give you a new start.”