Choose God's Kingdom

Read Deut. 30:19;  Deut. 11:26 ; and Josh. 24:15. What choices are the people

of God given in these verses? What choice will you make? How is the right choice

a challenge for you?

Read Matt. 7:13-14. What make the narrow gate difficult to find? What makes

the broad road to destruction easy? Dan Doriani says: “The gate is narrow because

Jesus forbids certain acts. He commands ‘do not’ in 5:34; 36, 39, 42; 6:3, 7, 16,

19, 25, 31, 34; 7:6. These prohibitions restrict or narrow options for behavior.”

Read Matt. 7:15-20. What is Jesus’ warning? Who are the wolves? How will we

know who the wolves are? Douglas O’Donnell says: “Do not underestimate the

influence of bad theology and false teaching. So many people choose the wide

way to destruction because of these clanging cymbals, these showy charlatans

who teach “‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11), who

deliver moving sermons and work wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:8, 9;

Deuteronomy 13:1-3), yet who preach a “different gospel” that is no gospel at

all (Galatians 1:6, 7)—the gospel of “a God without wrath [who] brought men

without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a

Christ without a cross.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes false teachers: “Knowing that Christians are credulous

people, he conceals his dark purpose beneath the cloak of Christian piety, hoping

that his innocuous disguise will avert detection.”

Read Isaiah 30:10-11 and 2 Tim. 4:3. Instead of sound doctrine what do people

desire? Why do they desire it? Dan Doriani says: “False teachers love money (1

Tim. 6:3–10); elders should not (Titus 1:7; cf. Acts 20:33; Amos 7:12–13 [in

full context]).”

Dan Doriani says: “If Matthew 7:16–20 stressed the necessity of good

fruit, 7:21–23 insists that good fruit be assessed correctly. For acts to be truly

good, they must meet God’s standards (his laws and values), have the right

motives (love for God and neighbor), and pursue the right goal (the glory of God

and the good of his creation).The starting point is faith.”

What does Jesus say in Luke 6:46? What is stressed here?

Read Matt. 7:24-27. What is the difference between the two hearers? Is hearing

enough? Why or why not? Read 1 John 1:6; 2:4.

John Stott: “The world is a dark and dismal place, lacking sunshine, living in

shadow; Jesus’ followers are to be its light, dispelling its darkness and its gloom.”

How will you live differently this week in response to Matt. 7:13-27? What is one

specific way you will choose to obey God’s Word?