Jesus offers several pictures of appropriate response to Him and His teaching. How do we take in what He is saying and respond to it ourselves?
Matthew 7:13-29
Sermon Outline
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching.” (Matthew 7:28)
Two Ways: The narrow and wide gates (Matthew 7:13-14)
- The gate and the road to two different ways of life
- Beware!: the eternal outcome is the result of the way we choose
- Hear and respond to Jesus’ invitation to His way
Two Trees: True and false messengers (Matthew 7:15-20)
- Messengers can be true or false prophets
- Beware!: appearance versus reality in those outside the disciple community; watch for wolves
- Pay attention to the fruit of messenger’s lives
Two Verdicts: The final judgment on true & false disciples (Matthew 7:21-23)
- Two types of disciples: the known and the not-known; the obedient and the not obedient
- Beware!: appearance versus reality in those inside the disciple community
- Pay attention to what’s beneath the surface
Two Foundations: Those who do and don’t put Jesus’ words into practice (Matthew 7:24-27)
- Two approaches to building our lives: hearing Jesus’ teaching or living Jesus’ teaching
- Beware!: the outcome of building our lives will reveal our foundation
- Respond to Jesus’ teaching by building upon it
Invitation to the Disciple Life
- Hearing Jesus’ call
- Considering what Jesus’ call means for our life
- Responding to Jesus’ call personally and decisively
- Pursuing the disciple-life with Jesus in every area of life
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Have you ever been lost? What happened and how did you find your way?
- This week we conclude our series on the Sermon on the Mount, “Becoming Real,” by looking at Jesus’ final series of contrasts in Matthew 7:13-29. Begin your study in prayer by asking God to speak to you through His Word and then, whether you are alone or with a group, read that passage aloud.
- This passage is built on a series of four contrasts, which we’ll explore one at a time. What would you say is the main contrast in verses 13-14?
- What do you think it means to be on the “road to life” versus the “road to destruction”? The second contrast looks at those who come from outside the disciple community as prophets. What is the contrast that Jesus outlines in verses 15-20?
- How do you think Jesus’ discussion of fruit and trees relate to His exhortation about prophets?
- Take a look at three tests of prophets found in the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 18:21-22; Deuteronomy 13:1-5; and Jeremiah 23:9-15. Which do you think most closely matches Jesus’ teaching here and why?
- The third contrast in verses 21-23 differentiates between true and false disciples. What is the difference and why might it be difficult to see?
- When you consider your own life of discipleship, what do you think it means to be “known” by Jesus versus “not-known” by Jesus?
- In verses 24-27, the fourth and final contrast is between two foundations for life. What does Jesus say is the difference between the foundations? What is it that one person versus another has or has not done?
- What would you say it looks like to put Jesus’ teaching into practice in your life?
- What is one thing God is speaking to you through this study? If you’re on your own, write that down and pray over that this week. If you are with a small group, share your answers with one another before closing in prayer.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize Matthew 7:13-14 or 7:21 or 7:24 this week.
- Set aside some time this week to read Matthew 7:13-29 again. Then write, draw, paint, or pray aloud your own response to Jesus’ teaching. You may even want to portray visually the four contrasts in this passage.
- Read back through the Sermon on the Mount in one sitting, either by yourself or with others. Prayerfully consider your response to Jesus’ teaching on discipleship and the good life in God’s kingdom. Write a letter to Jesus expressing your response to Him.
- Consider reading Jonathan Pennington’s article, “3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Sermon on the Mount”