The Narrow and Wide Gates

Introduction

HERE is always a certain dramatic quality about life, for it has been said that all life is focused on our position at the crossroads.

In every action of life, we are confronted with a choice; and we can never evade the choice, because we can never stand still. We must always take one way or the other. Because of that, it has always been one of the supreme functions of the great men and women of history that they should confront people with that inevitable choice. As the end drew near, Moses spoke to the people: ‘See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity … Choose life so that you and your descendants may live’ (, ). When Joshua was laying down the leadership of the nation at the end of his life, he presented them with the same choice: ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’ (). Jeremiah heard the voice of God saying to him: ‘And to this people you shall say: Thus says the Lord: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death’ (). In ‘The Ways’, John Oxenham wrote:

To every man there openeth

A way and ways and a way;

And the high soul climbs the high way,

And the low soul gropes the low;

And in between on the misty flats

The rest drift to and fro;

But to every man there openeth

A high way and a low;

And every man decideth

The way his soul shall go.

Read Text

The New International Version Chapter 7

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Lesson: Jesus speaks the truth in love or Jesus encourages .

Lesson: Jesus speaks the truth in love.

1. There are two possible final destinations.

1. Will we choose life or destruction

2. There are two Roads

a. 3 characteristics of the narrow road.

1)Jesus is the narrow road ()

2) The narrow road defines our faith. ()

3) The narrow road defines our lifestyle. ()

b. Some defining statements of the Wide road

3. There are two crowds

Conclusion:

2. Choose one of Two ways

The choice leads to one of two gatesTwo gates.

3. The choice leads to one of two gatesTwo gates.

4. Two destinations

ossibilities to choose from.

. 2 ossibilities to choose from.