THE TWO WAYS NO MIDDLE WAY THE WAY – MATTHEW 7:13-14 • “Enter by the narrow gate. • For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. • 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, • and those who find it are few. THE MIDDLE WAY – BUDDHISM • Post modernism is somewhat like ancient Buddhism • From nothingness, to self-awareness, to nothingness (nirvana) • No God, no truth, no moral code, no accountability • No Faith, No Goodness, No Glory or Dishonor • No self-indulgence or self-denial (the middle way) THE MIDDLE WAY/ LUKEWARMNESS – REV 3:15 Revelation 3:15-18 (ESV) 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 17 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 18 GOLD TRADERS – 1 PETER 1 Peter 1:4 (ESV) (Born again) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV) 6 In this (salvation) you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 7 THE SETTING AND THE QUESTION LUKE 13:22,23 • 22 • 23 • 24 Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. • For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able… • Matthew 7:14 (NIV) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. JERUSALEM AND DISCIPLESHIP • Luke 9:22 (ESV) must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” • “The Son of Man • 23 • 24 And Jesus said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. THE SEED AND THE GLORY • John 12:23-24 (NIV) • 23 • 24 Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. • But if it dies, it produces many seeds. DOES THIS APPLY TO ME? • John 12:25-26 (NIV) • 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, • while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. • 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; • and where I am, my servant also will be. • My Father will honor the one who serves me. BEYOND THE CROSS IS THE HONOR • Revelation 21:6-8 (NIV) • He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. 6 • To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. • But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." 8