Sermon Tone Analysis

The message this morning is aimed at the graduates, but really it can be applicable for all of us!

When I was in high school, there were group of athletes in the class ahead of me that were really good

In fact, I thought that they were amazing!

My 7th grade year, the 8th graders went undefeated in all male sports including track, where they won every meet

My freshman year, they won state in baseball

The next season that only had like 2 losses until state

The following year they went undefeated in the regular season and ended up with 3rd or 4th at state

They also placed 4th at state in basketball a couple years later

They won league in wrestling for like 4 years in a row

They were really good

I thought surely most of them would end up being pretty successful in college

Only a handful of them played sports in college

A couple went to a 4 year school and a few went to community college

Only 1 of them actually played sports all 4 years in college

The rest quit their sport before graduating

And I wondered why, these guys were really good.

Well, it’s because college sports is simply a different level

I didn’t play college sports, but I was an athletic trainer my freshman year so I saw it first hand

To be a college athlete, it takes a who knew level of commitment

It takes a serious amount of dedication and discipline

And, you know, I see a similar thing with christians

It looks like some are just “on a different level”

Some seem to be totally on fire for Jesus and solid in their faith and others seem to just be walking through this life like everyone else

And I wonder why?

Well, as with college athletics, I think it comes down to discipline

How disciplined are you in your relationship with Jesus?

Are you more like a high school athlete that can put in some work, but still not commit too much of your life to it?

Or you more like the college athlete who has pretty much committed your life fully to it?

As you graduates head off to secondary education or into the workforce, I would encourage you to examine where you are with Jesus

You are now heading off into the “real world” as you have been reminded of many times throughout your high school career.

You get to experience freedom like you have never experienced before

You get to make choices that you have never had to make before

But the question is, what are you going to do with your new found freedom?

What is going to be your guide for the decisions that you get to make?

You are going to find yourself in a crowd of new people whether it be in your new job or in your new schooling.

I want to challenge you this morning to not make the crowd your guide in your decision making

I want to encourage you to be a trailblazer and not a path follower

Our scripture this morning reminds us

Matthew 7:13 (NIV)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate....

Oh man, great advice pastor!

But, what does that mean?

Well, it’s pretty simple...

There is a place and a gate to get to that place...

The place is found in the next verse:

So, the goal is life....

Let’s talk about this life for a second!

Life is the Greek word Zoe

It means physical life....but it also means eternal life

Does Jesus give us physical life?

Yes, of course!

But He also offers something greater!

In fact, He offers the greatest possible gift....eternal life!

Not just that you have a small glimpse of this life…just a taste

no, no....I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full!

And to the woman at the well

As you adventure out onto you own you are going to be told some lies....some of which you have heard before…but now you get to make your own choices and live in your own freedom....

You are going to hear some really good sounding things....

“Hear try this, it won’t hurt you!”

“You can do what you want, no one is cares what you do”

“You can look at whoever you want…it’s not hurting anyone”

You do you, boooo......

As you come across these lies, I want you to remember something...

The thief comes to steal, kill, and to destroy...

If you start playing with the devil.....remember this, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy....

Oh Pastor, you are telling us that we can’t have any fun!

No, no! Have fun! Life is meant to be joyous!

What I am telling you is that there is a road that leads to destruction, and a road that leads to life...

And if you start heading down the road that leads to destruction, you are missing out on so much!

What the world has to offer sure sounds like fun initially, but it will not provide the life that Christ offers!

The water that the world provides will always leave you thirsty, but the water that Jesus offers will spring up water welling up to eternal life!

Eternal life isn’t just something that get to experience after we die, it is something that begins when we accept Christ as our Lord…that means that He is in control…and our Savior, the one who keeps us from the road to destruction!

We began by talking about this narrow gate…what is the way through it?

Gate is a metaphor meaning that the way is not completely a free for all...

There is something that you have to go through..

The good news is that Jesus gives us the answer

Jesus is the Gate, He is the way through....

So, for life, for living water, we have to go through the gate, which is Jesus!

And here is the most important thing that I have to say today…so listen…as Mr. Witman would say “listen to my words”

The road to eternal life is through Jesus!

How many have tried to do their own thing and have been left empty?

How many have seemed all good on the outside, but when you lay your head down at night feel alone?

How many have seen the consequences of their bad decision and felt broken and lost?

That is called sin.

When you choose to think, say and do things that are contrary to God, that is sin..

It leaves you broken!

So my encouragement today is this.....Believe in Jesus…His death on the cross, and his resurrection...

Confess your sins to Him and turn from them...

Accept His gift of forgiveness and gift of salvation!

That means you are saved....from eternal death, but also from the guilt of your sin...

And receive His gift of eternal life!

And when we receive this gift, we get the bonus of the Holy Spirit living inside of us as a helper and guide!

The power of God, living inside of you!

And now, you are on this journey....this narrow road...

Why is it narrow?

Because few are on it!

This road, this journey is the greatest road and journey that you could be on, but it can also be, at times, lonely....

Many in the crowd will take the wide road…the “easy” road.

The “fun” road....but that path leads to destruction...

So, think about the decisions that you make....