9. The Kingdom Way

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Introduction

Hiking in park near Golden, CO. It didn’t look like the right trail, but thankfully, it was.

Big Idea: Looks can be deceiving, so let’s make sure we’re on the kingdom way.

Body

There are two kinds of paths. (Matt 7:13-14)

Exposition: Two Common Misunderstandings

We assume that “narrow” means “exclusive.” But, no one who comes to Jesus is excluded. No one.

We assume that “easy” means “loose living” and “hard” means “keeping all the rules.” But, it’s much easier to modify my behavior than change my heart.

Application: Heart transformation requires living a life surrendered to Christ.

Illustration: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

There are two kinds of prophets.

Exposition

Matt 7:15-20. “Don’t be impressed by charisma; look for character.” (The Message)

Bible knowledge, Christian service, even spiritual gifts are not evidences of spiritual health or maturity, or even genuine faith.

The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) is the measure of maturity.

Matt 7:21-22. Doing the will of the Father means hiking the path of heart transformation—not religious activity.

Dean Iserra, author of The Unsaved Christian, says if Jesus was giving the Sermon today, his list would have included:

Didn’t we say grace before dinner?

Didn’t we vote our values?

Didn’t we go to church?

Didn’t we believe in God?

Didn’t we give money in the offering?

Didn’t we have a Bible app on our phone?

Didn’t we get confirmed?

Didn’t we go to a Bible study?

Didn’t we post verses on our Instagram?

Matt 7:23. Jesus didn’t say, “You never knew me.” He said, “I never knew you. I never saw you at the summit.”

Application: We live the kingdom life together. We follow one another up the trail to the peak. But not everyone who looks religious is living the kingdom life. Who are you following? Is it someone you want to become like?

Who are your kids following?

There are two kinds of foundations. (Matt 7:24-27)

Exposition

Matthew 7:24–27 The Message

24 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. 26 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Illustration: A lot of people add on to their house…

Application: You can’t add on Jesus to your life to make it better. Either he’s everything or he’s nothing.

Conclusion: Didn’t We vs. Didn’t He (Matt 7:22)

Read Matt 7:28-8:1. “Great crowds followed him.” Are you among them?

Two paths: Which path are you on?

Two prophets: Who are you following?

Two foundations: On what are you building your life?