READ: MATTHEW 7:13-28

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.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Take five minutes on your own to look over the passage and think through the following:

1. Come back to group… Looking over these descriptions. Do you feel like Jesus is challenging anything about your life?

2. Where do you feel the pull to walk the broad and easy road, or to build your life on a foundation other than the rock of Jesus’ teaching?

3 .What evidence can you see in your life that you have in fact chosen to follow Jesus on the narrow road, and that you are in fact bearing fruit?

4.Is there anything we’ve seen over the past few weeks in sermon of the mount that you you are convicted that Jesus wants you to do and not just hear? Take a minute to flick back over the last 2 pages of your bibles and glance over the sermon on the mount.

In lockdown, more than ever we need to be intentional about making sure we make the best use of the time, as well as looking after ourselves and each other.
Take a moment to look over a couple of key areas to be intentional this week.
Being specific with what you are going to do, when you are going to do it and where you are going to do it is key to following through. Ie: “I’m going to read my bible this week” is not as likely to succeed as: “I’m going to read chapter 8 of Matthew and a Psalm on my balcony on Saturday morning after i make my coffee” Likewise, “I’m going to exercise” is not as likely to happen as: “I’m going to go for a run to the bay run and back before eating lunch on Thursday”

Take 5 minutes to fill this in for yourself then meet in breakout rooms/ new zoom calls/ facetime calls in groups of 2 or 3 to share your plans and pray together.

For more ideas of how to make the most of time in lockdown. Check out this page:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iTQk7REFxL9Ym8ELQvGTU0XRz7c45hlMeTZBxgGXn1Q/edit?ts=60ea7aee