Week 29 - Matthew 7:24-29
"The wise man built his house upon the rock...the wise man built his house upon the rock..."
Tomorrow morning I preach the final sermon in a year-long series through the Sermon on the Mount.
What a year!
And it ends on a note of challenge.
You have a choice.
Will you be a wise person?
Will you be a foolish person?
That's the choice.
What's similar about the wise/foolish person?
-Both experience a storm.
-Both hear the words of Jesus.
What's different about the wise/foolish person?
-The wise man hears the words of Jesus and puts them into practice.
-The foolish man hears the words of Jesus and does not put them into practice.
Jesus is calling us to practice what he has preached.
In Matthew 7:27, the sermon is finished, but the question is: Will it be done?
You'll have to answer the question.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 28
Week 28 - Matthew 7:13-23
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
If you've grown up in church or if you are familiar with the Bible, you've heard this verse. Likely you've heard it used to prove the smallness of the kingdom. If so, then you've heard the traditional interpretation that the doctrinally sound are the ones on the narrow path.
I could write the rest of that sermon. Next, the preacher quotes from 2 Timothy 4 about a time will come (and apparently is now here) when "men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
So, be a part of the one true church where we have our doctrine correct. Anyone who disagrees with us disagrees with Scripture. Those who disagree with us either haven't heard the truth or have had their itching ears scratched.
But is that what Matthew 7 is really about? Is it about doctrine?
I don't think so.
So, if the narrow way isn't referring to our doctrine, what is it referring to?
We have to read this text in context. Be a detective. Read the rest of the chapter and it should become clear what the narrow way is really referring to.
I'm leaving you with this mystery. May the Spirit reveal the truth to you as you listen this week.
As you dwell in Matthew 7:13-23, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What is the narrow way? Read the context carefully. (Hint: next week's sermon on the verses that follow will help you.)
2) How can you tell a false prophet from a true prophet?
3) If people were judging your authenticity by the fruit of your life, what would they discover about you?
4) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in 2012?
(If this post has frustrated you and you can't discover the narrow way, please listen to my sermon this Sunday. Check out the sermon archives at www.littletonchurch.org)
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
If you've grown up in church or if you are familiar with the Bible, you've heard this verse. Likely you've heard it used to prove the smallness of the kingdom. If so, then you've heard the traditional interpretation that the doctrinally sound are the ones on the narrow path.
I could write the rest of that sermon. Next, the preacher quotes from 2 Timothy 4 about a time will come (and apparently is now here) when "men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."
So, be a part of the one true church where we have our doctrine correct. Anyone who disagrees with us disagrees with Scripture. Those who disagree with us either haven't heard the truth or have had their itching ears scratched.
But is that what Matthew 7 is really about? Is it about doctrine?
I don't think so.
So, if the narrow way isn't referring to our doctrine, what is it referring to?
We have to read this text in context. Be a detective. Read the rest of the chapter and it should become clear what the narrow way is really referring to.
I'm leaving you with this mystery. May the Spirit reveal the truth to you as you listen this week.
As you dwell in Matthew 7:13-23, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) What is the narrow way? Read the context carefully. (Hint: next week's sermon on the verses that follow will help you.)
2) How can you tell a false prophet from a true prophet?
3) If people were judging your authenticity by the fruit of your life, what would they discover about you?
4) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in 2012?
(If this post has frustrated you and you can't discover the narrow way, please listen to my sermon this Sunday. Check out the sermon archives at www.littletonchurch.org)
Thursday, November 1, 2012
"The Good Life" - Week 27
Week 27 - Matthew 7:6-12
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."
Who are the pigs and dogs?
And why is Jesus calling us to judge so harshly right after he tells us not to judge at all?
Jesus isn't talking about animals. He's talking about people, which is quite disconcerting. Pigs and dogs aren't exactly the most flattering animals the Messiah could use to talk about people? Who is Jesus referring to?
Many interpreters assume Jesus is telling us not to preach the gospel to those who are unwilling to hear it. A Calvinist might agree with that interpretation. But as a church in the freewill tradition, it seems a bit hard to hear Jesus telling us to be careful about whom we share the good news with. (Just look at Matthew 28)
Some of the Church Fathers contended that Jesus is telling the church not give communion to unbelievers. But that doesn't exactly fit the context of Jesus' sermon either.
So, who are the pigs and dogs? And what is Jesus referring to when he talks about pearls and sacred things?
I'll leave you in suspense until Sunday. I've got a hunch and it's quite relevant during election season.
As you dwell in Matthew 7:6-12, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Who are the pigs and dogs?
2) What is Jesus referring to when he talks about pearls and sacred things?
3) How could verse 6 possibly make sense in the context of verses 1-12?
4) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in 2012?
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."
Who are the pigs and dogs?
And why is Jesus calling us to judge so harshly right after he tells us not to judge at all?
Jesus isn't talking about animals. He's talking about people, which is quite disconcerting. Pigs and dogs aren't exactly the most flattering animals the Messiah could use to talk about people? Who is Jesus referring to?
Many interpreters assume Jesus is telling us not to preach the gospel to those who are unwilling to hear it. A Calvinist might agree with that interpretation. But as a church in the freewill tradition, it seems a bit hard to hear Jesus telling us to be careful about whom we share the good news with. (Just look at Matthew 28)
Some of the Church Fathers contended that Jesus is telling the church not give communion to unbelievers. But that doesn't exactly fit the context of Jesus' sermon either.
So, who are the pigs and dogs? And what is Jesus referring to when he talks about pearls and sacred things?
I'll leave you in suspense until Sunday. I've got a hunch and it's quite relevant during election season.
As you dwell in Matthew 7:6-12, here are a few questions to consider and comment on:
1) Who are the pigs and dogs?
2) What is Jesus referring to when he talks about pearls and sacred things?
3) How could verse 6 possibly make sense in the context of verses 1-12?
4) What are some ways that Christians (those committed to putting the kingdom on display) might seek to implement this passage in 2012?
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