BOTTOM LINE: What decision do you need to make tonight?

INTRO

Decisions – Would you rather?

TENSION

Review Series (1) Beatitudes (2) Fulfill the Law/Anger (3) Lust (4) Integrity (5) Loving Salty People (6) Hypocrisy (7) Anxiety (8) Judging

  • Tonight: The Invitation
  • Sometimes, it comes to two choices, and the decision must be made quickly and decisively.

What decision do you need to make tonight?

TRUTH

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-21

  • Background: Jesus’ disciples came to him and he taught. Not for the church but should be applied to the church. Themes are kingdom, repentance, the happy life, and greater righteousness.
  • Context: (5:1-16) Kingdom Values; (5:17-6:4) Kingdom Righteousness; (6:5-7:12) Kingdom Repentance
    • (7:12-7:27) Kingdom Entrance

THE FINAL POINT: TRUST GOD & LOVE OTHERS (v.7-12)

Jesus gives an encouragement: Ask, seek, and knock (v.7-11).

  • The good news is, God will answer a sincere seeker!
  • Are you asking the wrong people?
  • Are you looking in the wrong places?
  • Are you knocking on the wrong doors?
  • The emphasis here is not the persistence of the asker, but the goodness of the Father!

Jesus gives a vision for righteous living (v.12).

“Do for others what you wish for them to do to you.”

  • Kentucky DMV Learner’s Manual: “Treat drivers as you would want to be treated.”
  • Cross-References show how important this vision is to a godly life..
    • Matt. 22:34-40
    • Gal. 5:14
    • Rom. 13:8
  • “(This passage) beautifully summarizes a way of being in the world that no amount of rules or regulation could ever encompass or hope to promote.” – Jonathan Pennington

THE INVITATION: MAKE A DECISION (v.13-27)

2 Roads: A Decision About Eternal Life (v.13-14, 21-23)

Everyone ends up in 1 of two destinations…

#1 – “Life” (kingdom of heaven)

  • Kingdom of heaven (v.21)
  • Matthew 25:46 – And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
  • Revelation 21:3-4 – And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
  • It’s a life that starts today and lasts forever.

#2 – “Destruction” (Death & Hell)

  • “Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” – Rev. 21:8
  • Jesus on hell…
    • “Liable to the hell of fire…” (cf. 5:22)
    • A place of punishment – “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? “(Matt. 23:33)
    • A place of fire & darkness – “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. (Matt. 13:49-50)
    • A place of never-ending punishment – “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt. 25:46)
  • Is hell fair?
    • Sin deserves hell – “Righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees…” (cf. 5:20)
    • We all sin – “None is righteous, no, not one…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:10,23)
    • We all deserve hell.

Where you end up is determined by what path you’re on… “LEADS TO…”

  • The Highway to Hell: Wide & easy
  • Roadway of Righteousness: Narrow, Hard, and few find it
    • The onramp: Believing in Jesus
      • John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
      • John 3:14-18, 36 (read)

Why do so few find it?

  • Not looking for it (Ask, seek, knock)
  • Being led astray by false prophets (v.15-20)
  • Trust in their works (v.21-23)

2 Trees: A decision about the teachers in your life (v. 15-20).

The Context: Israel had a history of listening to bad teachers.

  • The Pharisees were in view here. There were experts on the law, but lived a prideful, hypocritical life.
  • Look back at ch. 5 & 6
  • The outside: Appearance of religion; good-sounding theology
  • The inside: Bad fruit

False teachers are deceptive (“sheep clothing”) and dangerous (“beware”).

  • People can have detailed theology but a combative spirit.
  • People can lead ministries on Sunday and get hammered on Fridays.
  • 1 Timothy 3 qualifications for pastors: 1 skill and 12 attributes
  • Danger of distance from digital teachers.

Jesus the Rabbi

  • The Jewish people saw Jesus as one of many teachers.
  • Who’s your teacher (officially and practically)? As a teenager, you’re approaching the age where you’ll have to decide these things on your own.
  • What does your teacher do with the words and lifestyle of Jesus?

2 Houses: A decision about the foundation of your life (v.21-27).

Look at the urgent language…

  • Everyone (2x) – No one is exempt
  • Does them/does not do them – only 2 options
    • Do (poieō) – make, build on Jesus
    • Not do – Build on your own foundation
  • Rain, floods, and wind will beat on your house. It’s coming!
  • “Great” is the fall!

We’re reminded that looks aren’t everything…

  • These houses could have been identified before the storm.
  • The true test of your life isn’t how lavish it is…it’s the ability to withstand the storm.

[VIDEO: Houses & Mudslides] – Imagine all the opulent parties hosted in those million-dollar houses.

How did the early followers of Jesus build their lives?

  • “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Rom. 1:1).
  • “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus” (1 Cor. 1:1).
  • “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (2 Cor. 2:1).
  • “Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Gal. 1:1).
  • “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:1).
  • “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Jam. 1:1).
  • “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:1).
  • “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 2:1).

What decision do you need to make tonight?

APPLICATION – Make a decision.

#1 – Make a decision to trust in Jesus and him alone for new life.

#2 – Make a decision to go public with your faith in baptism. Have you been a CIA Christian? The first step to building your life on Jesus after salvation is to put on a “Team Jesus” jersey by being baptized.

#3 – Make a decision to offer God your future. Build your life on the firm foundation of Jesus.