The Narrow Road

We had an excellent service at Cultivate. Thanks to all the students who came out! We played the Oreo Challenge. You can check out some live footage on the our YouTube page. Greg Sumner shaved his head in honor of our high attendance and students made a few prank calls to friends!

Sermon Notes

Series: Red Letters

Passage: Matt 7:12-14

Title: The Narrow Road

There are very few times that you can separate the bulk of humanity into two categories. In this passage, Jesus offers the world two options. Two paths. You can only choose one. We see that which road we choose places us in one of two categories. There are no other options. Jesus did not give us the option of straddling the fence or playing in the median. We must choose one or the other.

In verse 12, Jesus reminds us of the Golden Rule. In Matt 22:34-40, a man ask Jesus what the greatest command was. Jesus gave two great points. 1) Love God with all you've got 2) Love people with all you've got. The second point flows out of the first. You will not love people if you do not love God. God is love and is therefore decides how that love will be practically displayed.

Jesus also reminds us that we should treat people the way we would like to be treated. We tend to want to dismiss this command because it sounds like something our mothers would say. We can't ignore this truth. Do you enjoy being made fun of? Do you enjoy feeling like the outcast? If we are honest, we have all felt like the outcast at some point. Jesus makes this statement because he wants to correct this great problem that we all face. The student sitting alone at lunch needs love. The student who walks into the youth room for the first time needs love.

In verses 13-14, Jesus tells us of two paths. The broad path that leads to destruction and the narrow path that leads to life. Is it not strange that people don't choose to get off the path that leads to destruction? Here are some questions that we asked about each path....

The Broad Path That Leads to Destruction

Why do people choose the broad path?

1.) They don't see the coming destruction

People are blind to the fact that they is an eternal judgement. Some are blind to the fact that they need God. Some are blind to the fact that they are sinners who cannot save themselves. How can we help? We can humbly and lovingly share the truth of God's word with them. We can invite them to a church service to hear about God's love. We can invite them to experience Christian community.

2.)It's easy.

It's easy to do what everyone else is doing. If most of your friends are on the broad path, which path are you most likely to choose? It's easy to get drunk, have premarital sex, and do what the world is doing. A real challenge is going against the flow.

The Narrow Path Leads to Life

1.) Why is the gate narrow?

Not many will walk this path. It's not because the path is hidden or because the path is limited to only a few. Anyone can choose to walk this path. There is a teaching known as Universalism that teaches that everyone will go to heaven. You have celebrities like Oprah telling the world that everyone is on an individual path that leads to God. She will tell you that all religions are the same. I agree. All religions are the same. All religions require you to work your way to God by deed and morality. The Gospel is nothing like religion. In religion, you have man trying to gain favor with God. It's as if God is on top of a mountain and you must create a path and climb up to the top in order to meet God. In Christianity, God comes down the mountain and gets us. There are not many paths that lead to God, only Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus makes it clear that he's the only path.

2.)Why is the path hard?

It calls you to step out from among the masses. The call to salvation is literally a call to die to self. You have to repent and place your faith in someone other than yourself. You have to place your faith in someone you can't see. It is a call to come and die. But it is a better path.

3.)Why will few find it?

They are blind to their need of a savior because they bought into a lie and because living as the world is easy. Few will find it because they reject it.

4.)How do I know if I've found it?

Go back to the Great Commandment. Do you love God with all of your heart, mind, and soul? Have you repented and placed your faith in Jesus. He is the only path that leads to life.

It is a narrow road, but it's wide enough for all.

-Daniel the friendly neighborhood youth pastor

watching- Alice Cooper's testimony