Pastor Chris talked about the importance of enthusiastically deciding to act on that which resonates with you in the sermon on the Mount.
MY STORY
Describe your process for making decisions. What’s the first thing you do when you need to make a choice, and what criteria do you use to guide that process?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few ... Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. ” (Matthew 7:13-20)
What gate or path is the world on? Which gate have you clearly decided to enter?
When you read; “You will recognize them by their fruits,” what’s your first impression on what that means? How would you define “fruits” in this context?
How would you describe the “health” of you as a “tree”? What fruit are you bearing? If someone who knew you well were to describe “your fruit or fruits”, what would he or she say?
What “fruit” should we commonly bear as Jesus followers? [You can read Galatians 5:22-23, if you’d like, to reference the fruit of the Spirit.]
What happens to a tree that doesn’t bear fruit? What do you think that means today?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, ’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)
What stirs inside you when you read these words? What does it mean to NOT be known by Jesus?
How do you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are doing the will of the Father (perhaps not specifically, but in general)?
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. ” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.” (Matthew 7:24-28)
How would you describe the foundation upon which you are building your life? Will the “house” you’re building on that foundation stand when the storms of life inevitably come?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passage and the questions above, what "takeaways" do you think God has revealed to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
What does it mean for you to follow God’s will in your life? To what degree is your own will in alignment with that plan? Is there any true happiness to be found apart from God’s will for your life? Explain.
What false prophets can you eliminate from your life, or at least stop listening to?
What does it mean, practically speaking, to build your house on the rock? How can you encourage or inspire those around you to do the same?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit's leading, call us to?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
Ultimately, what do you think happens when you follow God’s will in your decision-making?
What are some practical ways in which you can follow God’s will in your daily walk?
What is one thing that you can change in your decision making process where you can make God more of a protagonist in your process?
Take a moment to reflect and ask Jesus what you can do to follow His will fully and wholeheartedly. What temptations might be keeping you from doing that?
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step God is calling you, personally, toward?
Message Notes
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