Listening Carefully… Choose

Sadly we weren’t able to record last Sundays Central Gathering sermon. Ben talked about the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:13-48. Jesus shares a set of picture-parables to prompt his listeners to a choice.

The narrow and wide gates. Jesus says that the way to life is narrow, its hard and involves careful thought and intention. But it leads to life!

Sheep and wolves, fruit trees and thorn bushes. Jesus says that there will be some who look good, but are actually trying to destroy life. Perhaps we all face that temptation. He encourages his listeners to look beyond specatular signs and to seek good fruit fruit. Are our lives become more kind, more holy, more loving?

The house on the rock and the house on the sand. Jesus recognises that in times of crisis everyone wants to build shelters. He says that those who listen and obey Him will be like builders who build on rock. When trouble comes they will have a house that stands firm. This links back to one of his earlier picture parable in this part of Matthew – a town on a hill. As we build on the rock together, but listening to and obeying Jesus words, we become a bright city – that offers light and shelter for each other and those around us.

So that leaves a choice – who are you following?
Will you listen to and obey the way of Jesus.

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Bonus Content – In this series has we’ve mentioned a couple of resources.

The Bible Project. You can watch their final sermon on the mount video below.

The Narrow Path by Rich Villodas. You can get the book here, or listen to an interview with him about it here.

We have used these resources to produce a booklet of discussion questions and ideas. You can get that here.