The Sermon on the Mount: Enter By The Narrow Gate
Community Guide
The Community Guide below is based on Sunday’s teaching for our current series: The Gospel of Matthew, "Apprenticing with Jesus." As your whole Community gathers (online or in-person), use the Community Guide below to give shape to your time together.
Communion
Begin your time by taking the Lord’s Supper together. To facilitate your time, you can ask a group member to come ready with a short prayer or scripture reading or read the passage we’ve provided below. After reading (aloud), spend a moment in silence before taking the elements:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:26-30
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
Sermon Overview
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus confronts his listeners with the reality that there are only two gates and two paths that we can take in life. And only one of these paths leads to life, both now and forever: the narrow, hard, lonely way of Jesus. In 7:15-20, Jesus warned his disciples to beware of “false prophets” who make it even harder for people to find and follow Jesus’ path. Jesus said to pay attention to the “fruit” of these prophets: not just their actions but their character. Do their lives resemble the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12)? Do they look like Jesus? If not, don’t follow them, because they’re on the wrong path! Finally, in 7:21-23, Jesus said that “on that day” when he brings the kingdom of heaven in its fullness, what will matter most is not what we did for Jesus, or what we said to Jesus, but were we known by Jesus? Were our lives marked by a faith that follows Jesus and the fruit of fellowship with Jesus?
Discussion Questions
Why is it so important not to separate FAITH in JESUS from FOLLOWING JESUS? What happens if we separate them, or only focus on one or the other? (For more, see Eph. 2:8-10).
In verse 14, Jesus said that his way is “narrow,” “hard,” and often lonely (few find it). But he also said that it is the truly blessed life (5:3-12). How have you experienced both of these aspects—blessing and difficulty–in your own discipleship?
While following Jesus can often be lonely, that does not mean that we should follow him alone. As fellow travelers on the way of Jesus, it is important to encourage and support each other–and especially encourage each other to pursue fellowship with Jesus himself (since being known by him will matter most in the end, v. 23)! In what ways do you need encouragement from your brothers and sisters to continue trusting and following Jesus? What encouragement do they need from you?
Missionary Practice For The Week Ahead: BLESS
If you do at least one of these practices every day, you will not only become more like Jesus, but you will help others find Jesus too! In your time together as a community, ask the questions, “Who did you BLESS this week? This time of sharing will keep the Great Commission at the forefront of who we are called to be as followers of Jesus. It will also provide the opportunity to celebrate and encourage one another on the journey.
ᐅ B.L.E.S.S.
(B)egin with Prayer:
Pray for the people in your life and the places that you’re in.
People: Who do you live, work and play with that is far from God? Pray that God would create spiritual curiosity in them, and then spend time with them.
Places:
Where does pain exist here? Pray for healing.
Who makes the decisions here? Pray for integrity.
Who throws parties here? Pray for community.
Where are the pennies spent here? Pray for provision.
(L)isten:
Listen to and discover the needs of others and the places where God is at work.
Before you can help others find Jesus, you need to listen to them first - their hopes, pains, challenges, and dreams. In your interactions with others today, take the posture of a learner. Lay down assumptions and practice being present in conversations.
(E)at:
Share meals, drink coffee, and spend time with people in your life that don’t yet know Jesus.
Who can you eat with (or have coffee with) that is far from God? A co-worker over lunch? A neighbor during the day? A friend or family member over the weekend?
Is there a place that you regularly visit (coffee shop, gym, etc.)? Ask God to grant you opportunities to eat with people.
(S)erve:
Who can you serve this week? Who do you know that has a practical need? Ask them how you can help.
Before jumping into serving, have you taken the time to pray for, listen to and eat with these people? Doing these things first helps you discover the way that you really need to serve them.
(S)tory:
Share the story of Jesus and what He is doing in your life with others.
Start by sharing how God has blessed you and made a difference in your life.
Share your story in such a way that demonstrates that Jesus is also at work in their life.
Don’t feel like you have to tell your life story at once. Think “bite-size” stories.
Prayer
Spend a few minutes praying for God’s grace over each other, that we might become a people who make Jesus our Lord, and that there might be a sweeping renewal of the Holy Spirit in our city. Ask that God would stir up within us a desire to be with him in prayer and to serve him, one another, and our neighbor in love.