transformed by my choices

---

GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (PSG,

SESSION 6

TRANSFORMED BY MY CHOICES

p. 66). DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 66): What are some of the best choices

The Point

you’ve made?

Choose to follow Jesus.

GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG,

The Bible Meets Life

p. 67). IN ADVANCE, obtain

Our culture overwhelms us with

a funnel, a container, and a

choices. Even soft drink vending

substance to pour into the

machines in restaurants are now

container (sugar, sand, water,

offering up to 127 choices. Choices

etc.) Review the author’s

may encourage our individuality,

illustrations of using a funnel

but choices—especially too many

while demonstrating the use

choices—can be stressful. The biggest choice we must make, however, does

of the funnel yourself.

not need to be hard. Life boils down to one choice with two options: take the road that leads to life in Christ or take the road that leads to destruction.

Turn the funnel upsidedown, and note the author’s

The Passage

statement that Jesus told us

Matthew 7:13-27

that’s the way to full life. The

The Setting

opening may be narrow, but when we choose the narrow way, we’ll discover it opens into a spacious life overflowing with joy, purpose, and peace. Introduce The Point

Jesus met His followers on a mountainside and taught them about growing in discipleship. His instruction has come to be called the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7). As His disciples lived out what He taught, they would display the transformation that had taken place in their lives. He brought His instruction to a close with a series of comparisons. Each comparison challenged them to make the wise choice of devoting themselves to Him completely.

(PSG, p. 67): Choose to follow Jesus.

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S e ss i o n 6

© 2015 LifeWay

Matthew 7:13-14

STUDY THE BIBLE

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and

the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are

Matthew 7:13-14 10 minutes

many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to

life, and few find it.

GUIDE: Remind the group of what they have studied so far about living the transformed life in God’s kingdom:

Choose the path that leads to life in Christ.

>> “Transformed in My

Verse 13. Jesus challenged His disciples to make wise choices with their lives. Their choices would determine whether or not they would have fulfillment in their walk with Him. The same challenge faces us. The good news of Christ does nothing for a lost person until he or she personally decides to receive His free gift of salvation. For Christians, the challenge of discipleship requires a choice too. Jesus couched the challenge to choose well in a simple but striking way. He offered two options that He described first as gates and then as paths. The path chosen would take them through one of two gates. Each gate offers a completely different life path. If someone entered the narrow gate, he or she chose a life of restraint and discipline. In fact, the word for narrow in this verse carries the idea of restrictions or obstacles. By contrast to the narrow gate of restrictions, entering the wide gate requires no restraints at all. It’s a much easier way because it’s not stifled by limitations. A person who chooses that gate will feel no pressure to live according to a spiritual standard set by the Lord. Once people enter the wide gate, they can stroll along the broad life road at their leisure. The word for broad alludes to a picture of prosperity. With plenty of resources to indulge themselves, people who take the broad road simply meander through life without thought of spiritual concerns. They can refuse to worship the Lord. They can devote themselves to gathering possessions instead of serving Him. They can pass on taking any responsibility for anybody else. The wide gate and the broad road can appear attractive, at least at first. People generally prefer to enter that gate and take that path. But in the end, it’s a foolish choice. Jesus warned that it leads to destruction. Those who reject the gospel because they find it restrictive will eventually find © 2015 LifeWay

Worship” (The Point: Giving, praying, and fasting are disciplines of personal worship.) >> “Transformed in My Prayer” (The Point: Prayer is grounded in a desire to honor God.) >> “Transformed in My Possessions” (The Point: Possessions don’t last. Your relationship with God does.) >> “Transformed in My Plans” (The Point: God is able to provide all I need.) >> “Transformed in My Actions” (The Point: The way we treat others should reflect the way we’re treated by God.) (LEADER PACK: Point to these titles on Item 1: “Transformed.”)

READ: Invite a volunteer to read Matthew 7:13-14.

S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F J U LY 10

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THE POINT

Choose to follow Jesus.

SUMMARIZE: The path that leads to God is narrow, not because it is difficult to become a Christian, but because you can get to Him only one way—through faith in Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Note verse 14 in the focal passage. Stress the road of discipleship and following Jesus is not easy.

DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 69): What have you found difficult about the road that leads to life? (Alternate: How have you experienced the truth of these verses?)

DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to “The Narrow Gate” (PSG, p. 69).

TRANSITION: “Part of choosing the path that leads to life in Christ is also choosing to live in obedience to Him.” 74

S e ss i o n 6

themselves regretting their choice. In due time, they will come to see that they have set themselves up for destruction now and in eternity. Believers who choose the wide gate and broad road of self-indulgence will come to regret their choice too. The good life they think they will find by taking the easy way will elude them. Eventually, they will see that they have taken a path that will lead them directly toward regret. Verse 14. For people who have not given their lives to Christ, entering the narrow gate implies responding to a message that they might want to reject at first because it’s too restrictive. For instance, they must repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ alone in order to be saved. Repentance can be a repulsive notion. Given the reality that confessing sin honestly requires a heart of humility, an unsaved individual hearing the gospel may consider repentance too restraining or confining. Consequently, the gate to new life in Christ may appear too restrictive. Thus, the gospel might be ignored and the free gift of salvation rejected in favor of the wide gate and broad road of selfsatisfaction and spiritual emptiness. The narrow gate for believers also signifies a life of restrictions, which have to do with living as kingdom citizens as Jesus has set forth for His followers. Entering the narrow gate means embracing the instruction Jesus gave and the restraints that accompany it. For example, it means we devote ourselves to the spiritual disciplines of praying, giving, and fasting as He has taught (6:1-18). It also means that we decide to turn our backs on worrying and determine to entrust our lives into His care completely (vv. 19-34). Furthermore, it means that we refuse to be critical of other people. Instead we intend to treat them in a way that reflects God’s treatment of us (7:1-12). Jesus assured listeners that entering the narrow gate of discipleship would take them down a difficult path. The original word brings opposition and persecution to mind. Believers who choose the path of discipleship can count on folks opposing their choice and even making life tough for them because they have taken the path of devotion to Christ. The gate to new life in Christ appears to be narrow at first and the path of discipleship seems to be a tough road. But choosing the narrow gate and the difficult road will garner gratitude. That path leads to the eternal life Jesus intends for us. It’s filled with more joy than we could ever imagine. © 2015 LifeWay

Matthew 7:15-23

STUDY THE BIBLE

15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s

Matthew 7:15-23

clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

10 minutes

16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered

from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but

GUIDE: IN ADVANCE, gather 3-4 apples, preferably that are not perfect. Some

a bad tree produces bad fruit.

blemishes will help with the

18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree

illustration. Pass the apples

produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and

around the group. Invite members to inspect each one. Then ask volunteers to tell you

thrown into the fire.

which one they would choose

20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

to eat.

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the

kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we

SAY: “Jesus said we would recognize those who truly follow Him by the fruit they bear.”

prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’

READ: Invite a volunteer to

23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart

read Matthew 7:15-23.

from Me, you lawbreakers!’ Choose to live in obedience and bear fruit for Christ. Verse 15. Jesus moved from wise decisions about following Him to warning about false prophets—dangerous deceivers who take on the appearance of loyal disciples. The more we observe them, the easier we see them as phonies. Jesus’ image of a wolf in sheep’s clothing works extremely well to describe their ability to shroud their true identity. At the surface, they may appear to be calm little lambs, but underneath they’re ransacking predators. Verses 16-20. By switching to another word picture, Jesus shifted the attention of His disciples from sheep and wolves to fruit. Making that shift allowed Him to nail down a © 2015 LifeWay

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THE POINT

Choose to follow Jesus.

SUMMARIZE: Define the “fruit” Jesus was talking about. Some people equate good fruit with evangelistic success—how many people you lead to faith in Jesus. Some connect fruit to acts of service—the ministry you do in the name of Jesus. Some people insist fruit is about personal growth—the character of Jesus that God shapes in you. We see all three concepts of fruit in Scripture.

GUIDE: Focus on inspecting fruit. We are “fruit inspectors” when we decide … … if a Bible teacher is the right one to sit under; … if a certain person is the right person for marriage; … if a church is the right fellowship to join; A good “fruit inspector” does not judge others in a condemning way. Instead, we make evaluations based on the fruit in their lives, which reveals their connection or disconnection to Christ. 76

S e ss i o n 6

critical point about false prophets. The only way to expose them involved time. Disciples would have to wait a while so they could observe what false prophets actually produced. Citizens of the kingdom of God produce fruit in the shape of attitudes and behaviors that verify they belong to Him. The fruit of their lives in Him would be plainly seen in their eagerness to surrender to His leadership, their initiative to live according to His ways, and their determination to trust Him completely. Using Jesus’ word picture in these verses, those attitudes and behaviors would be called good fruit. It comes from the relationship rooted in Him. Nothing but Christ-like character traits can come from such a relationship in the same way that a good tree produces good fruit. The image of bad fruit calls to mind the attitudes and behaviors that certify the absence of a personal walk with the Lord. The problem comes in trying to identify bad fruit at first. Spotting it usually doesn’t happen immediately. Over time, however, it can be detected, and the tree from which it came can be identified. With the word picture of bad fruit coming from bad trees, Jesus warned about the connection between false prophets and the Lord. When we notice someone habitually behaving in ways that don’t reflect an intimate walk of obedience and trust in the Lord, then we must be ready to conclude they don’t belong to Him. Even though they may give testimonies of their devotion to Him with their words, their lives say something entirely different. Their lives indicate they have not taken root in the Lord. Notice the outcome of false prophets. Like trees that produce bad fruit, false prophets have no value in the kingdom of God. Therefore, He casts them aside like a farmer would get rid of a bad tree. Instead of looking forward to seasons of spiritual productivity, false prophets can anticipate the day when they’ll be removed completely. Verses 21-23. Jesus went on to describe in more detail the day when false prophets would be held accountable for their deception. First, He reinforced the point He had already made with His word picture of good and bad fruit. Kingdom citizens would be characterized simply by their eagerness to let Him have first place in their lives. Nothing would matter more to them than following His direction by doing the will of My Father in heaven. People who pretended to be His disciples would face Him in judgment. Jesus narrated His conversation with them. © 2015 LifeWay

In His narration, He noted that they would refer to Him as Lord, Lord. The title signifies a believer’s willingness to submit completely to Him. Although false prophets used a term in their speech that reflected complete submission, their lives said something entirely different about their walk with Him. Jesus also noted that they would try to remind Him of their prophecies and miracles. But their reminders wouldn’t change Jesus’ verdict. Prophecies and miracles don’t demonstrate a Christian’s walk with the Lord. Granted, they catch our attention and draw us in for a closer look. And we know Jesus used them to point people to Him. They showed His power and wisdom as He carried out His plan in the world. But a believer’s devotion to Him doesn’t show up in the form of arresting prophesies and breathtaking miracles. It’s seen in a consistent life of simple obedience and childlike trust in Him. No other manifestation of the presence of Christ will be sufficient for a growing believer. Pay attention to the way Jesus brought the conversation with false prophets to a close. He announced that they didn’t have a personal relationship with Him. Otherwise He would have known them and worked within them so they could have been productive kingdom citizens. He couldn’t do anything through them, however, because He didn’t live in Him. And He didn’t live in them because they never surrendered their lives to Him. Then He removed them from His sight. They suffered the fate of anyone else who refused to give themselves to Him. Jesus came to fulfill the Law (5:17). By rejecting Jesus, they turned their backs on God’s way of fulfilling the Law. As a result, they continued to live as lost people who would be held accountable for their decision to reject Christ.

GUIDE: Focus on bearing fruit. Stress that people will see proof of our conversion in how we influence others to follow Jesus, perform ministry acts in Jesus’ name, and live with Christ-like, Spirit-filled character. Emphasize that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. We can’t produce a single act to bring about our salvation nor can we produce one piece of fruit on our own.

DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 72): What is our role in producing fruit? (Alternate: What are some practical examples of good and bad fruit?)

TRANSITION: “When we choose to live in obedience to Jesus, we also make the choice to build our lives on Him and His teachings.”

Matthew 7:24-27 24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and

acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and

pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. © 2015 LifeWay

77

THE POINT

Choose to follow Jesus. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t

STUDY THE BIBLE

act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on

Matthew 7:24-27

the sand.

10 minutes

27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded

that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 24-27.

GUIDE: Ask for a show of hands from members who have built a sand castle. Note the PSG author’s illustration on pages 72-73. Acknowledge that all sand castles, houses, and towers have one thing in common: they don’t last. The tide washes them away. Explain that many people build their lives with sand, and the storms of life wash their dreams away. Acknowledge that building on sand is easy, and building a life on the solid rock of Jesus and His teachings often calls for hard choices—but it’s worth it.

DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 73): When has your foundation in Christ helped you through a major storm? 78

S e ss i o n 6

Choose to build your life on Christ and His teachings. Verse 24. Jesus brought His instruction to a close with yet another comparison. This time He compared two foundations to direct His disciples to take seriously His teaching. He urged them to build their lives on the right foundation for living, a relationship with Him. Then they could live out His instructions. Building on a solid foundation required taking His instruction seriously. Listeners weren’t merely to hear His words with no intention of acting on them. On the contrary, He expected them to build their lives on a relationship with Him and to practice the principles He taught. Jesus introduced a parable about two builders. One, a sensible builder, constructed his house on the rock. Wise builders would take that critical step because they knew floods would come along and destroy a house built elsewhere. Likewise, we make a wise decision when we build our lives on Jesus Christ. Verse 25. The wisdom of giving our lives to Him might not be evident at first. Perhaps for a long time, our decision to give ourselves to Christ might not be put to the test. But then one day the storm will come. Anyone who has lived for a while knows that storms come along and torment our lives. Some storms may be literal, like tornadoes or hurricanes. Other storms take the shape of an awful tragedy in a family, the loss of a job, a bad report from a biopsy, or the destruction of a marriage. When one storm comes, sometimes another storm follows almost immediately, and it can bring hurricane-force winds of stress and strain. The heavy rain of pain and misery seems to be relentless, and the flood waters of despair and hopelessness constantly rise. When the storm finally ends, the wisdom of the builder will be evident. The house built on the rock endures the calamity because it had been built on a rock. Similarly, a person © 2015 LifeWay

who surrenders his or her life to Christ will find a solid foundation in the tough times. Making Him our first priority in life will always prove to be a wise decision. Verse 26. The outcome will be radically different for a person who decides to ignore Jesus. Some people don’t take Him seriously for any number of reasons. Perhaps they consider Him to be too restrictive, or maybe they don’t like the idea of confessing their sins. Or they might reject Him because they don’t trust Him or they don’t feel comfortable with surrendering their lives to Him. Having rejected Him, they are left to choose another foundation for their lives. They may choose to stake their lives on making money, earning prestige, or gaining power. Or they may decide to bank on their relationships with people, like their spouses or children. Verse 27. But when the storm comes along, the foolish foundation for living will collapse in a terrible torrent of trouble washing over it. In Jesus’ day, a foolish person might build his house near water so he could have easy access to it. Because the house was close to water, the foundation for it could be made of nothing more than sand. With a weak, sandy foundation, the house would never survive a storm with heavy rain, relentless wind, and powerful flood waters. Jesus emphasized the devastating outcome of the foolish choice to build a house on the sand by referring to it as a gigantic collapse. Lost people who refuse to give their lives to Christ will regret their foolish choice. Jesus offers them the only foundation for living that will enable them to endure the challenges ahead of them. Eventually the storm of judgment will come their way. If not before, that’s when they will see for themselves that they made a foolish choice when they rejected Christ. Believers do well to heed the warning in Jesus’ parable too. Once we receive His free gift of salvation, He comes in to our lives to stay. When we decide to nurture our relationship with Him as His disciple, we make a wise choice. He expects us to take His instruction seriously by centering our lives in Him and consistently living according to His ways. When we do, we are transformed as a result of our choice. We’ll face the storms of life with spiritual strength that comes from our intimate walk with Him.

TIP: This session is designated as the evangelism session. Emphasize the eternal nature of the choices to foolishly build one’s life on sand or to wisely build on the solid rock of Jesus. Invite anyone who would like to talk more about choosing to follow Christ to see you after the session.

GUIDE: Emphasize that the choice to build your life on the rock is life altering. You may feel the urge to dabble in the sand from time to time, but when you have tasted the good things of God (Ps. 34:8), you’ll want to leave the beach and dig deep into the rock. (LEADER PACK: As you make the previous comment, call attention to Item 5: “The Solid Rock.” Lead the group to say together the familiar lines from the hymn.)

DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 74): What is the connection between your foundation and your obedience? (Alternate: How can we help one another continue to build on the right foundation?)

© 2015 LifeWay

79

THE POINT

Choose to follow Jesus.

LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Choose to follow Jesus. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 75; see text to the right). Stress that our choices say much about who we are and what’s important to us. Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs.

Wrap It Up GUIDE: Encourage group members to commit themselves to Jesus for

LIVE IT OUT If you have been a believer for a long time, you know that deciding to follow Jesus on a daily basis helps us make decisions that honor Him. After studying these passages, how will you live out your choice to follow Jesus this week?

>> Evaluate your decisions. In the past week, what TV

shows did you watch? What did you talk about? How did you respond in difficult situations? Consider what those decisions say about your choice to follow Christ. What do those decisions say about the foundation on which you are building?

>> Study together. Commit to regularly participating in

your Bible study group. Study the session material before you arrive, and ask God to lead during the session. Come prepared to learn together more about the foundation on which you are building your life.

>> Follow Jesus example. Remember that Jesus spent

much time socializing with average people. Follow His example by hosting a get-together with some of your neighbors. Get to know one another, and pray for opportunities to talk about your relationship with Christ.

strength to choose to follow Him every hour of every day. PRAY: “Lord, we need You every hour. Thank You for being the solid Rock on which we can build lives that will honor You. Grant us the grace to choose to follow You at all times. Amen.”

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© 2015 LifeWay

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ

columns with pedestals and stone

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

moldings. Josephus mentioned

Life boils down to one

one of the temple gates that

choice with two options:

was more beautiful than all the

take the road that leads

other gates. He spoke of this gate

to life in Christ or take

as made ‘of Corinthian brass …

the road that leads to

covered over with silver and gold’

destruction.

(Wars of the Jews, 5.5.3). This was probably the gate called ‘Beautiful’ where Peter and John were instrumental in healing a lame Hadrian’s Arch of Victory was the southern gate of the city of Jerash, or Gerasa in the New Testament era. Jesus healed the demoniac in this area (Mark 5:1).

The following excerpt is from the article “City Gates in Jesus’ Day” (Fall 2003), which relates to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. “The gates to the city of Jerusalem and the temple were elaborately decorated. For instance, the gate

beggar (Acts 3:2) 3:10).”

Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more

Read “Wolves in Biblical Imagery”

about becoming a Christian.

in the Summer 2016. Previous

See the article, “Leading

articles “House Construction in

Someone to the Greatest

Jesus’ Time” (Win. 1996), and

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

“Jesus’ Use of Parables” (Win. 1992)

guidance in leading a person

relate to this session and can be

to Christ.

purchased at www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Look for Biblical Illustrator for Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772.

of Herod Agrippa (excavated

Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ.

under the modern Damascus Gate) was a triple-arched gateway of Roman design flanked by

>> Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >> Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). >> Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. © 2015 LifeWay

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