is the man who said to you pick

"You Have a Choice" {Matt7:13-20}
* Intro
- SotM one large sermon contrasting religion to authentic faith
- SotM winds down in Ch7, and Lord tells us we have choice: be religious or serve Lord
* Which road are you on?
- Enter through narrow gate
- Context: most cities then had walls (to keep out enemies) w/ wide gates. Imagery of gates and roads familiar to all
- Road to destruction wide: easy to follow others
* "Narrow" refers to difficulty to navigate, constricted
- Those w/ humble hearts will find road to life; those who choose to submit & be obedient
- Truth is narrow; narrow not inherently negative despite modern connotations
* Road doesn't matter -- roads are defined by their destination. Do not let others choose your destination for you.
* Who are you following?
* Watch out for false teachers
- Lots of voices in world -- tell me about it -- and not all speak the truth
- Modern prophets speak not future but rather translate Word -- not from God
* Evaluate teaching by what it produces
- Test of truth: does it align w/ rest of Word (thus, important to know and be in Word)
- Second test: what is outcome of teaching? Do teachers have matching lifestyles?
* Deut30:15-20