it’s about…

2. it’s about… Jesus People

3. Life in the Kingdom A Kingdom of the Unlikely A Kingdom of aligned hearts not just actions A Kingdom of purity in devotion A Kingdom of life lived unto eternity

4. life outside the box The path of Life

5. Matthew 7:13, (NIV84) ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

6. Matthew 7:14, (NIV84) ““But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

7. the path of life The Problem with Jesus

8. Matthew 7:13 (NIV84) “Enter through the narrow gate.”

9. He Is the Only Way “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NLT)

10. One Life; Two Choices Destruction or Life

11. the path of life Two Gates

12. “…wide is the gate… that leads to destruction.”

13. …but small is the gate…that leads to life

14. The “Gate” – Where It All Begins A metaphor for the entrance point of our journey with Christ toward full life in the Kingdom of God.

15. The Narrow Gate Requires Abandonment to Self • We admit our spiritual poverty • We grieve our sin • We come hungry and thirsty • We lay aside pride and embrace meekness

16. Jesus Is Where We Start “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9, NIV84)

17. the path of life Two Ways

18. …broad is the road that leads to destruction…

19. “…narrow the road that leads to life,”

20. Two Ways Broad Narrow Difficult in the short term Requires deep personal sacrifice Made rugged by its seldom walked course Guided by the Spirit and the Word Made possible by the Spirit’s power • Easy in the short term • Requires nothing of us • Worn smooth by popular opinion • Guided by the wisdom of man • Void of God’s presence

21. A Prayer for the Journey “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” (Psalm 25:4–5, NLT)

22. the path of life Two Destinations

23. life

24. destruction

25. Psalm 1:3–5, (NLT) “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.”

26. the path of life Two Crowds

27. …the few

28. …the many

29. Will only a few truly be saved? “Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

30. Will only a few truly be saved? “He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ ”” (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

31. Will only a few truly be saved? Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.(Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

32. Will only a few truly be saved? “And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”” (Luke 13:22–30, NLT)

33. Beginning the Journey of the Few • Admit Your Spiritual Poverty • Receive Spiritual Rebirth through Christ • Dedicate Your Life to the Journey • Cling to the Hope of His Overcoming Power