reflection and discussion questions: 

1. Review:  As you prayed this week, did you find it easier to talk with God as the good and loving Father He truly is?  Did anything change in your perception of God or in how you sensed God's presence with you?   

2. Take a moment in prayer, welcoming the Spirit's presence. Then go back and read Matthew 7:12-23.  Did anything in particular stand out as you read or listened to this passage?  Do you find yourself challenged in any particular way as you read this or as you listened to Phil on Sunday?

3. Phil referenced Matthew's own story in Matthew 9:9. Phil said, "Faith in Christ looks like willing and trusting obedience."  What does it look like for you to "follow" Christ?  Describe a time when you needed to trust Jesus in order to follow Him.  Was there a time when you knew you should follow Jesus but didn't?  What did you learn from that?

4. Read v 12 once more. In what ways is Jesus' teaching here taking us beyond merely "not being mean to others"? 

5.  Jesus says, "The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."  What makes following Jesus on the road that leads to life so hard? Is it the activity itself or the will to do it? Read and discuss Romans 7:21-8:2

6. Jesus is saying here that no matter what we may have heard, all roads do NOT lead to heaven.  Why is this hard for so many people to believe? And how should it impact our day to day lives? 

7. Read and discuss the following quote from former pastor James Boice: “Clearly it is not enough merely to listen to preaching about this gate or to study its architecture. It is not enough to praise it. It is not enough to stand by it. It must be entered. That means that everyone who comes under the preaching of the gospel must make a personal decision to enter into Christ. No one is automatically a Christian. You cannot be neutral, for Jesus teaches that you are either on the broad way or on the narrow way. You cannot just drift into Christianity. The true gate is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard. If you are to become a believer, you must make a decision. No one else can settle the matter for you.”

8.  Lastly, remember that this week we'll be finishing our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Phil encouraged us to take an index card and prayerfully consider through the week one or two ways we have been impacted by Jesus' words these past five months or so.  In preparation for this coming Sunday, write down a few ways that you think Jesus is calling you to follow Him more, and bring them with you. (We'll also have more cards available on Sunday if you forget yours!)