First 3 things we need to know about God's Word.- Normative - there is something to comply with
- Informative - there is important information in the text
- Instructive - there is a given instruction but not clear
The passage for this preaching will come from:
Matthew 7
New International Version (NIV)
Matthew 7
Judging Others
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
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 who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
The problem is some listen and some get to memorize the Bible but does not completely comprehend the Bible. The Instructive Truth.
- It's not written there exactly but: Problems will come to both believers and non-believers. v.24
one example would have to be like natural disasters, it does not choose which lives to ruin. Any race, any religion it will not pick which one to hit. The only difference is that in the midst of problems Christians remain victorious. - Do not attempt to change the lives of others if you haven't changed yourselves. v.1
As an example in verse 1, there is the issue of hypocrisy. - Your ability to help is not the basis to help others but to the one who deserves it. v.6
Now the principle here is you state the truth repeat it with different words.
Note: Earring were symbols of holiness as this applies to the passage. So properly interpret this passage in real life. It's important to know the background of the passage as well. - Prayer is not a one part event, it is always a 3 part event.
Ask! - we pray to God
Seek! we look
Knock! - we try
In everything! - The bigger crowd is not always so correct. v13
Do not be canned around what is popular - Do not be fooled by claims, the fruit is the proof. v15
The proof of ones life is not in the tree but in the fruits.
Be Blessed!
