Sunday, March 15, 2009 
Scripture reading: Luke 13:22-30
The Narrow Door
22 Jesus* went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He said to them, 24‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then in reply he will say to you, “I do not know where you come from.” 26Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” 27But he will say, “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.’
Sermon Title: "DESTINY, CHANCE AND CHOICE" Sunday, March 15, 2009
ASSOCIATE PASTOR STEELE: Listen to the
words in Matthew Chapter 7, Verses 13 and 14 and how
it relates to the passage in Luke we just read. It
says enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and
the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those
who enter by that one are many, but the gate is narrow
and the way is hard that leads to life, and there are
few who find it.
Jesus recruited no one by false pretense.
Everyone knew exactly what to expect and what they
would be up against if they decided to follow him and
accept him as Savior. Jesus makes it very clear that
the narrow way of self-denial and sacrifice is not a
popular path most people want to walk. To walk the
narrow way requires firm determination and consistent
effort. It is a choice.
How many of you know that really, for the most
part, life is a result of the choices we've made. It
can either restrict and diminish our life or enhance
and broaden life's possibilities. Discipline or
discipleship is a key factor in reaching our potential
in life.
Being a part of a Christian nation is not an
automatic passport into the Kingdom of Heaven. Being
a church member does not automatically generate a
ticket into the Kingdom of God. Destiny is a matter
of choice, not chance. Jesus said we should enter by
the narrow gate or the narrow door depending on what
translation you may be reading from. Jesus said, I am
the door. If anyone enters through me, he or she will
be saved.
I want to mention a few things that might cause a
person not to be able to enter. Pride is one reason
people often refuse to enter through the narrow gate,
being able to humble one's self before God. We didn't
quite get to Verse 34, we only read to Verse 30, but
Jesus said the ultimate reason for people not entering
was unwillingness. Their minds had been instructed by
his word, their hearts had been stirred by his
miracles, but their wills were stubborn, and they
would not submit to him. Hebrews Chapter 4, Verse 7
says this: Today if you hear his voice, do not harden
your hearts.
Choice and discipline do not restrict life. They
expand it, enhance it, make it more abundant. Jesus
is the door. If we enter through him, if we make a
choice and allow discipline to lead our life in the
direction of that choice, the Bible says we will be
able to come and go, and we'll find everything we need
in abundant life.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, Amen.