NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passages: Matthew 7:13-21, 24-27
Discussion Questions: What makes it so difficult to live a life that shows a commitment to Christ? Why do you think people fail to recognize the ultimate end of choosing to stay their course, refusing to follow Jesus?
Food for Thought:
Most of us are fascinated with videos of buses as they traverse a narrow mountain road. One misstep would be disastrous. We can only imagine the concentration needed to drive on such a road, especially when compared to driving on a multi-lane interstate. The broad interstates are much more forgiving. The shoulder of the broad interstate serves as a buffer, making it much more inviting and pleasant. If we had to pick one over the other, most of us would prefer the multi-lane interstate over the narrow twisting road. The problem is only narrow and twisty roads take us to the mountaintops. They are the only way there.
As Jesus began to conclude one of His most famous sermons, He told of two roads (see Matthew 7:13-14). The narrow road was less taken and required discipline to travel. The other road was broad and the most used. Not much was required of those who took the broad road except to just keep traveling. Jesus explained that the greatest difference between the two roads was the final destination. Only the narrow road led to life. The other road was easy in that no action was required, but it led to destruction. Sin always leads to destruction.
Our world has bought into the idea that the easiest road is the preferred way. We like the promise of heaven but want to avoid taking the difficult road of following Jesus. We have to act. We have to pay attention as we travel. We have to trust the steps He sets in front of us along that road. It would be so much easier to just travel on the multi-lane road and enjoy all that this world has to offer. The only problem is the multi-lane road of this world will not take us to the top of the mountain. Only the narrow road will take us to the throne of the Father. So you pick: the broad way or the narrow way?
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping the group on pace to study through the Bible books in a systematic way. More information can be found at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
