OPEN IT: Other than to Christ and the Church, what is the biggest commitment you’ve ever made? Did you follow through on it?
Matthew 7:21-27
DIG INTO IT:
1. Read Matthew 7:21-23 and answer the following questions:
Matthew 7:21-27 – ESV
21. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23. And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 24. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
a) Explain in your own words what it means to accept Jesus as “Lord”?
Anybody can say that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Is the word Lord different from the word savior? The word Lord has a strong meaning. It means you have submitted and you are no longer in control. You openly and willingly claim that Jesus is your Lord. This means, that you will do what he wants you to do. This does not mean that we must “earn” our way into heaven. That cannot be done. However, it does mean that once saved, our actions should be that of someone who is living for his Lord and Savior.
b) Why will Jesus reject those referred to in this passage who address Him as “Lord, Lord”?
Read these 4 verses and discuss what they have in common.
Luke 6:46 – ESV
46. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
Matthew 6:1 – ESV
1. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 6:5 – ESV
5. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:16 – ESV
16. “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
According to this passage does everyone who addresses Him in this way get rejected? Explain:
2 Corinthians 13:5 – ESV
5. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
John 6:28-29 – ESV
28. Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29. Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
John 14:15 – ESV
15. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
Some people get rejected, and some people get accepted. It says “not everyone“, which logically means that some do enter the kingdom of heaven.
c) Does the ability to perform miraculous acts demonstrate an acceptance of Jesus as Lord? Why or why not?
In this story, the example is performing miracles. In our lives, we can take this to mean doing “churchy” stuff. Helping people, volunteering, giving some money to charity, etc.
However, all of these are acts, and Jesus is looking for our heart. And he wants us to examine our own hearts and make sure that we are “in Christ.“ There are hypocrites and sincere believers. There is only one act you must do to enter the kingdom of heaven:
John 6:28-29 – ESV
28. Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29. Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
2. Read Matthew 7:24-27 and answer the following questions:
a) What is the difference between the “wise man” in this passage and those who address Jesus as “Lord, Lord” in the verses prior (vv. 21-23)?
The difference is in how one chooses to react to Jesus‘s words. Both of them hear the words. One is a hypocrite, doing things only for themselves, whether they call the Lord’s name or not. The other hears the words of Jesus and believe them in their heart. Because they truly believe, they trust. Trust leads to actions that are in line with biblical teaching. The reason we have biblical teaching is for our own good. If you believe that, you will trust God.
b) How much value does Jesus place on us putting His words “into practice”?
c) Explain the difference between addressing Jesus as “Lord, Lord” and truly living as if He is “Lord”?
d) How can we know for sure what Jesus will say to each of us on the Day of Judgment?
Romans 10:9-13 – ESV
9. because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
REFLECT ON IT:
1. Do you consider yourself a wise or a foolish builder? Why?
2. What is the hardest part of keeping a commitment to Christ as Lord? The easiest?
Trying to balance living in this world and living in a “treasures in Heaven” world.
Hardest:
Matthew 6:24 – ESV
24. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Easiest:
Genesis 1:1 – ESV
1. In the beginning, God…
3. How does having Christ as your foundation keep your spiritual house from collapsing even when your life experiences are negative ones?
4. Is there anything in your life that is keeping you from being fully committed to Christ that you can share with the group?
5. If you died today and Jesus asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” what would you say in response?
6. How can we pray for you today?
PRAY ABOUT IT: “Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness; not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it; not figures of speech, but earnestness of soul.” ~ Hannah More
Davis, Barry L.. Instant Bible Studies for Small Groups (p. 30). GodSpeed Publishing. Kindle Edition.