The Narrow Path

• Session 1: Understanding The Narrow Path

  Watch: Session 1 (12 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. How have you previously understood Matthew 7:13–14? With Rich’s definition of the broad and narrow paths in mind, would you say your life is oriented around Jesus or the world? Why?

  2. Do you find your Christian life to be “spacious” in the way Rich describes? Why, or why not? When do you feel most constrained following Jesus? Why?

  3. Rich listed four foundational truths for this series:

     • The Sermon on the Mount is a vision of spiritual, relational, and social transformation.

     • The Sermon on the Mount was given so that we can trust God and live it out. (It’s not a set of impossible standards only intended to highlight our need for God.)

     • The Sermon on the Mount teaches how Christians should demonstrate salvation. (It’s not how we achieve salvation.)

     • There’s spaciousness available to us in the teachings and person of Jesus Christ.

       Which of these points do you find most challenging to accept? Why? How do each of these points influence how you understand the narrow and broad paths Rich described?

  4. When do you find it easiest to approach Jesus? Why? When is it most difficult? Why? How can you make coming to Jesus a more regular habit?

  5. The broad path is marked by three beliefs in direct conflict with the narrow path:

     • Moralism: The belief that God cares more about our behavior than our hearts.

     • Successism: To have a superficial vision of “the good life.”

     • Individualism: When we see our spirituality as just ourselves and God.
       Which of these three beliefs are you most prone to hold? Why? How does that way of thinking most often reveal itself in your life?

  6. How much of your prayer life consists of requests to God? How comfortable do you feel simply sharing with God what you’re thinking or feeling? Why?

• Session 2: Relationships On The Narrow Path

  Watch: Session 2 (11 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. When have you been surprised by someone’s love when you were expecting to receive a different response?

  2. When has someone called out a gift, truth, or passion in you that you didn’t see in yourself? How did that moment influence you moving forward? What encouraging word can you speak over someone you know?

  3. What’s a recent example of Christians drawing out the best in the world? Of Christians preserving the world against moral decay? How can you personally engage these two functions that Jesus calls Christians to do?

  4. How public is your faith? Are there places where you downplay your following Jesus? Why, or why not? How can we be unashamed of our faith and winsome toward those opposed to Christianity?

  5. Read Matthew 5:21–26. What’s the most shocking element of Jesus’s teaching to you? Would you describe yourself as someone prone to resentment or grudge-holding? Why, or why not?

  6. Read Matthew 5:43–48. What most often prevents you from acting kindly toward those with whom you disagree? Why?

  7. How do you feel about praying for your enemies? How can you more regularly pray for people you dislike?

• Session 3: Priorities On The Narrow Path

  Watch: Session 3 (15 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. Are you a spender or a saver? Why?

  2. How would you describe your relationship with money? What are you most satisfied with that money gives you (security, freedom, stuff, etc.)?

  3. When do you feel most controlled by money? Why? What actions reveal that we’re spending too much time thinking about and desiring money?

  4. When have you been let down by what you thought money would provide? Why were you left unsatisfied? How can we practice gratitude for the wealth and resources we’ve been given?

  5. What parts of your life are unaffected by money? What would it look like to cultivate those areas of your life?

  6. Do you live like God has your best interests in mind? Why, or why not? How does our relationship with money change if we truly live like God is in control?

• Session 4: Integrity On The Narrow Path

  Watch: Session 4 (11 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. 1. How do you feel about canceling plans? How do you feel when others cancel plans?

     2. Who do you know who lives with integrity as Rich described? How do you know they live in “congruence”?

     3. Do you think people consider you a person of your word? Why, or why not? Where do you have the most room to grow in this area?

     4. Why do you think Jesus associates deception in our speech with the “evil one”? What are ways that we can take our words more seriously?

     5. The second area that Jesus calls us to live with integrity is our sexual ethics, namely, avoiding lust (Matthew 5:27–30). Rich defined lust using the words of New Testament scholar Craig Keener: “the deliberate harboring of desire for an illicit relationship.” Essentially, lust isn’t simply a passing attraction. Rich said lust is “the intentional desire to have power over someone by using them or objectifying them.” What sticks out from this definition of lust? What resources or people have been most helpful to you with this topic? Why?

     6. Rich sharply differentiated lust and love, saying:

        • Lust is about consumption; love is about communion.
        • Lust is about taking; love is about giving.
        • Lust uses; love honors.
        • Lust diminishes the other; love cherishes the other.  

        Essentially, the defining characteristics of love are how God treats us. We fight lust by living like God.  

        Which of these four actions do you find most difficult to do with those around you? Why? What is one small step you can take toward better loving those around you in this way?

• Session 5: Discernment On The Narrow Path

  Watch: Session 5 (11 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. What are your pet peeves?

  2. What’s something you routinely catch yourself being judgmental about? Why do you think that specific thing prompts you to criticize?

  3. Which area are you more confident in—knowing God’s will for your life or exercising sound judgment in relationships? Why? What helps you most when trying to be discerning?

  4. How do you determine the line between making good judgments and passing judgment on others? Who do you know who best exercises “self-judgment” between right and wrong?

  5. What’s your experience with trying to discern God’s will over a recent decision or circumstance? Would you describe yourself as someone who regularly seeks God before acting? Why, or why not?

  6. Rich described four ways that we can more faithfully seek God’s direction in our lives:

     • We must desire God’s will.
     • We must search the Scriptures.
     • We must pay attention to our hearts.
     • We need a community.  

     What from this list comes most naturally to you? Why? Most difficult? Why?

  7. How could being judgmental hold you back from the life Jesus promises? What habits can we build to become more attentive to God’s will in every area of life?