Sermon preview, week of March 4, 2025
The Road Not Taken
Poet Robert Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."
This Sunday’s order
- Sunday
- Reading
- Matthew 7:13-29
- Series
- Mountaintop Manifesto
- Preaching
- Kendall Ellis
This is a sermon preview for the ninth (and final) week of our “Mountaintop Manifesto series.”
The readingMatthew 7:13-29
It is also the first sermon in our 2025 Lenten Series: “Walking in Wisdom: A Study of Proverbs.”
Visit FBCM’s YouTube channel to view video live stream (live) or audio version of sermon (published week after).
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it…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.”
- from Matthew 7:13-29
Read Matthew 7:13-29
13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!” 28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Berean Standard Bible, public domain
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
-from Proverbs 1:1-19
Famous poet Robert Frost writes, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
Oh how our choices make a difference! But there is something more interesting than the outcome of the traveler’s chosen path. In fact, Mr. Frost doesn’t really share anything about the path that was chosen. He doesn’t say what cool sights he saw along the way of the chosen path. He doesn’t say anything about where the path ends up. The whole poem is dedicated to something that resonates more deeply with all of us: the difficulty of making a choice.
Sometimes, we get lucky and the right choice is clear and easy. But most other times, we are the traveler in Frost’s poem. We are stuck between two choices that appear equally good and promising. Yet we know that they will lead us to very different places. How are we supposed to choose?! How are we supposed to measure the roads before us?!
In the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to our struggle to discern what the next right step is.
He describes a parable about two paths. One path might seem like the better option at first. This road has a wide gate that makes it easier for many of us to get through. But sadly, easier does not mean better.
The other road has a small gate and a narrow road. This road seems awkward to travel, and one must choose their steps carefully. But Jesus is clear: take this narrow road that is not often taken. This road requires wisdom and trust in the navigator, Jesus. This road is the way of Christ and leads to a life of good fruit and viable seeds that can be sown into the community around them.
Jesus’ closing remarks echo the teachings of Solomon in the book of Proverbs. In the first chapter, Solomon describes two options. We can choose to be people who follow God’s wisdom. Or we can be children who forsake their Father’s instruction and destroy themselves in the process.
This week, the Church enters the season of Lent. Lent is the season dedicated to reflection and repentance in preparation for Easter. If we’re honest, we can all admit that there have been times when we took the fool’s wide path. We have all had moments where we struggled to know what to do. We need God’s grace to help us go through the narrow gate. And we need the Holy Spirit’s constant wisdom to stay on that road not taken.
We often quote "God's ways are higher than our ways," (Isaiah 55:8-9), and Proverbs is proof of that! Churches don't often preach from Proverbs, but Solomon spent his life compiling this book to point us back to the infinite wisdom of God. The wisdom shared in this book reminds us this Lenten season just how prone to faulty logic we are, and how much we need a Savior to live.
Consider this your invitation to come close to the Lord this season. Gather around in humility with your church family. We will fear the Lord together, knowing his mercy is great and he is the Good Father who will give wisdom to those who seek him. Let’s turn away from the wide path together this season, as we seek to be followers of The Way together.
Reflection Questions
- What’s a time in your life when you struggled to make a wise decision? How did you include God in that decision? What was the outcome?
- What do you think it looks like to be a wise builder who builds their house on the rock? Why do you think Jesus ends the sermon this way?
- This Lent, what spiritual practices can you do to remind you of your need for Christ and reorient your life towards seeking his wisdom?
