Narrow and Wide Gates, Readers Theater, Matthew 7:13-29

Sermon on the Mount, The Jesus Manifesto, Matthew 5-7

Narrow and Wide Gates
Readers Theater, Matthew 7:13-29

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Part of a study on the Sermon on the Mount

READER 1

Enter through the narrow gate.

READER 2

The narrow gate.

READER 3

Where you may have to suck in and squeeze through.

READER 1

Enter through the narrow gate.

READER 2

For wide is the gate

READER 3

Plenty of room for you and all your baggage

READER 1

And broad is the road

READER 2

Spacious

READER 3

Plenty of room for the crowds and masses

READER 1

Wide is the gate and broad is the road

READER 2

That leads to destruction,

READER 3

And many enter through it.

READER 1

But small is the gate

READER 2

And narrow the road that leads to life,

READER 3

And only a few find it.

READER 1

Only a few

READER 2

Only a few

READER 3

Find it

READER 1

Search for it

READER 2

And so find it

READER 3

And pass through on their way to eternal life.

READER 1

Watch out for false prophets.

READER 2

False teachers.

READER 3

False leaders.

READER 2

Who have their own agendas.

READER 3

And want to build their own followings.

READER 1

They come to you in sheep's clothing,

READER 2

They look like sheep.

READER 3

But inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

READER 1

Outside they look like others in the congregation,

READER 2

But inside brews trouble

READER 1

Greed

READER 2

Pride

READER 3

Rebelliousness

READER 2

Selfishness

READER 3

Unteachableness

READER 1

Trouble for them

READER 2

And trouble for the congregation.

READER 1

By their fruit you will recognize them.

READER 2

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes,

READER 3

Or figs from thistles?

READER 1

Likewise every good tree bears good fruit,

READER 2

But a bad tree bears bad fruit.

READER 1

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,

READER 2

And a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

READER 1

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

READER 3

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

READER 1

By their words.

READER 2

By their actions.

READER 3

By their statements and slips.

READER 1

For our words betray what's in our heart.

READER 2

And what is in our heart will come out in our actions.

READER 3

By their fruits you will know them.

READER 1

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,

READER 2

But only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

READER 1

Lord, Lord.

READER 2

I am a Christian

READER 3

I am a believer

READER 2

I believe in Jesus.

READER 1

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,

READER 2

And in your name drive out demons

READER 3

And perform many miracles?'

READER 1

Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.

READER 2

Away from me, you evildoers!'

READER 3

You evildoers.

READER 1

You doers of evil.

READER 2

You doers of your own plans

READER 3

Rather than the plans of Jesus.

READER 1

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine

READER 2

And puts them into practice

READER 3

Is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

READER 1

The rain came down,

READER 2

The streams rose,

READER 3

And the winds blew and beat against that house;

READER 1

Yet it did not fall,

READER 2

Because it had its foundation on the rock.

READER 3

On the rock.

READER 1

But everyone who hears these words of mine

READER 2

And does not put them into practice

READER 3

Is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

READER 1

The rain came down,

READER 2

The streams rose,

READER 3

And the winds blew and beat against that house,

ALL

And it fell with a great crash.

READER 1

Hearers and doers.

READER 2

Doers and hearers.

READER 1

Which am I?

READER 3

Which are you?

READER 1

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

All lessons now compiled as a 220-page book available as an e-book or printed book.

Part of a study on the Sermon on the Mount found at http://www.jesuswalk.com/manifesto/

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Narrow and Wide Gates Readers Theater, Matthew 7:13-29

Narrow and Wide Gates
Readers Theater, Matthew 7:13-29