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Published: Feb. 2, 2023, 8 a.m.

Welcome to Day 2112 of\xa0 Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Sermon on the Mount 10 \u2013 A Christian Commitment: The Radical Choices \u2013 Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message \u2013 07/18/2021 Sermon on the Mount \u2013 A Christian\u2019s Commitment: The Radical Choices Matthew 7:13-27 Today\u2019s Scripture is found on page 1506 of the pew Bible.

• The Narrow and Wide Gates

\u201cEnter through the narrow gate.\xa0For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.\xa0\xa0But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

• True and False Prophets

\xa0\u201cWatch out for false prophets.\xa0They come to you in sheep\u2019s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.\xa0\xa0By their fruit, you will recognize them.\xa0Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?\xa0\xa0Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.\xa0\xa0A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.\xa0\xa0Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.\xa0\xa0Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them.

• True and False Disciples

\xa0\u201cNot everyone who says to me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019\xa0will enter the kingdom of heaven,\xa0but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.\xa0\xa0Many will say to me on that day,\xa0\u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?\u2019\xa0\xa0Then I will tell them plainly, \u2018I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!\u2019

• The Wise and Foolish Builders

\u201cTherefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice\xa0is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.\xa0\xa0The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.\xa0\xa0But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.\xa0\xa0The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.\u201d \xa0 As mentioned last week, Matthew 7 consists of several self-contained paragraphs. However loosely, the connecting thread which runs through chapter 7 is that of relationships. It would seem quite logical that having described a Christian\u2019s character, influence, righteousness, holiness, and ambition, Jesus should concentrate finally on our relationships. \xa0Today we will explore how those relationships are tied to our commitments as Christ-followers.\xa0 As citizens of God\u2019s kingdom, will we support that kingdom and build it up, or will we destroy it from within by making wrong choices? All choices have consequences, and our choices can be seen in the analogy of those citizens of our great country who take advantage of the benefits of a free society but then destroy the very foundation on which these benefits are built. Ponder this analogy today as we explore the truths discovered in the last half of Matthew chapter 7. \xa0 Christ emphasizes here even more strongly than before the necessity of choice. We have learned about...