Sermon Slide Deck: "Salvation's Narrow Door" (Luke 13:22-30)

God Gives Us His Words of Eternal LifeLuke 13:22-30

Found on page 873 in our guest Bibles.

Todays Scripture:

Im a Presbyterian Minister Who Doesnt Believe in God

John Shuck, Minister of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, Oregon

I believe one of the newer religious paths could be a belief-less Christianity. In this

sect, one is not required to believe things. But what about belief in God? Can a

belief-less Christianity really survive if God isnt in the picture? Can you even call that

Christianity anymore? In theory, yes.

~ John Shuck, Im a Presbyterian Minister Who Doesnt Believe in God

Someone quipped that my congregation is BYOG: Bring Your Own God. I use that and invite people to bring their own God or

none at all. While the symbol God is part of our cultural tradition, you can take it or leave it or redefine it to your liking. That permission

to be theological do-it-yourselfers is at the heart of belief-less Christianity.

~ John Shuck, Im a Presbyterian Minister Who Doesnt Believe in God

I dont appreciate being told that Im not truly a Christian.

John Shuck, minister of Southminster Pres Church in Beaverton, Oregon in Im a Presbyterian Minister Who Doesnt Believe in God

Salvations Narrow DoorThe Gospel of Luke 13:22-30

22 He went on his way through towns

The Gospel of Luke 13:22-20

and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 And someone said to him, Lord, will


those who are saved be few?

Jesus, is it possible for

me to be saved

?

And the Lord said to them, 24 Strive


to enter through the narrow door.

Strive = Greek: agonizethe()

Strive = Greek: agonizethe

To bring everything youve got to aim for the prize

()

To focus your attention and energy on entering the narrow door

Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the

door for the sheep. If anyone enters by

me, he will be saved.~ Jesus of Nazareth in The Gospel of John 10:7ff.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

~ Jesus of Nazareth in The Gospel of John 14:6

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven

given among men by which we must be saved.

~ The Apostle Peter in The Book of Acts 4:12

Christianity is tooexclusive. I believe anysincerely good person

can find salvation.

For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and


will not be able. 25 When once the masterof the house has risen and shut the door,and you will begin to stand outside to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open tous, then he will answer you, I do not know where you are from.

26 Then you will begin to say, We ate


and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. 27 But he will sayto you, I tell you, I do not know whereyou are from. Depart from me, all youworkers of evil.

28 In that place there will be weeping and


gnashing of teeth, when you see Abrahamand Isaac and Jacob and all the prophetsin the kingdom of God, but you yourselvescast out.

~ CS Lewis, Oxford Professor Mere Christianity

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself,

because it is not there. There is no such thing.

29 And people will come from the east


and west, and from the north and south,and recline at table in the kingdom of God.

30 And behold, some are last who will be


first, and some are first who will be last.

Why does Luke record this account in his historical

biography of Jesus?

Important Question

He came to his own, and his own people did not

receive him. But to all who did receive him, to those

who believed in his name, he gave the right to

become children of God.

~ The Apostle John in the Gospel of John 1:11

Because Jesus is salvations door

his invitation we cant ignore.

Enter through the Narrow Door

Seek the Lord while he may be found;call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;let him return to the Lord, that he may

have compassion on him,and to our God, for he will

abundantly pardon.

~ Isaiah 55:6-7

A belief-filled Christianity

is a informed faith

built on trust in

the Lord Jesus Christ.

Find your courage to follow Jesus.

Lord will only a few be saved?

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples

and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in

white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits

on the the throne, and to the Lamb!

~ The Apostle John in Revelation 7:9

NCC, as a people who have passed

through Salvations Narrow Door, may you be a people who proclaim

the Gospel of Jesus Christ

until your dying breath.

flickr images courtesy of:

other images:shutterstock Image ID:372646237 / Copyright: Donjiy

other info:http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/03/17/im-a-presbyterian-minister-who-doesnt-believe-in-god-2/

about

Thinkstock: 186303575

http://66.33.199.179/bvt/17-features/297332-173252-religion-notes

other images used for educational purposes:

http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-819925p1.htmlhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://66.33.199.179/bvt/17-features/297332-173252-religion-notes

Spiritual

Sermon Slide Deck: "Salvation's Narrow Door" (Luke 13:22-30)