Between Two Roads
Pastor Tan Thai · May 17, 2019
This sermon clearly presents that God places before every person two choices: the narrow road leading to life in Jesus Christ, and the wide road leading to destruction. Drawing from Matthew 7:13-14 and many other Scripture passages, it calls every listener to make a decisive commitment to walk the narrow road of the Lord.
The sermon opens with a practical observation about modern life: people face countless choices every day, from trivial matters to life-defining decisions. The pastor quotes Eleanor Roosevelt — that one's philosophy is best expressed not in words but in the choices one makes — and analyzes three common viewpoints in contemporary society: that no choice is absolutely right, that all lifestyles carry equal value, and that all religions are equally good. These viewpoints are then contrasted with the clear teaching of Scripture.
The central section of the sermon demonstrates that from the beginning of creation, God has always placed before humanity only two choices: to believe or not believe, to obey or to disobey. This is shown through the command in Genesis 2:16-17, the symbol of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal in Deuteronomy 30:15-19, the Great Commandment in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, and the contrast between the righteous and the wicked in Psalm 1. The pastor emphasizes that moral relativism is an illusion — even the failure to choose is itself a choice.
The sermon then develops Jesus Christ's teaching in Matthew 7:13-14 about the narrow gate and the wide gate. Three reasons are offered for why the road to life is narrow: because there is only one God and one salvation through Jesus Christ; because it is a difficult path filled with trials and temptations; and because few people choose to walk it. Key Scripture passages including John 14:6, 1 John 5:11-12, Acts 4:12, and John 10:9-10 are cited to affirm that salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.
The pastor also acknowledges the appeal of the wide road: living according to personal preference, free from the obligations of Sunday worship and church fellowship. He clarifies that salvation does not come from good moral behavior, a clean conscience, or any religion, but only through Jesus Christ. The example of Joshua and his household in Joshua 24:15 is presented as a model of decisive commitment to God.
The sermon closes with a heartfelt call to action: every person must listen carefully, weigh the options, and choose to walk the narrow road of God through Jesus Christ, even in the face of opposition and hardship. The pastor also admonishes believers who have already received Christ, reminding them that many times they abandon the narrow road to chase after the wide road of the world, and urging them to return to their original commitment.