A Discerning Church | Matthew 7:13-23
November 2, 2025 | Pastor Ryan Gilbert
Sermon Thesis
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is our only hope in a broken world. The enemy knows this. This is why discernment in the church is so crucial. Discernment means thinking critically and shrewdly when it comes to God’s truth in His Word, especially when it comes to our salvation.
Three Commitments of a Discerning Church
- A discerning church guards the narrow gate (13-14).
- A discerning church guards against false prophets (15-20).
- A discerning church guards against false disciples (21-23).
How can we know we’re saved?
- Check your gate.
- Check your fruit.
- Test your fruit.
Relevant Resources
What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert
The Thrill of Orthodoxy by Trevin Wax
For kids: The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung
Relevant Quotes
“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” -St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.)
“When we preach Christ crucified, we have no reason to stammer, or stutter, or hesitate, or apologize; there is nothing in the gospel of which we have any cause to be ashamed.” -Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Discussion Questions
- Why is it so important to be clear about what the Gospel is and isn’t?
- Have you ever been confused as to what it means to be saved?
- How can you know you are saved right now?
FBC’s Guiding Principle 1
TRUTH: We will stand upon God’s Word without compromise.
Implications: We are committed to expositional preaching that aims at letting God speak for Himself. Every Sunday when we gather, we dig into God’s Word together. Our commitment: Every sermon preached at FBC is an original sermon given after many hours of study in the Word, with the explicit goal of letting God’s Word for itself.