Bad Religion

Passage

Matthew 7:15-23

Sermon Summary

Before closing the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us to identify and avoid false prophets: ravenous wolves who come in sheep’s clothing. Knowing that false prophets exist is essential for distinguishing true Christianity from false, and for guarding our lives against their powerful influence. Recognizing them is harder than it sounds, though. Ministry results, good theology, and spiritual giftedness aren’t infallible signs. Good fruits are ultimately about character—in the leader and in the people they influence. And they don’t always show up right away, so it can take time to spot them. Ultimately, learning to recognize them is one way God forms us into the image of Jesus. He became rotten fruit on a barren tree so that we could become good trees that bear good fruit for him.

Discussion Questions

1. [Optional starter question] What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
2. Describe some features of the religion modeled by false prophets, and why many people reject it. How does it contrast with the true Gospel? 
3. Can you think of a spiritual leader who influenced you but later “fell” in some way? Do you think that person was a wolf in sheep’s clothing or just a stumbling sheep?
4. Walter said we overestimate our ability to “chew the meat and spot out the bones.” Do you agree or disagree? Discuss.
5. Describe a spiritual leader who has helped you grow more like Jesus. How did their teaching and/or their life influence you?
6. What are some specific ways you want to grow into a more fruitful follower of Jesus? Consider the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, or the character of love in 1 Corinthians 13.

Resources Consulted:

• Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo
• True to Our Native Land, ed. Bryan K. Blount
• The New Testament in Color, ed. Esau McCauley
• Matthew for Everyone, NT Wright
• The Message of Matthew, John Stott
• The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard
• The Sermon on the Mount, Sinclair Ferguson
• A Good Tree (song), The Hillbilly Thomists

‍

‍