Recognizing False Prophets (Matt. 7:15-20)

Outline: Matthew 7:15-20

1. What are false prophets like? (v.15)
2. How do we recognize false prophets? (v.16-18, 20)
3. Where are false prophets going? (v.19)

Summary: When we connect Jesus' call to enter by the narrow gate and travel the hard road (7:12-14) with the command to beware of false prophets (7:15-20), we realize that Jesus is telling us that there are people who will point us to a wider gate and tempt us with promises of an easier road. These false prophets are like wolves dressed like sheep, seeking to deceive and destroy (v.15).  Jesus will eventually destroy such people (v.20), but, in the meantime, Jesus protects His sheep by telling them how to see through such deception by recognizing their bad fruit (vv.16-18, 20).

Main Point: Beware of false prophets.

Discussion Questions:

• What is the relationship between 7:13-14 and 7:15-20? 
• According to v.15, what are false prophets like?
• What does the fact that Jesus gave this warning say about the type of Shepherd He is?
• According to vv.16-18 & 20, how do we recognize false prophets?
• What types of bad fruit might help us discern the true identity of false prophets?
• Reflect on this statement: "Sheep, not just shepherds, must beware of false prophets."
• Where are false prophets going in the end (v.19)? Why?

Application Questions:

• How discerning am I when it comes to knowing false prophets by their fruit?  
• Are there any teachings that I'm listening to or people I'm influenced by that may fail the fruit test?  
• Am I acting more like a wolf than a sheep? In other words, is my influence (my actions and attitudes) having positive effects or negative effects on people around me?
• What kind of fruit am I bearing? What parts of my life need pruning in order to bear more and better fruit (cf. Jn. 15:1-8)?

Prayer Points:

• Confess ways you are acting more wolf-like than sheep-like in your attitudes and actions.
• Thank Jesus, the Good Shepherd, for standing between you and ravenous wolves, for laying His life down that you might be spared.  
• Ask the Holy Spirit to increase your powers of discernment, to help you train yourself to distinguish good from evil.

Praying in Light of Our Real Needs

Outline: Matthew 6:11-15

1. Petition #4: Provision (v.11)
2. Petition #5: Pardon (vv.12, 14-15)
3. Petition #6: Protection (v.13)

Summary: Jesus teaches us to pray by giving us an example, a model prayer known as the Lord's Prayer (6:9-15).  The Lord's model prayer includes six petitions that are to be infused into our everyday prayers, shaping our communion with our heavenly Father.  The first three petitions teach us pray in light of our Father's top priorities: His glory, His kingdom, and His will.  In the last three petitions Jesus teaches us to pray in light our real needs: provision, pardon, and protection. It is when the Father's priorities become our priorities that we we are able to discern what our real needs are and to confidently ask our heavenly Father to meet those needs.

Discussion Questions:

• Review: What does it mean that the Lord's Prayer is a model prayer?
• Review: What is the basic structure of the Lord's Prayer? Significance? 
• Review: What two truths must we keep in mind when addressing God in prayer? (v.9) 
• What is meant by "daily bread" and how should the Father's priorities shape these prayers?
• How does asking God for forgiveness relate to forgiving others?  
• What is the relationship between "lead us not into temptation" and "deliver us from evil"?
• Discuss this statement: "God tests, Satan tempts."

Application Questions:

• To what extent are my Father's priorities shaping my prayers?
• How aware am I of my real needs?  
• Do my prayers align more with what I think I need or what God knows I need? Explain.
• Am I withholding forgiveness from anyone?  If so, how might this me effecting my relationship with God in general and my prayer life in particular?
• In what areas of my life do I tend to fail often when tempted and thus need extra protection?

Prayer Points:

• Confess to God your tendency to pray in light of your priorities instead of God's and your wants instead of your real needs.  
• Praise Jesus, the Bread of Life, who has come to satisfy your deepest needs.
• Thank God for providing so bountifully, above and beyond the basic necessities of life.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help more consistently pray in light of your real needs.