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First Baptist Church Delray

Sermon Application Questions

February 22, 2026

Pastor Steve’s Message: “Strive”

Scripture: Luke 13:22-35 (ESV)

Review the Exegesis of the Scripture:

Read Luke 13:22–23

He (Jesus) went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward

Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”

1. What was at least one person beginning to understand about whether the whole nation

of Israel would participate in the resurrection?

2. What had Jesus explained to them in Matthew 3:9?

And he (Jesus) said to them, “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as

our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for

Abraham.”

Read Luke 13:24

(Jesus continued,) “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to

enter and will not be able.”

3. Is Jesus talking about putting effort into achieving greatness or putting effort into

trusting Jesus through repentance to be transformed?

4. What example did Paul give us as recorded in 1 Corinthians 9:23–27 to conform our lives

to the Gospel?

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you

not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that

you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a

perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one

beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to

others I myself should be disqualified.

5. What example did Paul give us in Romans 12:1–2 to present our bodies as living

sacrifices?

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a

living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be

conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing

you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

6. What does Hebrews 12:1–2 instruct us about laying aside every sin that clings so

closely?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside

every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that

is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy

that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the

right hand of the throne of God.

7. What example did Paul give us in Philippians 3:13–14 about pressing forward?

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting

what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for

the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

8. What example did John the Baptist give us in John 3:30 about striving to make much of

Jesus?

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Read Luke 13:25

(Jesus continued,) “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you

begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer

you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’”

9. What is Jesus saying about the eternal status of people who waited to trust in Him in

repentance at the time that they were invited?

Read Luke 13:26–27

(Jesus continued,) “Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you

taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart

from me, all you workers of evil!’”

10. How is receiving the message of Jesus different than merely listening to Him?

11. How did Jesus express how strongly He felt about people who trust in their own

goodness or in their bloodline rather than in His message?

Read Luke 13:28–30

(Jesus continued,) “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see

Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves

cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at

table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who

will be last.”

12. What horrors of eternal punishment did Jesus describe for people who fail to enter the

narrow door while there is still time?

13. What had the Jewish religious leaders abandoned that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all

the prophets believed about entering the kingdom of God?

14. Who else does Jesus want to include in the kingdom of God?

Read Luke 13:31–35

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him (Jesus), “Get away from here, for Herod

wants to kill you.” And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and

perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go

on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should

perish away from Jerusalem.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones

those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen

gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken.

And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the

Lord!’”

15. Will Jesus be deterred from completing His mission by a bloodthirsty leader or by the

knowledge that he will be killed or even by His own people rejecting Him?

16. How did Jesus describe the depth of His love for His people?

Make Personal Applications of the Lessons

17. The future is not guaranteed: will you strive to enter the narrow door and kneel to Jesus

now?

18. What plans will to make to kneel to Jesus?

a. Strive to bring your body into submission.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do

you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So

run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it

to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do

not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest

after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:23-27

b. Strive to repent.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay

aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the

race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and

is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

c. Strive to be transformed rather than conformed.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as

a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not

be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by

testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and

perfect. Romans 12:1-2

d. Strive to leave your past behind.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting

what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal

for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

e. Strive to make Jesus bigger and yourself smaller.

f. He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

19. In which of these three ways do you need to guard against getting this wrong?

a. Being complacent as a result of my accomplishments, history, ethnicity, social status

or citizenship.

b. Being confidence in my good works and in believing I can earn my way to God’s

favor.

c. Assuming that being around the teachings of Jesus and His people is the same as

responding positively to His message. Would I think I’m an artist just because I spend

time in an art gallery? Would I think I’m a soldier just because I visit a military base?