What is SOAP?

SOAP is an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you prepare for participating in City Group this week, we invite you to write down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling is a great way to record and process your thoughts & what God is sharing with you.

Week of Nov 8th
Beautiful People of the Kingdom of Heaven No.8

OVERVIEW

Beautiful People – Episode 8: Doing the Will of the Father

In this final message of the Beautiful People series, Jesus brings His Sermon on the Mount to a powerful conclusion in Matthew 7:13–29, challenging us to move beyond simply hearing His teachings to actually putting them into practice.

Through four illustrations, "the narrow and wide gates, good and bad fruit, true and false disciples, and wise and foolish builders," Jesus reminds us that discipleship doesn't happen by accident. It requires intentionality, surrender, and obedience.

Following Jesus is more than knowing the right answers, attending church, or calling Him Lord. It's about trusting Jesus as both our Forgiver and Leader, allowing His grace to transform our priorities, relationships, decisions, and daily rhythms.

The central message is simple: Beautiful People of the Kingdom of Heaven do the will of the Father. And as we do His will, we learn to trust Him more.

KEY POINTS

Beautiful People aren't simply people who know about Jesus. They are people who know Him, trust Him, and intentionally practice His way of living, becoming people who are led by Jesus, shaped by grace, and moved by love.

SCRIPTURE

As we read aloud through these verses, let's pause, reflect, and listen for what Holy Spirit might be saying to you through the Word of God.

Key scriptures from the series.

  • Matthew 7:13–29

Jesus makes it clear that genuine discipleship involves more than hearing His words or acknowledging who He is. It requires trusting Him enough to put His teachings into practice.

OBSERVATION

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with four powerful illustrations that reveal what it means to genuinely follow Him.

  1. The narrow and wide gates — Following Jesus requires intentionality.

The wide road is easy, popular, and convenient, but it leads to destruction. The narrow road requires deliberate choices, surrender, and a willingness to live differently from the surrounding culture. We don't accidentally stumble into a life of discipleship; we intentionally choose to follow Jesus.

  1. Good and bad fruit — Our lives reveal what is happening in our hearts.

Jesus teaches that a tree is recognized by its fruit. What we say we believe should be reflected in how we live, give, serve, and love. Genuine faith produces visible evidence of transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit.

  1. True and false disciples — Knowing Jesus matters more than appearing religious.

Calling Jesus Lord or doing impressive religious activities is not the same as surrendering our lives to Him. Jesus desires a genuine relationship where we know Him, are known by Him, and allow His leadership to shape every area of our lives.

  1. Wise and foolish builders — Obedience builds a strong foundation.

Both builders experience storms, but only the house built on the rock remains standing. Jesus reminds us that storms are inevitable. What matters is the foundation we're building on. Hearing His words without practicing them is like building on sand.

The big takeaway: Following Jesus isn't about perfectionism. It's about intentionally surrendering our lives to Him, practicing His teachings, and allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out.

APPLICATION

Jesus challenges us to examine whether we are simply listening to His teachings or genuinely allowing them to shape how we live. It's easy to talk about faith, agree with Scripture, and participate in church activities while still making decisions based primarily on our own desires, comfort, and convenience. But Jesus invites us into something greater: a life of intentional discipleship where I trust Him enough to follow His lead.

This means asking ourselves some important questions:

  • Am I choosing the narrow road of following Jesus, even when it's uncomfortable or unpopular?

  • Does the fruit of my life reflect the character, values, and love of Jesus?

  • Have I truly surrendered every area of my life to Him, or am I still holding tightly to certain things?

  • Am I building my life on the solid foundation of Jesus' teachings or on the shifting sand of my own preferences?

This week, I can take one intentional step toward putting Jesus' teachings into practice. Whether it's choosing forgiveness, practicing generosity, serving others, strengthening my prayer life, or surrendering an area of my life I've been trying to control, I can choose to trust Jesus through obedience.

Faithing is trusting. And the more I practice trusting Jesus, the more I learn that His ways lead to life.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting me into a life that is built on something greater than my own desires, plans, and understanding. Thank You for Your grace that forgives me, transforms me, and empowers me to become more like Jesus. Forgive me for the times I have chosen the easy road instead of the narrow road. Forgive me for the times I have heard Your Word but failed to put it into practice, and for the moments when I have trusted my own way more than Yours.

Holy Spirit, help me become an intentional follower of Jesus. Teach me to surrender my priorities, relationships, finances, time, desires, and decisions to Your leadership. May the fruit of my life reflect Your goodness, humility, generosity, faithfulness, and love.

Help me build my life on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ so that when the storms of life come, my faith will remain rooted in You. I don't want to simply talk about following Jesus. I want to walk with Him, know Him intimately, and be known by Him. Continue transforming me from the inside out so that I can become a Beautiful Person of Your Kingdom, led by Jesus, shaped by grace, and moved by love.

Today, I choose to trust You as both my Forgiver and my Leader. May my thoughts, words, and actions bring glory to You.

In Jesus' name, amen.

 

WHAT NEXT? SERVE ON A TEAM
Next Steps

Our heart for you in taking a "Next Step" is to help you grow in becoming more and more like Jesus.

  • Invite. Everyone is only one invitation away from coming to church with you. We are here to reach 1% of our city. Take a step, be bold, bring someone to church with you Sunday.
  • Invest. Investing financially at BeLoved helps us to stay on mission. You can find the best way to give at belovedchurch.ca/give Take a step, start your faithful practice of tithes and offering.
  • Discover. Embark on the journey at belovedchurch.ca/grow Take a step and invest into your discipleship journey at BeLoved.
  • Serve. Jesus came to serve rather than to be served. Love on others like Jesus by jumping on a team and serving on the weekend at BeLoved. Help move God's great Church forward.
  • Get baptized. Congratulations! Take a step to "Go ALL IN for Jesus." Register online at belovedchurch.ca/baptism