1. Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.”

2. Looking for God What are we really looking for?

3. Are we really looking for God?

4. Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got. Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot. Wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows Your name. You wanna go where people know, people are all the same, You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

5. Genesis 4:26 "Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord." Psalm 42:2 "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." Isaiah 2:3 "And many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the house of God that He may teach us concerning His ways." Zechariah 8:23 "in those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest." Acts 17:27 "that they should seek God." Hebrews 11:6 "and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" 11:10 "for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

6. Why do some fail in their search for God? false expectations… weren’t prepared for what they found… The truth is, more will fail than succeed in this search for God (Matthew 7:13). Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;

7. Some will also fail in their search for God because they become victims of false teaching. Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

8. Sometimes a search for God is misguided by what we believe represents God. friendliness support & encouragement eloquent, enthusiastic, entertaining, & charismatic preachers fun, games, recreation, entertainment preaching & teaching that doesn’t require change

9. So what is the most important consideration when searching for God? John 8:31 “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

10. Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. How can you know that you have found God?

11. Do you know, nothing doubting, that if you were to die today that you would go to be with Jesus? Is your response to this question based on God’s word, His teaching, His Son’s Gospel? If you can’t confidently answer that question, what can we help you with today?