Matthew 7:28–29 | 6-Minute Read
Welcome back to The Narrow Way!
Well, here we are! Twelve weeks later, and we're officially wrapping up our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. I'll tell you what, when I first started writing this series, I had no idea just how much the Lord was going to teach me along the way. My hope was that we could spend some time in the words of Jesus together, learn what it looks like to follow Him, and encourage each other to actually live those things out.
And boy, has the Lord given me some opportunities to practice what I've been writing about!
Over these past twelve weeks, there's been a whole lot of golf, some incredible answered prayers, plenty of uncertainty, and quite a few moments where I've had to remind myself of the very things we've been studying. From preparing for Q-School and earning status on the MENA Tour to working through sponsorships, tournament schedules, and everything else that comes with professional golf, it's certainly been an exciting season.
And now, I'm getting ready for what could be my first three tournaments of the season in Cairo, Egypt!
There's a lot going into this next chapter. Between practice sessions, working on my fitness, preparing to compete in the wind, and getting all the travel logistics figured out, I've got plenty to keep me busy. I genuinely believe my game is good enough to win out there, and I'm going to do everything I can to show up prepared and compete my butt off.
But one of the biggest things Jesus has been teaching me throughout this series is that I can prepare with everything I've got while still trusting Him completely with the outcome.
Because at the end of the day, He's sovereign over all of it.
The Authority of Jesus
At the very end of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew writes:
"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." — Matthew 7:28–29
I love how Matthew ends this.
For three chapters, Jesus has been teaching about everything from loving our enemies and forgiving others to prayer, worry, money, and what it means to genuinely know Him. And when He finishes, the crowds are amazed because He's not teaching like anyone they've ever heard before.
He's speaking with authority because He is the Son of God.
And I think that's something we need to remember as we wrap up this series. These aren't just some helpful life lessons from a really wise teacher. These are the words of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who came to rescue us from our sin through His death and resurrection.
We're not trying to earn our way into heaven by becoming better people. We're learning what it looks like to follow the One who has already made a way for us to have a relationship with the Father.
And the more time I spend getting to know Him, the more I realize how much I need Him in every part of my life.
He's Sovereign Through It All
Something I've been thinking about quite a bit lately is how easy it is to let the things happening around us dictate how we feel.
Turn on the news for five minutes, and there's plenty to worry about. Look at your finances, your career, your family, or whatever uncertainty you're facing, and it doesn't take long to find something that could keep you up at night.
But here's what I've been learning.
Just because things feel uncertain to me doesn't mean they're uncertain to God.
Psalm 103:19 tells us:
"The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all."
How good is that?
God isn't sitting up in heaven wondering what He's going to do about everything happening in the world. He's not surprised by the headlines, the economy, or whatever situation you and I might be walking through.
He's sovereign over it all.
Now, that doesn't mean everything is going to work out exactly how we want it to. I might get into all three tournaments in Cairo, or I might not. I might play some incredible golf, or I might have a week where absolutely nothing seems to go my way.
But none of those outcomes change who God is.
My responsibility is to prepare, be faithful with what He's given me, and do the next right thing. I can make plans, work hard, and pursue the goals He's placed on my heart without allowing those things to become the foundation of my life.
Because my foundation is Jesus, not my golf score, my tournament schedule, or what the world happens to be doing that day.
And I'll tell you what, there's a tremendous amount of freedom in that.
The Narrow Way Doesn't End Here
As I look back on these twelve weeks, one of my favorite things about this series is that we've been able to walk through the words of Jesus while experiencing real life together.
We've talked about being salt and light, loving people who are difficult to love, bringing our worries to the Lord, and building our lives on the rock.
But here's the thing. None of those teachings were meant to stay on the pages of a blog.
They're meant to change how we live.
For me, that means being a better husband, treating the guys I compete against with respect, extending grace when someone frustrates me, and spending time with Jesus even when my schedule is packed.
I'm not going to get all of that right every day, and that's exactly why I'm so thankful for His grace and the Holy Spirit continuing to work in my life.
There's a quote I've been coming back to lately:
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."
I absolutely love golf, and I want to accomplish some pretty incredible things in this game. But even if I won the Masters every year, those trophies would only matter for a little while compared to eternity.
What I do with the opportunities the Lord gives me to make Him known matters so much more.
And that brings us to what's coming next.
What's Next for Golf Church?
Next week, we're kicking off an entirely new series called The Walk: Following Jesus Beyond Sunday!
Over the past twelve weeks, we've been studying the words of Jesus and learning what it means to follow Him. But something I've been thinking about is how easy it can be to hear a great message on Sunday, feel encouraged, and then get so caught up in everything happening throughout the week that we forget to actually live it out.
And that's exactly what I want us to dive into next.
What does following Jesus look like on a random Tuesday afternoon? What about when work gets stressful, someone frustrates you, your plans fall apart, or nobody's around to see the decisions you're making?
For me, that's going to mean sharing more of what following Jesus looks like while preparing for and competing on the MENA Tour, being a husband, working toward my goals, and navigating whatever life throws our way.
We're going to talk about what it means to walk with Jesus daily, not just know about Him or spend an hour with Him on Sunday.
I'm really excited about this next chapter of Golf Church, and I hope you'll join me!
Because following Jesus isn't something we do once a week. It's how we're called to live every single day.
Pray With Me
Heavenly Father, thank You for these past twelve weeks and for everything You've taught us through Your Word. Thank You for sending Jesus to make a way for us to know You.
Help us remember that no matter what's happening in the world or in our own lives, You are sovereign over it all. Teach us to prepare faithfully, trust You with the outcomes, and continue growing closer to You every day.
Holy Spirit, help us take everything we've learned and actually put it into practice. Give us the courage to follow Jesus wherever He leads and use the opportunities You've given us to make Him more known.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Take It to the Tee
As we finish The Narrow Way, I've got one final question for you.
Am I simply learning what Jesus teaches, or am I actually living like I believe Him?
We've spent twelve weeks studying the Sermon on the Mount, and I'd encourage you to go back through Matthew 5–7 sometime this week. Ask the Lord to show you what He's been teaching you and where He wants you to continue growing.
And while you're at it, start thinking about what you're pursuing in your own life.
What gets the majority of your attention? What are you spending your time preparing for? And most importantly, where does Jesus fit into all of that?
Because that's exactly where we're headed next week.
I'm going to keep working toward the PGA TOUR, preparing for tournaments, and chasing some pretty big goals. But more than anything, I want to become a man who knows Jesus more deeply and uses every opportunity He's given me to point people back to Him.
Thank you for spending these past twelve weeks walking The Narrow Way with me. I hope the Lord has used this series to encourage you as much as He's used it to challenge me.
The series might be ending, but our walk with Jesus certainly isn't.
Next week: The Walk — Following Jesus Beyond Sunday.
We've spent twelve weeks learning what it means to follow Jesus. Now let's walk together as we learn to live it out.
Know Him and make Him more known.
See you next week!