Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 21:42

Matthew 21:42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

An elderly master carpenter was ready to retire.

He told his employer of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.

He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.

It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter.

“This is your house,” he said, “my gift to you.”

What is a cornerstone, anyway?

Cornerstone-A foundation stone at the base of a building.

Ok, why is that important?

That’s important because we need to understand and then examine our foundation.

The word foundation means-an underlying base or support, a body or ground upon which something is built up or overlaid...

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Cornerstone.

Term used in the NT to describe the exalted position of Jesus.

In relation to architecture, a cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid for a structure, with all other stones laid in reference.

A cornerstone marks the geographical location by orienting a building in a specific direction.

A cornerstone serves 2 purposes that i want to check out this morning.

First, it is the first stone laid upon which everything else is built.

It provides a base, strength, structure for everything that will come later.

I would say that is pretty important, wouldn’t you?

Second, it orients the building.

That means the cornerstone establishes the position of the structure in relation to the surroundings.

The building is facing certain things and facing away from certain things.

Thanks for the lesson in architecture, preacher.

What does that have to do with me?

This.

Ephesians 2:19-22 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

1 Peter 2:4-6 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.””

There are so many things that we can build our lives upon, but only one will stand the test of time.

This is a brand new year, what better time to make the changes that you need to make?

I’m not talking about resolutions.

I’m talking about permanent, life altering changes.

Perhaps you have started building on things that were never meant to be built on.

Or maybe you need God to face you in the right direction.

Whatever your need is today, He is able and capable.