Welcome Worship 2023

Introduction

Who I am, UCC’s mission, what Reach is

Connect card and Fall Blitz events

Read Matthew 7:24-27

Probably heard this passage, maybe sang some VBS songs about it Why I chose this passage — the next 4 years will shape your life like none other (or, there’s a constant need to revisit our foundation b/c of our tendency to drift)

Explanation

There is a wise and a foolish way to live.

It takes care to live wisely (Eph. 5:15-17).

Our default is foolishness.

If we’re not careful, we assume the natural way of the world is wisdom (+ examples)

We’re really only presented with two options.

Storms come for the wise and foolish alike.

Wanting to hike the Narrows but flash flood warnings; dry ground would create flash floods and that was familiar to them. To us, he might say tornados. The storms are the same

Two attitudes

1) Life should be easier since I’m a Christian

2) Life would be so much easier if I were just a cultural Christian (+ examples)

Life in college will have its difficulties regardless—it’s not just that the rains fell, but they fell until a flood came (+ examples)

The specifics might look different, but the storms are there both the same

Elizabeth Elliot — not me in different circumstances, but Christ in me

To hear Jesus without obeying him is to welcome spiritual destruction.

v. 24 — Building on the foundation involves hearing and obeying.

It’s possible to hear and not build on the foundation if you don’t do anything with it.

The assumption is both groups are hearing. Interestingly, not comparing those who hear and don’t hear!

Wisdom means hearing and obeying God’s word…to hear and not obey is foolish.

“The Sermon on the Mount stands…as a proper antidote to…a gospel of cheap grace.” — Donald Hagner

Jesus is the trustworthy foundation.

Christianity is not an antidote to pain and suffering, it is a foundation for the storm

Object of our faith, not the measure of our faith — direction of our obedience, not our ability to obey (that we’re obeying the one who has already perfectly obeyed)

If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus as the firm foundation, do it today by obeying in baptism

Exhortation

Build every part of your life on the foundation of Jesus Christ.