Topical Sermon Preparation | Obedience

Topical

Series of statements

Text: Luke 6:46-49. NLT

Title: HOW ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR HOUSE?

Subject: How do we have a consistent and peaceful life?

Compliment: By building your life on the foundation of the Word.

Thesis: I want people to know that having a peaceful and consistent life only comes when you build it on the foundation of the Word.

Introduction

Illustration

John really prided himself on quickly completing exams. One day an exam began with these simple instructions: “Read through the entire exam first before answering any questions.” But quickly proceeding to work through each question, John ignored the instruction. He was soon astonished to see several classmates getting up and turning in their exams. “Apparently, they didn’t study for this exam like I did,” he concluded.

An hour later, he found himself alone, finishing up the exam. When he finally got to the last question, it read: “Do not answer any questions on this exam. Just write your name at the top of the page and turn it in!”

The student’s heart sank. He had failed, because he would not follow simple instructions. People who fail to follow God’s instructions will fail a lot more than just an exam—they will fail at life.

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2003), 87.

Start Digging

Dig deeper into what Jesus has for you.

Some may only want a surface-level relationship with Christ.

They get saved, and that's enough for them

They never get deeper into the things of God.

I have heard others say to me, “I'm not as serious as you are.” Or “ you take this church thing too seriously.”

My friend, you can never take the things of God seriously enough.

1 Co 2:10–12. 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

Dig deep and find what the Word means and what God wants to do in your life.

Time to Build

Lay the foundation

You can not have a strong house without a strong foundation.

A weak foundation can look good and perfect from the outside, but time and circumstances will tell what it is truly made of.

Apply what Jesus says to do

28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Lk 11:28.

There is more than just listening to what Jesus says.

You have to put into practice what He tells you to do.

James 1:22-25, 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Cant be Shaken

Floods will come.

John 16:33.33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The floods may come, and the storms of life may be blowing in around you, but Jesus said that He has overcome everything in the world.

If Christ lives in you, then you have the same spirit as Jesus.

If He overcame everything, then you can overcome anything.

Strong foundation

Keep Christ as the rock of your foundation

When you have Jesus as your rock, no matter what comes, you will overcome it in Jesus name

Conclusion

So what kind of house do you want to build?

One made of sand

Or one made of rock

A call for people to make Christ their rock foundation.

Pray.