Building A House That Stands | Matthew 7:24-27

Opening Remarks:

Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 7.

Thank you so much for coming today.

Thank you allowing us to minister to your kids

Fun…kids great job participating/listening

Focus was on book of Proverbs…specifically building our lives on God’s wisdom. You’ll hear some more about that in the program here in a few minutes, but I’d like to set the table if you will with Christ’s words in Matthew 7.

READ…Title: “Building A House That Stands”

Introduction: In Matthew 7, Jesus gives a parable, which is an every day that illustrates a spiritual truth. In today’s vernacular this story is about…

Two friends that residential lots with plans to build houses next to each other.

In order to save time and money, they choose the same floor plan, the houses will be the same size, they’ll have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms, everything.

They may choose different colors and finishes, but essentially build the same house.

But while they’re in the planning stages, one of them decides he wants some high end finishes that they can’t afford.

So rather than saving those to upgrade later, he says, “No one can see the foundation, so I’m going to do just enough on that part so our house can be more impressive in the more visible areas.”

So he and his wife run to Menards to pick some really nice solid wood flooring. They choose the best granite countertops and the fanciest cabinets.

All the while, his neighbor invests in a strong foundation. He pours footings, includes extra rebar, hires a company with the best reputation. Takes no shortcuts.

And the houses get built. They look the same. The only visible difference is one house has really nice finishes and the other has a strong foundation.

People walk into house #1 and say, “This is so much nicer than your neighbor’s house!” And the builders of house #1 sit back and admire their handiwork.

And things are good until June 2024 in Sioux Falls

Because the rains come down and the floods go up. And while the family in the less impressive house sit in a dry living room, unshaken by the wind and rain, the other family is starting to worry about the creaking sounds coming from the walls.

The winds get stronger and the house gets noisier. As the rain beats down, the water starts coming into the house underneath the walls. The walls begin to crack as the house shifts. The roof sways. And finally, one more devastating gust of that famous South Dakota wind brings that beautiful house crashing down. The water continues to rise and eventually the floods wash it all away.

The point of Jesus’ parable is:

The strength of a house is dependent on its foundation.

What you build on determines how long something stands.

And we say, “Of course. Everyone knows that. I would never build a house on a shaky foundation. That’s just silly.”

And I agree. That’s the point Jesus is making. We wouldn’t do that in the physical realm, but we tend to do that very thing spiritually all the time.

If you wouldn’t build a house with no foundation, why would you build your spiritual life on something faulty? What you build your life on determines how long you’ll stand.

There are some similarities between the two houses:

I. The Blueprints Were The Same

The only difference in the parable is the location of the house. The houses are the same. But the foundations are different.

So what foundation is Christ referring to?

The foundation mentioned is how a person responds to the truth of God’s Word.

Vs. 24 & 26 – Christ is talking about the person that hears His words.

Hearing wisdom was our theme on Monday night at VBS this week.

Jesus says, “Whosoever” or “Every one” that heareth these sayings of mine. What He’s saying, “The foundation of a strong life is the Word of God. The only reliable source of strength for our spiritual lives is God’s Word.”

There are two kinds of builders: Those who build their lives on the Bible and those who don’t. That means:

Where the Bible speaks, wise builders obey. Obedience is not just a lesson for kids. We need to be reminded about obedience to God.

Do we live how the Bible tells us we ought to?

Do we pay attention when the Bible says to be holy?

Do we obey when it describes how to train and discipline our kids?

Where it mentions the important role a church family plays in our lives, are we following God’s instruction?

God’s instructions apply to everyone. Rich or poor, raised in church or not, from this country or that country. It doesn’t matter. We all have the same blueprints.

The difference is not in the plans. The difference is in how closely the plans are followed.

There are two kinds of people: Those Who Obey God’s Word and Those Who Don’t. And you might think it’s not that important, except Jesus clearly says it is.

Every person in this room is in one of two categories: We’re either following the blueprints or we’re not. So, in this parable, the blueprints were the same. Second:

II. The Storm Was The Same

Both builders faced the same storm:

Vs. 25a - Rain, floods, winds

Vs. 27a - Rain, floods, winds

It wasn’t any worse for one than the other. Everybody faces storms. Everyone deals with hardships. Everybody faces tough circumstances.

That’s not minimizing what you’re dealing with, but everybody faces difficulties. Just understand, Christ is saying, “Just because you listen and obey God’s Word, that doesn’t mean you get to avoid the storms.”

Here’s where we might struggle: We think committing ourselves to Christ means life gets easier. But a mark discipleship is the endurance of suffering. If you choose the life of a disciple, you choose to accept some difficulties.

But here’s the difference - Choosing to obey God’s Word and build your life on truth means you have strength to stand against the storms because your foundation is built on something stronger than you are.

You’re going to face storms. Health problems, financial hardships, relationship issues, depression, disappointment. And if your foundation is faulty, that storm will lay you flat.

You must build your life on the sayings of Jesus Christ to have a chance against the storms of life.

So the Blueprints Are The Same. And the Storms Are the Same,

But…

III. The Outcomes Are Different

One house stands. One house falls .

We sometimes assume that failure comes because of the storms. But that’s not what Jesus says. He says failure comes when we fail to hear and do God’s Word.

If you listen and obey, you remain standing.

But if you don’t listen and don’t obey, you will fall flat.

The difference between a house that stands and a house that falls is a simple two letter word: DO.

If you hear and DO, your house will stand. If you hear and DO NOT, your house will fall.

The storms of life will prove the strength of your foundation.

Hearing is not enough. You must DO the sayings of Christ.

Doing makes the difference between standing and falling.

Our whole theme has been built on the idea of hearing God’s wisdom, then living it out in our words and actions. How we choose our friends, how we work for God, how we use our words.

Knowledge is what you know. But wisdom is applying what you know to real life. Wisdom means you take what you know and do something with it.

Illustration: Sometimes as a parent I find myself thinking, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

We want our kids to speak kindly, but it’s hard to do it ourselves. Or we want our kids to control their temper, but we struggle with it. We’ve got to be careful of that disconnect. Because information that doesn’t get acted on is simply knowledge. But information that is obeyed is wisdom. It is wisdom that builds a strong foundation.

We’ve got to be careful not to establish a shaky foundation for our children by failing to do something with God’s wisdom. If we do that in front of our kids, we are essentially building their spiritual houses with no foundation.

Because, remember, doing makes the difference between standing and falling.

Obedience to God’s Word is the key to a life that stands strong.

As parents, we must model hearing and doing God’s Word in front of our children. Because that’s the life God blesses.

Some of us are hanging in the balance. The rain is coming down. The floods are coming up. The wind is relentless.

Remember, it is your response to God’s Word that determines if you’re left standing or not.

I want to deal with two applications this morning:

1. Raising Kids

It’s the most rewarding work, yet the hardest work.

Being consistent is a daunting task.

Some days you think, “My children have been abducted and replaced by aliens.”

But before you throw in the towel, let me remind you that the Bible has a lot to say about raising children.

Truth #1 – Parents are responsible for the moral and spiritual education of their children.

Deuteronomy 6 makes it clear that it’s a parent’s responsibility to teach and train their children in the ways of God.

Your child’s most important education does not take place in a school. It takes place in the moral and spiritual lessons you as parents teach them from God’s Word at home.

That’s your responsibility. You are responsible for their moral education.

How are you doing at teaching your children God’s Word?

Eastside Baptist Church isn’t meant to replace parents. We want to help you, but rather than depending on us to do it all, let us help you become a disciple and then come alongside you as you raise your children for God.

You might say, “I don’t where to start!” Start with a church family in which you can grow. Before long, you’ll be helping your kids to grow.

You are also responsible to model for them what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. To know God.

But that means your relationship with God must be right.

So how are you doing in that area?

Truth #2 – Training is just as important as discipline.

We live in a reactionary culture. So parenting becomes reactionary. But it doesn’t have to be. It can be deliberate.

Don’t just discipline in reaction to disobedience. Train in anticipation of their obedience.

Parenting is a perfect blend of love, training, and discipline.

And we can easily get imbalanced. All three matter.

Discipline matters. And disciplining our children biblically makes a difference.

There’s a godly way to administer physical discipline at home in a loving and controlled manner.

If you spare the rod, you’ll spoil the child, the Bible says.

But training matters too. Prov. 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

That means you train, which takes work and time, which is why many homes never do it.

But train them on how to say no to temptation before it shows up.

Train them on how they shouldn’t throw a fit when they’re told no.

It’s possible and doable. It just takes hearing and DOING God’s Word.

Love matters as well. Balance the training and discipline with words and actions that clearly say, “I love you.”

We could spend many sermons talking about parenting principles. The point is, your house will have a strong foundation if you hear and do rather than simply hear. Doing is the difference between standing and falling.

2. Your Faith

We’re talking about foundations - No life can be strong without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We can build the nicest houses with the best finishes, but without that foundation, it will fall flat.

Here’s what the Bible says:

A. We all have a Problem – Sin

Isaiah 53 - All we like sheep have gone astray

Rom 3:10 - There is none righteous, no, not one

Rom 3:23 - For all have sinned and come short …

B. Sin has a Consequence – Death

Rom. 6:23 - For the wages…

Ezek. 18:20 - The soul that sinners, it shall die

C. There’s only one answer – Jesus

Rom. 5:8 – “But God commendeth His love toward us…”

Christ died on the cross in our place and rose again the third day. He’s alive, and He offers you eternal life.

D. Your responsibility is to accept Christ’s payment for your sins by faith.

Rom 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess…”

Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”

You are responsible for your faith. It’s a decision you make. And you can make it today.

Would you like to be saved today?

Would you like to have eternal life?

You can.

But remember: The difference between standing and falling is doing something with what you hear.

You’ve heard God’s Word. What will you DO with it?

Hearing isn’t enough. Unless you take the step of making a decision for Christ, your house will fall.

The storms lie ahead. Danger is coming. Every one of us will die and stand before Christ in judgment. And only those who’ve placed their faith in Christ as a response to God’s Word will remain standing.

Conclusion:

A lot of houses look alike. We’re good at presenting an image, especially in a screen-based culture. But only those who actually do something with God’s Word will be standing in the end.

I’m going to close with an image that I actually used last year.

Illustration: I heard about a house in the Florida panhandle whose owners decided to build it to survive a major hurricane. They “built it for the Big One.”

So they built the house out of poured concrete, reinforced it throughout with steel cable and rebar. They added additional reinforcement by bolstering the corners of the house. In essence, they built on a rock.

They also built it on elevated pilings to keep it above the floodwaters and reinforced those as well. They named it “The Sand Castle,” which seems like a misnomer to me. Maybe it was tongue in cheek.

In the fall of 2018, a Hurricane name Michael slammed Florida’s Mexico Beach, the city in which “The Sand Castle” is located. After Michael was done, extensive damage leveled much of the community, but there’s an image that presents the truth we’ve looked at this morning.

(SHOW PICTURE of Sand Castle)

That’s The Sand Castle after a major storm. This could be a picture of your spiritual life. All these houses faced the same storm. Many of them looked strong. But the one with the strongest foundation was left standing.

If you want a family that’s left standing, hear God’s Word and do it. If you want to have eternal life and remain standing, hear God’s Word and do it.

Are you built for the “Big One?”

You can’t avoid the storms, but you can remain standing.

You can’t avoid the difficulties of raising children, but if you follow God’s Word, you can drastically increase your chances of helping them achieve godliness. (house directly behind Sand Castle was left standing too)

You can’t avoid eternity, but if you’ll hear God’s Word and respond by admitting your sin and accepting Christ’s payment for your sin on the cross, you can remain standing with God for eternity.

All of this is dependent on whether or not you do something with what you’ve heard.

Will you do something today by making a decision for Christ?

What’s at stake is whether or not your life remains standing.

What’s at stake is whether or not you help your children remain standing.

What’s at stake is whether or not you spend eternity in Heaven.

There’s a lot at stake.

So don’t just hear. Hear and do.

Because the difference between standing and falling is what you do with God’s Word after hearing it.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Thank you

Pre-K and down can be picked up like normal

K-8th grade are outside on the inflatable

Love to have you stay for hot dogs/burgers while the kids play

Everyone is invited

Guests: Welcome Center card