"Foundations"

May 18, 2025

FBC Baxley

am service

Vow Renewal,Meet 5 min. after svc, Children’s missions tonight! _________________________________

Welcome radio and online guests…

Vision Statement: FBC Exists to Live & Share the Love of Jesus Christ, through worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry & Evangelism.

** I want you to know, GOD LOVES YOU!

*It’s ok however you’ve entered, we are all here seeking God’s will, way and plan.

Some rescued, redeemed, Some Saved….Some Not..

All Loved…

*Acts 4:12 (repeat)

*John 3:16

Sermon Title: Foundations

Scripture Passage: Matthew 7:24-29

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,

29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Psalm 11:3 “if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

PRAY-

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Three Points:

The Contrast of Construction

2. The Crisis of the Storm

3. The Consequence of the Foundation

Question before we even begin…What is it that your children experience you do most often??

-serve others

-share your faith

-personal worship

-some habit or addiction

—That’s what you are living to leave behind…

Opening Illustration: The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Despite its impressive design, the Leaning Tower of Pisa began to tilt just five years after construction began in 1173—because of a shallow, unstable foundation.

The ground looked solid, but it wasn’t deep enough to support the structure long term.

Likewise, Jesus says your life, marriage, and family will not survive long-term unless the foundation is the Word of God, obeyed and lived out.

-We cannot speak often enough or strong enough about the importance of the right Foundation!

Biblical Context

Matthew 7:24–29

These verses conclude Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), His first and most famous sermon.

He’s been teaching the ethics of the Kingdom—what true righteousness looks like.

-Have we lost sight of it in our culture???

He closes the sermon not with inspiration, but invitation and warning: merely hearing His words is not enough; doing them is the difference between survival and collapse.

In first-century Galilee, builders dug deep to find bedrock, not just surface soil.

It was time-consuming and difficult, but necessary to withstand the region’s sudden flash floods.

Jesus is comparing two lives, two foundations, and two outcomes—not externally visible at first, but dramatically exposed in crisis.

Psalm 11:3

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Written by David in a time of national crisis, likely during his flight from Saul or Absalom.

“Foundations” (shathah שָׁתָה) refers not just to physical support structures but to the moral, spiritual, and legal foundations of a society: justice, righteousness, truth.

When those are compromised, society becomes unstable—and the godly are left with one option: trust and cling to the Lord.

I. The Contrast of Construction v.24-25

Matthew 7:24–25

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Biblical Insight: Two builders, two houses, two foundations. Both hear Jesus, but only one obeys.

Greek Insight:

Wise — φρόνιμος (phronimos): practical, discerning.

Foolish — μωρός (moros): morally dull, unthinking.

Modern Contrast:

Today’s families build on career, comfort, or culture—not Christ.

Parents model worldly success, but not spiritual submission.

Roles are reversed or erased—God’s order is replaced with cultural redefinition.

“If you train your children to keep up with the Joneses but not with Jesus, don’t be surprised when they collapse under pressure.” — Unknown

Family Application: The wise family doesn’t just attend church—they practice biblical truth at home.

God’s Word must be the foundation, not the fallback.

II. The Crisis of the Storm

Matthew 7:27

27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Biblical Insight: Jesus doesn’t say if the storm comes—He says when.

In Israel, storms were rare but violent. Flash floods swept away poorly founded houses in the wadis (dry riverbeds).

Storm = trials, suffering, temptation, spiritual warfare.

Modern Contrast:

Families today are drowning in storms: anxiety, addiction, identity crises, disunity.

Instead of building strong beforehand, they patch leaks during the storm—turning to TikTok, self-help, or therapy rather than the truth of God’s Word.

Storms

Parental Separation: Approximately 50 million Americans have experienced a parental separation or divorce. Children are affected in roughly 90% of these cases, with 70% of separations involving disagreements over child custody and visitation rights.

Impact on Children: Children of separated parents are 2.5 times more likely to experience behavioral issues.

Digital Challenges: With 95% of American teens owning smartphones, parents face challenges related to screen time, online safety, and maintaining healthy digital habits within the family.

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) and Family Impact

Prevalence Among Children: Approximately 1 in 4 children in the U.S.—about 19 million—live with a parent who has a substance use disorder. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance among these parents, followed by cannabis, cocaine, and prescription drugs.

Youth Substance Use: Among adolescents aged 12 to 17:

12.78% reported using marijuana in the past year.

9.15% reported current alcohol use.

15% of high school students reported using illicit or injection drugs, including cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy.

According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey, 32% of high school students reported having had sexual intercourse at some point…

In 2023, 62.5% of Americans aged 12 and older reported drinking alcohol in the past year.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Approximately 28.9 million people aged 12 and older (10.2% of this age group) had AUD in the past year.

“A good example is far better than a good precept.” — D. L. Moody

Family Application: Teach your children that storms will come—but only Christ can make them stand.

Prayer, Scripture, and obedience are how families stormproof their homes.

III. The Consequence of the Foundation v.27

Matthew 7:27; Psalm 11:3

“if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

Biblical Insight:

Jesus says, “Great was its fall” — a complete ruin.

The word fall (Greek: πίπτω - piptō) refers to catastrophic collapse, not minor damage.

Psalm 11:3 reflects a society where moral and spiritual order has been dismantled.

But verse 4 says, “The LORD is in His holy temple.” God remains sovereign even when foundations fail.

Modern Contrast:

Families collapse even while looking great on Instagram.

Truth is relative. Sin is celebrated. Holiness is mocked.

But when truth, justice, and biblical order are removed, chaos fills the vacuum.

“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.” — D. L. Moody

Family Application:

It’s time to rebuild our spiritual foundations:

Fathers, take spiritual leadership.

Mothers, model godliness.

Children, learn submission to the Lord.

Three Final Family Applications

Inspect Your Family’s Foundation

Ask: “What are we building our life around?”

Make Scripture a daily authority, not a weekly accessory.

2. Invest in Obedience

Start doing what God says: forgive, give, serve, parent biblically.

Hold weekly family devotions—short, consistent, Christ-centered.

3. Influence Future Generations

Your family is a construction site for future legacy.

Build in a way that your grandchildren’s faith is shaped by your choices.

-Pray

-Invitation