4 - Build On A Solid Foundation

Introduction

The purpose of this series, The Kingdom Is Near – is to give us an understanding of what the Kingdom of God really is about, how we become part of the Kingdom, and how Kingdom people live. It’s not about following rules, obeying the letter of the law, or being good.

Several things I would like us to understand as I teach through the parables. The Kingdom Is Near means Jesus walked among human flesh in human flesh, called people out to follow, planted His Kingdom in their hearts, and sent them out to do the same.

He fulfilled the law (Matt. 5:17). He translated the law into understandable actions, gave His Spirit to remain and transform our hearts so we could actually live what He taught. The parables are stories and examples of how to live out Kingdom principles.

Jesus lays out the Kingdom foundation

The Sermon on the Mount/Plain gives a good foundation of principles translated from the law into heart attitudes.

The Sermon on the Mount is a deeper study for another time. For now, we want to understand that Jesus presented the New Kingdom with the King preparing His bride

The Beatitudes are basically the outline for the sermon. Jesus said here are the “big ideas” that I’m going to teach.

Lessons in Luke are similar to Matthew, although not as many. Both start with the Beatitudes and end with the

Surveying the foundation - Sermon on the Mount

Follow Along beginning in Matthew 5

The Introduction

Beatitudes – Matt 5:1-12 sermon outline, major points or big ideas, Kingdom values.

Salt and Light – Matt 5:13-16, Salt of the earth, light of the world – live out the values.

Fulfillment of the Law – Matt 5:17-20 Jesus not here to abolish but to fulfill the Law. Practice and Teach.

(Now Jesus gets into the heart of the matter with the matters of the heart)

Dealing directly with the Law.

Murder – Matt 5:21-26 Not just physical murder, but anger and hate in the heart. Vv.25-26 practical = settle quickly with adversary, spiritual = reconcile with the King.

Adultery – Matt 5:27-30 Not just physical unfaithfulness, but lust in the heart. Vv.29-30 practical = cut off the offending part, spiritual = cut off the offending causes of temptation

Divorce – Matt 5:31-32 Not just a termination of a legal agreement, but a violation of hearts that united as one. Seriousness of marriage vows.

Vows, Oaths, Truthful speech – Matt 5:33-37 Not an outward attachment to something greater, but a simple, reliable, truthful answer and agreement from the heart.

Legal Rights/Retaliation – Matt 5:38-42 Not an outward demand for rights and retaliation, but a heart attitude that doesn’t keep score and considers others first. (Philippians 2:3)

Enemies – Matt 5:43-48 Not only loving those who love you, but a heart of nondiscrimination in loving even those who oppose us. Reflect the character of God.

Dealing with Spiritual Disciplines

Charity – Matt 6:1-4 Not publicly for personal gain, but discreetly to let the light of Jesus shine on others.

Prayer – Matt 6:5-13 Not from the head or for recognition, but from the heart in humility before the Father. To align our hearts with Him.

Forgiving – Matt 6:14-15 Not selective forgiveness, but a heart attitude of not holding on to wrongs. Our level of forgiving sets our level of forgiveness.

Fasting – Matt 6:16-18 Not outwardly to be recognized, but with a heart humble before the Father.

Finances/Giving – Matt 6:19-24 Not hoarding and stingy, but with a generous heart investing in the Kingdom by investing in others.

Dealing with negative heart attitudes

Anxiety (referring back to the finances) – Matt 6:25-34 Do not be anxious about basic provision, but v.33 pursue God with a heart satisfied in His goodness. He will provide. Pictures of birds of the sky and wildflowers of the field.

Judging – Matt 7:1-6 Not with a heart of criticism, but with a heart of purity and humility encouraging and exhorting a brother. Log/speck illustration. Dogs/pigs analogy.

Asking – Matt 7:7-11 Not refraining or fearing, but with a heart of expectancy asking a loving Father.

Summary = Golden Rule – Matt 7:12 Treat others with a heart of love as you would want to be treated.

Narrow Gate, difficult path parable/analogy – Matt 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate. Jesus. Path to life can be difficult. Sheep/wolf analogy

Jesus is saying this is a difficult journey. Not easy believe-ism. All you have to do is pray a prayer? Just receive Him. Just ask Jesus in your heart.

Final Warnings

False Teachers – Matt 7:15-20 Knowing the tree by its fruit. The outward expression of what is growing in the heart. Tainted, rotten core. Destruction for the bad tree.

Superficial/false Discipleship – Matt 7:21-23 doing activity but not with a heart of obedience to the will of the Father and the word of Jesus.

(Pat Morley – Don’t ask what do I want, but what does the Master require)

Luke records Jesus as asking, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?”

The Solid Foundation

Matthew 7:24–29 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Foundation of Jesus’ teaching

Therefore = “because false disciples will not enter the Kingdom of heaven”

Everyone who hears and puts into practice

Not hears and agrees, or hears and accepts. Active

Matthew 7:28–29 NIV

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Head knowledge and rule following? or True heart transformation

That brings us to ...

Foundation of Jesus’ authority

The Father’s Will

Matthew 7:21 NIV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus as Judge

Matthew 7:22 NIV

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

Luke 6:46 NIV

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Foundation of Jesus as the rock.

Matthew 7:24 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Luke 6:48 NIV

They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

The alternative to building on the rock is building on ...

The Foundation of Destruction

Matthew 7:26 NIV

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Luke 6:49 “on the ground without a foundation.”

Matthew 7:27 “fell with a great crash”

Luke 6:49 “its destruction was complete”

Story of Sentani Flood (2007)

Picture of the Sentani flood

Big Idea: Build your life on the solid rock foundation, Jesus Christ

What About You?

We all mess up. We all get carried away in our temptations and sin.

Sometimes we take our eyes off the track and get off the rails.

Sometimes we are simply blindsided by life’s situations.

The sand washes out from under the structure we build around ourselves. We may even be devastated.

For each of us when we find the sand washing away, it’s time to dig a new foundation.

As a church, it is also time to dig a new foundation.

Let’s get our hearts right first. Let’s learn together what Jesus requires. Let’s work together to rebuild the foundation on the solid rock. Jesus Christ.