Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Text

47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.

And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.

When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.

Matthew emphasis building in two DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

Luke's speaks of a SIMILAR LOCATION

Emphases HOW DEEP someone places their foundation

Flood arose—“Refers to flash floods.

In dry climates like that of Palestine, the ground often could not absorb large amounts of rainwater, resulting in rapid flooding that could produce violent rivers.”—John

D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), .

Well built house survives

Poorly built house destroyed

Surface religion likes to HEAR all about religious things

Deep Relationship w/ God in the HEART—Loves to HEAR , but more importantly OBEY

*Problem w/ Christianity today—Entertaining Preaching over Application of Word of JESUS

I. COME TO JESUS AND STICK WITH HIM

Review at end of Sermon on Plain: Concentric Circles of Crowds

48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.

And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

12 Apostles Jesus chose right before

Crowd of disciples

Great Multitude from Judea, Jerusalem, seacoast of Tyre & Sidon

Ends message w/ urgency of transformation & not just walking away the same way you came

Tough times reveal what is in the heart

*Reason I came to Jesus > Girls at YoungLife

Then heard stories of Zaccaeus, lame man lowered from roof, woman caught in adultery, Jesus dying on cross

Gospel message at camp > Chose to follow Jesus & friends did not

Enemy tried to get me to leave Jesus > WOULD NOT DO IT

Trials of faith, persecution, health problems, financial worries

*Sponge in kitchen sink—Squeezing reveals junk inside > REVEALING & SANCTIFYING

“Refers to flash floods.

In dry climates like that of Palestine, the ground often could not absorb large amounts of rainwater, resulting in rapid flooding that could produce violent rivers.”—John

D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), .

Luke's speaks of a SIMILAR LOCATION

Emphases HOW DEEP someone places their foundation

Surface religion likes to HEAR all about religious things

Deep Relationship w/ God in the HEART—Loves to HEAR , but more importantly OBEY

*Problem w/ Christianity today—Entertaining Preaching over Application of Word of JESUS

Be like the blessed believer:

​

“Though he slay me, I will hope in him” .

Though he slay me, I will hope in him

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

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He sticks with you:

47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.

And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.

When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.Tough times reveal what is in the heartTrials of faith, persecution, health problems, financial worries*Sponge in kitchen sink—Squeezing reveals junk inside > REVEALING & SANCTIFYING

“Refers to flash floods.

In dry climates like that of Palestine, the ground often could not absorb large amounts of rainwater, resulting in rapid flooding that could produce violent rivers.”—John

D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), .

Matthew emphasis building in two DIFFERENT LOCATIONSLuke's speaks of a SIMILAR LOCATIONEmphases HOW DEEP someone places their foundationSurface religion likes to HEAR all about religious thingsDeep Relationship w/ God in the HEART—Loves to HEAR , but more importantly OBEY*Problem w/ Christianity today—Entertaining Preaching over Application of Word of JESUSBe like the blessed believer in :

James

​ ESVBlessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Outward PROFESSION is not as importance as OBEDIENCE

Quiet, humble, obedient believer looks to HIM for reward:

​ ESVFor am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?

Or am I trying to please man?

If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

*Ever do anything for God that only He knows?

(Giving, prayer, fasting mentioned by Jesus in )

​ ESV“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites.

For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Opinions of others is a flood that tests the heart of God’s childSo are other trials of lifeIf don’t obey in little things, how will you obey in difficult things?The Test Will Come: The great architect Frank Lloyd Wright was given the challenge of building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world.

Wright's investigation showed that a solid foundation could be "floated" on a sixty-foot layer of soft mud underlying the hotel, which would provide a shock­absorbing but solid support for the immense building.

Shortly after the hotel was completed it withstood the worst earthquake in fifty-two years, while lesser buildings fell in ruins around it.—Today in the Word, March, 7989, p. 6

Rock climbing: pushing self away from the rock is quite unnatural, but the only way to get tractionSo is obeying Jesus in the little things now UNNATURALBut it is what gives us traction!

CONCLUSION

What is the STATE OF YOUR HEART?

*Two Families In The ICU from ChurchOne was newborn with problem with internal organs; anther was HS girl who had heart attack (20 minutes of CPR)Families prayed, read their bibles, visitors from churchFloor had cold cynical atmosphere became warm & full of hopeOther parents came to Christ & hospital staff amazed at power of GodFamilies had doubts & faith shaken—Remained unmoved!Evidence of Genuine RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD

Outward PROFESSION is not as importance as OBEDIENCE

Quiet, humble, obedient believer looks to HIM for reward:

​ ESVFor am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?

Or am I trying to please man?

If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Opinions of others is a flood that tests the heart of God’s child

Opinions of others is a flood that tests the heart of God’s child

So are other trials of life

If don’t obey in little things, how will you obey in difficult things?

Opinions of others is a flood that tests the heart of God’s childSo are other trials of lifeIf don’t obey in little things, how will you obey in difficult things?The Test Will Come: The great architect Frank Lloyd Wright was given the challenge of building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, one of the most earthquake-prone cities in the world.

Wright's investigation showed that a solid foundation could be "floated" on a sixty-foot layer of soft mud underlying the hotel, which would provide a shock­absorbing but solid support for the immense building.

Shortly after the hotel was completed it withstood the worst earthquake in fifty-two years, while lesser buildings fell in ruins around it.—Today in the Word, March, 7989, p. 6

Rock climbing: pushing self away from the rock is quite unnatural, but the only way to get tractionSo is obeying Jesus in the little things now UNNATURALBut it is what gives us traction!

So is obeying Jesus in the little things now UNNATURAL

But it is what gives us traction!

II.

HEAR WHAT HE SAYS AND TAKE IT TO HEART

Context was what he taught in Sermon on Plain

Beatitudes

Woes

Loving Enemies

Being like Heavenly Father

Be Merciful, judge not, condemn not, give, & forgive

How to help brother in sin—Humbly admit own sin & empathetically take speck out of their eye