On the Rock

Intro

Home search —> Looking into building —> Reading tons of builder reviews —> Learning how important it is to have the right foundation

>>> What’s true for our homes is true for our lives as well. What you build your life on matters—and it makes all the difference.

Scratch Sheet

It’s the difference between those who, despite the storms and disappointments of life, are able to press on and endure, and those who become immobilized/stuck whenever life throws them more than they can handle.

You’ve seen this. Someone goes through a trying/difficult time and still exhibits joy and peace. Another goes through something similar and their world comes to a screeching halt.

>>> What you build your life on matters and it begins by choosing the right foundation.

Choosing the Right Foundation

Matthew 7:24–27 NLT

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

We discover here two kinds of people:

Those who build their house on solid rock — They obey, listen to the Word of God, apply it to their lives...

And those who build their house on the sand — They ignore, do things their own way, throw out the instruction manual

One is called wise, the other foolish…

Here’s the great news—You get to pick!

WHY

You are wise ()

You won’t collapse ()

Context of Sermon on the Mount

Those who are: poor, mourn, humble, hunger and thirst for justice, merciful, hearts are pure, work for peace, persecuted for doing right

Jesus is getting ready to present a radically different message than the people are accustomed to. He’s warning them ahead of time—this isn’t going to be easy.

If you’re built on the wrong foundation, you’re never going to make it.

When the winds of culture and society assail you, you won’t have the fortitude to stand strong.

Try building your life on: your career, your spouse, your success, your family/kids

The winds of culture are ever changing. The bar is ever moving. What looks like success today, can be considered failure tomorrow.

Jesus later in Matthew describes another foundation:

Matthew 13:20–22 NLT

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.

Problems, persecution, worries of life, lure of wealth

Listen, you can pick out the best of the best to build your home. Granite, quartz, and marble countertops. Stone tubs and infinity pools. Built-in cabinetry. Geothermal heating and cooling systems. Top of the line theater and entertainment setup. All the smart home devices your heart can handle. All of it means nothing if it’s built on the wrong foundation.

HOW

Dig deep and lay a solid foundation ()

Listens and follows Christ’s teaching

Not just hearers, but doers ()

1. Know It

Psalm 119:11 NLT

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

All Scripture is useful…

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

We spend so much time trying to get God’s Word to line up with our life and what we believe. Paul says, “You’ve got it backwards.” We’ve got to allow God to change the we think—only then will we know His good, please, and perfect will for our life.

2. Grow It

1 Timothy 4:6 NLT

If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.

God’s Word should nourish our lives. It should grow, and be living and active. It’s influence should spread until every area of our lives are impacted.

Matthew 4:4 NLT

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

We’ve got to allow the Word of God to grow in our hearts

You are what you eat...

You are what you eat...

Our faith isn’t so much about what we know, it’s about WHO we know

We ought to know Jesus as well as a forgiven sinner can

It isn’t enough to simply know about Christ. To know His commands and what He expects of His followers. We must know Christ Himself.

It’s the difference between religion and relationship.

Religion - Here’s a list. Go do it. — Maybe you’ve experienced that before.

Relationship - Take my yoke upon you. Learn from me. Find rest for your souls. I’ll never leave you nor forsake you. Take heart, I’ve overcome the world. It’s not always going to be easy, but I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

How have you been approaching God?

Matthew 4:4 NLT

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 6:52 NLT

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

John 6:53 NLT

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.

John 6:35 NLT

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

man does not live on bread alone

You want to be full? You want to be satisfied? Let my Word, my teaching, my love, my peace, my joy, my patience, my goodness, my faithfulness… grow in your life.

nurishes the soul

3. Show It

James 1:22–25 NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 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.

You’ve got to walk this out.

So much of following Christ is doing the next right thing.

Faith without works is dead...

THE RESULT

>>> Did you catch what James said? He said, if you do what the Word commands and don’t forget what you heard, you will be blessed. That’s the result of building your life on the rock—God’s blessing and favor in your life.

Ephesians 4:13–15 NLT

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

If you want to stand firm, than you’ve got to build your life on the Rock that won’t move. He’s a sure foundation. The Rock on which you can stand and the only One worth building your life upon.

Psalm 16:11 NKJV

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Fullness of joy can be yours — pleasures forevermore.

Don’t get stuck… There’s just too many rules. Get out of here. That’s weak. It’s not even accurate. Clickbait, fake news.

Better or worse: Didn’t commit adultery, Honored father/mother, Didn’t lie/cheat/steal, Forgave instead of bitterness.

Jesus didn’t come to rob you of life—He came that you might have life to the full!

Is yours… wisdom, peace, fruit of the spirit, help in your trial, forgiveness, healing, etc...

Every promise is yes and amen

You can be sure of it, because the Rock won’t move. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Alpha/Omega, beginning/end. Though heaven and earth may pass away, the Word of our Lord endures forever. Though the grass may wither and the flowers may fall, our God’s Word last forever.

WE

Song: The Rock Won’t Move

Communion

Lord’s Supper

Bread

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 NLT

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Cup

Cup

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 NLT

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

​ NLTIn the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Final Remarks