Building a Strong Foundation in Christ's Truth

Today, we gathered to celebrate Jesus and reflect on the foundation of our faith. I shared a story about my own deck and garage, illustrating how a weak or neglected foundation leads to instability and eventual collapse. In the same way, our spiritual lives require a solid foundation—one built on the unchanging truth of Jesus Christ. We live in a time when truth is often challenged, not just from outside the church but from within, as people are tempted to pick and choose which parts of the faith to accept. Yet, the call of Christ is not to a faith of convenience, but to one rooted in the full, sometimes uncomfortable, truth of the gospel.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus is not just a comforting story, but a historical event that anchors our hope and gives meaning to our faith. If we compromise on this truth, or any essential part of the gospel, we introduce cracks into our foundation. Over time, these cracks widen, and our faith becomes vulnerable to collapse, especially when trials come. The resurrection is not just a doctrine; it is the very core of our hope, assuring us that Christ has conquered death and that we, too, have a future beyond this life.

We must be vigilant, returning again and again to scripture, testing every teaching and trend against the Word of God. The Christian life is not about following rules or trends, but about being transformed by the love and truth of Jesus. This transformation is not always easy; God often allows us to face challenges we cannot handle on our own, so that we learn to rely on Him. Our faith is not meant to be comfortable or culturally acceptable, but countercultural, marked by both uncompromising truth and radical love.

For those who feel the weight of a crumbling foundation, the invitation is simple: admit you can’t fix it on your own, believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection, and commit to letting Him rule your life. The truth of Jesus is a firm foundation that will not fail, no matter what storms come. Let’s hold fast to this truth, living it out with love, courage, and hope.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Foundation Determines the Future Just as a building’s stability depends on its foundation, so too does our faith depend on what we build it upon. If we base our lives on trends or partial truths, we may feel secure for a time, but eventually, instability will show. Only the unchanging truth of Jesus provides a foundation strong enough to withstand life’s storms and the pressures of culture. [37:14]
• 2. Truth Is Not a Buffet We are often tempted to pick and choose the parts of Christianity that suit us, ignoring the more challenging or uncomfortable teachings. This selective approach creates cracks in our spiritual foundation, making us vulnerable to further compromise and confusion. True discipleship means embracing the whole counsel of God, even when it confronts our preferences or cultural norms. [39:54]
• 3. The Resurrection Is Central, Not Optional Paul insists that the resurrection of Jesus is not just a comforting idea, but the very core of our faith. If we deny or downplay this truth, our entire faith loses its meaning and power. The resurrection assures us of God’s victory over death and gives us hope for our own future, anchoring us in something unshakable. [48:08]
• 4. God Allows Us to Face What We Cannot Handle Alone Contrary to popular belief, God does allow us to encounter situations beyond our own strength. These moments are not signs of His absence, but opportunities for us to rely on Him more deeply. Through our weakness, God’s strength is revealed, and our faith is refined and strengthened for what lies ahead. [56:24]
• 5. Hold Fast to Truth with Love and Humility In a world where truth is often seen as flexible, we are called to stand firm on the truth of Jesus, but always with love and humility. Speaking the truth without love alienates, while love without truth is empty. Our calling is to be both uncompromising in our convictions and relentless in our compassion, reflecting the heart of Christ to a world in need. [63:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [07:33] - Worship and Community Connection
• [11:32] - Introduction and Personal Story
• [33:14] - Lessons from a Sinking Deck
• [37:14] - The Importance of a Strong Foundation
• [39:54] - Pick-and-Choose Christianity
• [41:44] - Wrestling with Difficult Truths
• [43:45] - Don’t Trade Truth for Trends
• [44:51] - Paul’s Testimony and the Unchanging Gospel
• [48:08] - The Centrality of the Resurrection
• [49:07] - Philosophies That Undermine Faith
• [51:49] - Eyewitnesses and the Reliability of the Resurrection
• [53:08] - Cracks in the Foundation: The Danger of Compromise
• [56:24] - God’s Purpose in Our Weakness
• [57:49] - Returning to the Bible and Guarding the Truth
• [63:27] - Truth and Love: Living Counterculturally
• [64:41] - How to Make Jesus Your Foundation
• [66:34] - Prayer of Commitment
• [68:54] - The Danger of Redefining Truth
• [70:15] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-20 (ESV) —
> 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
> 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
> 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
> 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
> 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
> 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
> 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
> 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
> ...
> 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
> 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
> 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
> 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
> 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
> 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
> 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
> 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
> 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, what are the essential elements of the gospel he preached to the Corinthians?
2. What evidence does Paul give for the resurrection of Jesus?
3. In the sermon, what did Pastor Stephen’s story about his deck and garage illustrate about the importance of a foundation? [[33:14]]
4. What does Paul say happens to our faith if the resurrection is not true? [[48:08]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul make such a strong connection between the resurrection of Jesus and the foundation of our faith? What does this mean for how we view other parts of the gospel? [[48:08]]
2. The sermon talked about “pick and choose Christianity.” Why is it dangerous to only accept the parts of the Bible or faith that we like? [[39:54]]
3. Pastor Stephen said that God sometimes allows us to face things we can’t handle on our own. How does this challenge the common saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle”? [[56:24]]
4. What does it look like to “hold fast to truth with love and humility” in a culture that often sees truth as flexible? [[01:03:27]]

Application Questions

1. Pastor Stephen shared how a weak foundation in his deck led to instability. In your own life, what are some “foundations” you might be trusting in besides Jesus? How can you tell if your spiritual foundation is strong or weak? [[33:14]]
2. Are there parts of the Bible or Christian teaching that you find uncomfortable or hard to accept? How do you usually respond when you come across these? What would it look like to embrace the “whole counsel of God” even when it’s challenging? [[39:54]]
3. The resurrection is described as the “core of our hope.” How does believing in the resurrection affect the way you face difficulties, loss, or uncertainty about the future? [[48:08]]
4. Have you ever experienced a “crack in your foundation”—a time when your faith felt shaky or compromised? What contributed to that, and what helped you rebuild? [[53:08]]
5. The sermon said that God allows us to face things we can’t handle so we learn to rely on Him. Can you share a time when you felt in over your head and had to depend on God? What did you learn from that experience? [[56:24]]
6. In what ways are you tempted to “pick and choose” what you believe or follow in your faith? What steps can you take to be more rooted in the truth of Jesus, even when it’s countercultural? [[39:54]]
7. How can you practice holding fast to truth with both love and humility this week? Is there a specific relationship or situation where you need to speak truth, show love, or both? [[01:03:27]]