Building on the Solid Foundation of Christ
Summary
In Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by emphasizing the importance of building our lives on a solid foundation. This foundation is not trivial; it is Jesus Christ Himself. The passage contrasts two types of people: those who hear Jesus' words and act on them, and those who hear but do not act. The wise person builds their life on the rock, which is Christ, ensuring stability and resilience in the face of life's storms. In contrast, the foolish person builds on sand, leading to inevitable collapse when adversity strikes.
The essence of this teaching is that our actions must align with our professed beliefs. Hearing the word of God is not enough; it must be accompanied by obedience. This obedience is not what saves us, but it demonstrates our faith and relationship with Christ. Salvation is through Christ alone, and our lives should reflect that we are part of His kingdom. Jesus has the authority to demand obedience because He is the foundation upon which we build our lives.
The world often offers a different perspective, valuing temporary things over eternal truths. However, Jesus calls us to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that the things of this world are temporary. Our focus should be on the kingdom of God, living as citizens of that kingdom by following Jesus' teachings. This requires a shift in our understanding of reality, acknowledging that true wisdom comes from hearing and doing what Jesus commands.
As we evaluate our lives, we must ask ourselves if we are truly building on the foundation of Christ. Are we hearing and doing, or merely hearing? Jesus' teachings challenge us to examine our actions and ensure they align with His commands. This is not about perfection but about striving to live according to His word, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our foundation is not trivial; it must be Christ, and our lives should reflect that truth.
Key Takeaways:
1. Foundation in Christ: Building our lives on Jesus Christ as our foundation ensures stability and resilience. This foundation is not trivial; it is essential for enduring life's storms. Our actions must align with our professed beliefs, demonstrating our faith in Christ. [04:14]
2. Hearing and Doing: Merely hearing the word of God is insufficient; it must be accompanied by obedience. Our actions reflect our relationship with Christ and our place in His kingdom. This obedience is not what saves us but demonstrates our faith. [06:28]
3. Eternal Perspective: The world values temporary things, but Jesus calls us to live with an eternal perspective. Our focus should be on the kingdom of God, living as citizens of that kingdom by following Jesus' teachings. [18:41]
4. Authority of Jesus: Jesus has the authority to demand obedience because He is the foundation upon which we build our lives. Our lifestyle demonstrates whether we believe in the authority of His words. [27:54]
5. Evaluation and Action: We must evaluate our lives to ensure we are building on the foundation of Christ. This involves hearing and doing, not just hearing. Our actions should align with Jesus' commands, empowered by the Holy Spirit. [32:30]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:12] - Introduction to the Foundation
- [02:21] - Importance of Actions
- [03:20] - Hearing and Doing
- [04:14] - Building on the Rock
- [05:17] - The Wise Person
- [06:28] - Action is Required
- [07:27] - The Present Active Verb
- [08:43] - Firm Foundation in Christ
- [10:09] - Salvation Through Christ Alone
- [12:13] - Demonstrating Our Foundation
- [13:44] - Adversity and Strength
- [14:55] - Building on Sand
- [16:40] - Foolishness and Reality
- [18:41] - Eternal Perspective
- [19:46] - Living for the Kingdom
- [21:22] - Actions Demonstrate Faith
- [23:01] - Consequences of Ignoring Christ
- [25:06] - Authority of Jesus
- [27:54] - Evaluation and Action
- [30:20] - Striving to Obey
- [32:30] - Call to Evaluation
- [34:10] - Building on the Right Foundation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 7:24-29
- James 1:22-25
- 1 Corinthians 3:11
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 7:24-29, what are the two types of people Jesus describes, and what distinguishes them from each other? [04:14]
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to build one's life on the rock, and how is this related to Jesus' teachings? [08:43]
3. How does James 1:22-25 complement the message in Matthew 7:24-29 about hearing and doing? [03:20]
4. What does 1 Corinthians 3:11 say about the foundation we should build upon, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message? [10:09]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of both hearing and doing His words in the context of building a strong foundation? [06:28]
2. How does the sermon explain the consequences of building on sand versus building on rock, and what does this imply about our daily choices? [14:55]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the authority of Jesus and how it should influence our actions and decisions? [27:54]
4. How does the concept of an eternal perspective challenge the way we prioritize our lives according to the sermon? [18:41]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life foundation. Are there areas where you might be building on sand rather than rock? What steps can you take to shift your foundation to Christ? [32:30]
2. Consider a recent decision or action. Did it align with Jesus' teachings? How can you ensure your future actions reflect His words more closely? [06:28]
3. How do you respond to adversity? Does your reaction demonstrate a foundation built on Christ? What changes can you make to strengthen your resilience? [13:44]
4. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to obey Jesus' teachings. What practical steps can you take this week to begin aligning your actions with His commands? [33:28]
5. How can you cultivate an eternal perspective in your daily life? What specific changes can you make to focus more on the kingdom of God rather than temporary worldly things? [18:41]
6. Reflect on the authority of Jesus in your life. Do you truly believe in His authority, and how does this belief manifest in your daily decisions and actions? [27:54]
7. Evaluate your spiritual practices. Are you merely hearing the word, or are you actively doing it? What is one specific action you can take this week to move from hearing to doing? [04:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Building on the Rock of Christ
Building our lives on Jesus Christ as our foundation ensures stability and resilience. This foundation is not trivial; it is essential for enduring life's storms. Our actions must align with our professed beliefs, demonstrating our faith in Christ. [04:14]
Isaiah 28:16 (ESV): "Therefore thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'"
Reflection: Consider a recent challenge you faced. How did your faith in Christ provide stability during that time, and how can you strengthen this foundation further?
Day 2: The Call to Obedience
Merely hearing the word of God is insufficient; it must be accompanied by obedience. Our actions reflect our relationship with Christ and our place in His kingdom. This obedience is not what saves us but demonstrates our faith. [06:28]
James 1:22-24 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you hear God's word but struggle to act on it. What practical steps can you take today to align your actions with His teachings?
Day 3: Living with an Eternal Perspective
The world values temporary things, but Jesus calls us to live with an eternal perspective. Our focus should be on the kingdom of God, living as citizens of that kingdom by following Jesus' teachings. [18:41]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily priorities. How can you shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal values in your decisions and actions today?
Day 4: Recognizing the Authority of Jesus
Jesus has the authority to demand obedience because He is the foundation upon which we build our lives. Our lifestyle demonstrates whether we believe in the authority of His words. [27:54]
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV): "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'"
Reflection: In what ways does your life reflect the authority of Jesus? Identify one area where you can more fully submit to His authority today.
Day 5: Evaluating Our Foundation
We must evaluate our lives to ensure we are building on the foundation of Christ. This involves hearing and doing, not just hearing. Our actions should align with Jesus' commands, empowered by the Holy Spirit. [32:30]
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (ESV): "For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done."
Reflection: Take a moment to evaluate your spiritual foundation. What is one specific action you can take this week to ensure you are building on the solid foundation of Christ?
Quotes
Our lives must be more than mere words, because words mean nothing without...actions, right? We can tell our kids things like that, actions speak louder than words. Our big idea this morning, our foundation is not trivial. Our foundation is not trivial. And so the title of today's message is Jesus, Our Foundation.
The wise person is the one who hears and does what Jesus says. We're going to be real basic today. We're going to be real simple today because Jesus, as he's laying this out, is very simple. He's not trying to confuse anyone. He's not trying to mess us up. He's saying, listen, this is what it boils down to.
The word hear, it means to listen, to comprehend. And can we hear something? Can we hear something and not be changed by it? We can. Absolutely. We hear things all the time that do nothing to us. Raising kids. Have you ever told your kids to do something? And you follow up, oh, I didn't hear you.
This foundation that we are to build our lives on, this foundation that we're building on when we hear and when we do, is the person of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse number 11, it says, For no one can lay a foundation other than that which he has built upon.
Christ came, he died for you and for me. He died for our sins. Scripture tells us that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. of sins scripture tells us that we are lost in our sins scripture tells us the wages the payment of sin is death but it also tells us the gift of god is eternal life from jesus christ our lord.
Salvation comes through Christ, and it comes through Christ alone. So we have this foundation that's through Christ, but our lives demonstrate whether we have built on that foundation. We have to catch that. The foundation is Christ. The rock is Christ, but our lives demonstrate whether he is that foundation.
Adversity does not stop, it does not topple, it does not end the wise one who has heard and done what Jesus has said. Because that foundation, being built on the foundation of Christ, has given the strength to stand. It doesn't fall because the foundation is Jesus Christ.
Notice the only difference is the action. Both groups he's addressing, both people he's addressing have heard the words of Christ. The difference is whether they act on them. He says the person who hears. And ignores. The one who hears and does not do has built on the sand, and this is a foolish person.
The world teaches us nothing like Jesus teaches us. But everything we see modeled in the world around us is based on the wisdom of the world. It's based on what the world tells us works. It's based on what the world tells us we need. And Jesus comes and he teaches here in the Sermon on the Mount.
A religion which costs us nothing and consists in nothing but hearing sermons will always prove at last to be a useless thing. It is more than just hearing. We must do because. hear me again, the doing is not what saves us. The doing is what demonstrates that we are saved, that we know Jesus, that we are part of his kingdom, that he is our foundation.
The one who says, I know Jesus, the one who hears but does not do, is foolish, is a liar. and when adversity comes verse 27 rain fell, floods came the wind blew, people in that house and it fell and great was the fall adversity comes and it crushes this person we ignore Jesus' commands we do not live as he's called us to live, we have no strength we have no ability to stand because we are built on sand.
Our lifestyle today demonstrates whether or not we believe that the words of Jesus have authority. It is that simple. And so if doing is as important as hearing, how well are you doing today? This is the way Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount to the people He is delivering it to.
How would your life look different if you took Jesus' words seriously? If you lived as he taught in the Sermon on the Mount? How would the kingdom of God be different if we, if we as the church, looked the way Jesus said his followers would look?
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