Building on the Solid Rock of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Narrow Road to Life Requires Surrender

Jesus teaches that the way to true life is not found in self-definition or following the crowd, but in choosing the narrow road that requires surrender, trust, and obedience to Him. In a world that elevates self-expression and personal truth, Jesus calls us to a different path—one that is often harder, less popular, and demands that we lay down our own will to follow His. This road is not about ease or affirmation from others, but about orienting our lives around the authority and identity of Jesus, trusting that He alone leads to the good life that endures. [34:04]

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to choose the easier, wider path instead of surrendering to Jesus’ way? What would it look like to take a step onto the narrow road today?

Day 2: True Discipleship Is Revealed by Fruit, Not Appearances

Jesus warns that it is not outward appearances, charisma, or even spiritual activity that reveal a true disciple, but the lasting fruit of their lives—their character, humility, and obedience. In a culture that often celebrates platform, influence, and impressive gifts, Jesus calls us to discernment: to look beyond the surface and examine the outcomes and impact of our lives and leaders. The true test is not how loudly we say “Lord, Lord,” but whether our lives are rooted in Christ-like love, humility, and faithfulness that point others to Him. [36:11]

Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”

Reflection: Who are you following or listening to for spiritual guidance? How can you discern whether their influence is leading you closer to Jesus by examining the fruit in their life and yours?

Day 3: Spiritual Activity Is Not a Substitute for Surrendered Relationship

It is possible to be involved in spiritual activities, even to do impressive things in Jesus’ name, and yet not truly know Him or be surrendered to Him. Jesus’ sobering words remind us that what matters most is not our accomplishments, reputation, or even ministry success, but a humble, authentic, and obedient relationship with Him. The call is to move beyond outward performance and allow Jesus to know us deeply, surrendering our hearts and lives to Him above all else. [42:59]

Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Reflection: Are there ways you are relying on spiritual activity or outward success instead of cultivating a surrendered, authentic relationship with Jesus? What is one step you can take today to draw closer to Him in humility?

Day 4: The Foundation of Obedience Endures Life’s Storms

The storms of life do not create our foundation—they reveal it. Jesus teaches that building our lives on His words and obeying them is the only foundation that will stand when difficulties come. It is not enough to hear or know what Jesus says; the difference is made in living it out, in daily surrender and quiet faithfulness. When we build on anything else—our own comfort, success, or self-made truth—our lives cannot withstand the weight of real life. But when we build on Jesus, we find a foundation that endures through every storm. [45:49]

Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Reflection: What is your life truly built on? In what area do you need to move from hearing Jesus’ words to actually obeying them, so your foundation is secure?

Day 5: Letting Others Into the Mess—Belonging, Confession, and Support

We are called not to hide our struggles or pretend we have it all together, but to invite others into our mess, confess our burdens, and support one another in Christ. Holding everything in and maintaining a façade not only isolates us but may keep others from sharing when they need help. By humbling ourselves and letting others in, we create a community where we can belong, believe, and bear fruit together—lifting one another up and allowing God to use our vulnerability for healing and growth. [49:36]

James 5:16 (ESV)
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Reflection: Is there a struggle or burden you have been hiding from others? Who is one trusted person you can invite into your mess this week, so you don’t have to go it alone?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the deep truth that what lies beneath the surface of our lives—the foundation we build upon—matters far more than what others see. Just as a small leak in a kitchen exposed a much larger problem under the floor, so too do small cracks in our spiritual lives reveal the true state of our hearts when storms come. Jesus, in the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount, calls us not just to admire his teachings or participate in spiritual activities, but to surrender our lives to him, building on the solid rock of his identity and authority.

The world around us often encourages self-definition, self-expression, and the pursuit of the “good life” on our own terms. Yet Jesus offers a different way: the narrow road, which is not popular or easy, but leads to true life. He warns us to be discerning, to look beyond charisma and outward success—whether in leaders or in ourselves—and to examine the fruit that is produced. It is possible to be busy with spiritual things and yet miss the heart of knowing and being known by Jesus.

Storms are inevitable. They do not create our foundation; they reveal it. When life’s pressures mount, what we have built our lives upon is exposed. If our foundation is anything other than Christ—our own achievements, comfort, or even religious activity—it will not stand. Jesus invites us to a life of daily surrender, quiet faithfulness, and authentic community, where we let others into our mess and bear one another’s burdens. This is not about perfection, but about humble obedience and a willingness to be real with God and with each other.

As we pause to reflect, the questions before us are searching: Are we choosing the narrow road? Are we bearing fruit that lasts? Are we substituting activity for surrender? Is Jesus truly our foundation? The invitation is to let go of control, to confess our hidden struggles, and to allow the Holy Spirit to shape us into a people who belong, believe, and bear fruit together. Through every storm, Jesus remains the only foundation that will never fail.

Key Takeaways

1. The storms of life do not create our foundation; they reveal it. When difficulties arise, what we have built our lives upon—whether Christ or something else—becomes unmistakably clear. The call is to examine not just our outward actions, but the true base of our trust and hope. [27:37]
2. The narrow road Jesus describes is not about self-definition or cultural affirmation, but about surrender. True life is found not in following our own truth, but in yielding to Christ’s authority and walking the difficult path of obedience, even when it is unpopular or costly. [34:04]
3. Discernment is essential in a world of impressive platforms and charismatic leaders. Jesus teaches us to look for lasting fruit—character, humility, and Christlike love—rather than being swayed by outward success or spiritual activity. The true test is not what is done in his name, but whether there is genuine surrender to him. [40:49]
4. Authentic community is built when we let others into our mess, rather than hiding our struggles behind a façade. Confession, vulnerability, and mutual support are not signs of weakness, but of spiritual health and humility. By sharing our burdens, we create space for others to do the same and for God’s grace to be at work among us. [48:46]
5. Jesus alone is the firm foundation that endures through every storm. Anything else—no matter how impressive or well-constructed—will ultimately fail. The invitation is to continually surrender, to let go of pride and control, and to build our lives on the rock of Christ, trusting that he alone can make it well with our souls. [55:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:14] - Offering and Prayer
[17:40] - Announcements and Community Life
[21:10] - Upcoming Events and Prayer First Posture
[22:53] - Small Problems, Big Exposures: The Kitchen Story
[24:22] - Unexpected Change and New Vision
[26:46] - The Leak and the Lesson: Foundations Exposed
[27:37] - The Foundation of Our Lives
[28:29] - Jesus’ Authority and the Call to Surrender
[30:18] - Two Roads, Two Trees, Two Foundations
[34:04] - The Narrow Road in a Culture of Self
[35:24] - Discernment and False Prophets
[40:49] - Fruit, Not Fame: The Test of True Discipleship
[44:42] - The Wise and Foolish Builders
[46:36] - The Good Life Revealed in Obedience
[48:46] - Authentic Community: Sharing Our Mess
[53:46] - Reflection Questions and Silence
[55:57] - Jesus: The Only Foundation
[57:24] - How Is It With Your Soul?
[59:45] - Invitation to Respond and Pray
[66:55] - Responding to the Spirit’s Prompting
[67:45] - Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 7:13-27 (NLT) — > 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
> 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
> 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
> 24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 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. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Observation Questions

In the passage, what are the two different roads Jesus describes, and what do they each lead to? ([32:47])
According to Jesus, how can we recognize false prophets or leaders? What is the “fruit” he’s talking about? ([35:24])
What is the main difference between the wise and foolish builders in Jesus’ story? ([44:42])
In the sermon, what real-life example did the pastor use to illustrate how small problems can reveal bigger issues beneath the surface? ([22:53])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus says the narrow road is “difficult” and “only a few ever find it”? What might make it hard to choose this path? ([34:04])
The sermon talks about “fruit” as evidence of a person’s life. What does it mean for someone to have good or bad fruit, and how does this relate to being known by Jesus? ([40:49])
The pastor said storms don’t create our foundation, they reveal it. What are some “storms” that might expose what we’re really building our lives on? ([27:37])
Why is it possible to be busy with spiritual activities and still miss the heart of knowing Jesus? ([42:59])

Application Questions

The sermon asks, “Am I choosing the wide road or the narrow road?” What are some specific choices or habits in your life that show which road you’re on? ([53:46])
When life gets hard, what do you usually turn to for comfort or stability? Is it Jesus, or something else? How can you tell? ([27:37])
The pastor shared about hiding messes in our lives. Is there an area of your life you tend to keep hidden from others or from God? What would it look like to let someone in? ([48:46])
Jesus warns about substituting activity for surrender. Are there ways you might be “doing” for God but not really surrendering to Him? What would surrender look like for you this week? ([42:59])
Think about the people you listen to or follow (in church, online, etc.). How do you discern if their “fruit” is healthy? What steps can you take to be more discerning? ([40:49])
The sermon talked about authentic community—letting others into our mess and sharing burdens. What is one practical way you can support someone else in your group this week, or ask for support yourself? ([49:36])
The pastor quoted John Wesley’s question: “How is it with your soul?” Take a moment to honestly answer that for yourself. What is one thing you need to surrender or bring into the light? ([57:24])

Sermon Clips

But Jesus, in this last section that we're going to look at, slams the door on that perspective. Sermon is not just a bunch of good advice that any spiritual person might say. Instead, it ends with a call to trust and surrender and orient our entire lives around and on the authority and the identity of the one giving the Sermon, Jesus. [00:28:29] (36 seconds)

It's not just about hearing Jesus's words. It's about responding to them. Jesus gives us four powerful images in this passage. Two roads, two trees, two claims, two homes, and two houses. And each one confronts us with a choice. Will we follow the crowd or will we follow Jesus? Will we be impressed by appearances or will we be rooted in the truth? Will we settle for words or live in obedience? Will we build our lives on sand or the rock of Jesus? [00:32:25] (51 seconds)

The road that leads to destruction is wide. It's an easy road. It's a popular road. It's a crowded road and it's deadly. It doesn't require much of us. Not much thought. It doesn't require any surrender. But the narrow road, the one that leads to life, it's harder. It requires something of us. [00:33:29] (34 seconds)

We live in a culture that says, do what feels right. Be true to yourself. Define your own truth and path. But Jesus is saying, take the road that goes through the narrow gate to life, the good life. That road is not found in self-definition. It's found in surrender. [00:34:44] (33 seconds)

You'll know them by their fruit, not from their platform or position, not by their amazing gifts or charisma or fame, not by how many people fill the room or listen to their podcast, but by their character, by their outcomes, by their lasting impact. They're fruit. [00:36:11] (32 seconds)

Sometimes what seems like a Jesus-centered message is really a me-centered message with a spiritual twist. And that's why Jesus calls us to look at the fruit, not fame. To look at the character, not the charisma. Because the true test of a leader or really of any disciple is not how loudly they say, Lord, Lord. But whether their life shows a true surrender to the Lord. [00:41:06] (50 seconds)

It's possible to be involved in spiritual things and not actually be surrendered to Jesus, that's the story of my life before I surrendered, it isn't about success, it isn't about perfection, it isn't about building an audience or influence or fame or how much we have or looking like we have it all together, it's about a true and humble and authentic and obedient relationship with Jesus, where we are deeply, deeply known by him, and continually grow in our knowing of him, because our surrender, our faith, our obedience, our lives are not about us, and man, do we get that messed up, it's not about us, it's about him. [00:43:28] (73 seconds)

I said it earlier, storms are coming for all of us, and I know, I know some of you are in them right now. But these storms, they don't create your foundation, they reveal it. So what are we built on? What's our foundation? [00:45:49] (24 seconds)

This is where the good life that Jesus is pointing us to is revealed. Not in ease or comfort or applause or fame or possessions or even in spiritual and Christian activities, but hidden in obedience, quiet faithfulness. Daily surrender. All built upon the only thing that will hold, that will stand when the storm comes. The only thing, the firm foundation, the rock of Jesus. [00:46:51] (45 seconds)

``Anything we build our lives on other than Jesus or put in between ourselves and Jesus will be insufficient. It will fail. Jesus isn't offering one more way. Jesus is saying, I am the only way, the only foundation that lasts. We are called to keep our eyes on Jesus through it all. [00:55:57] (46 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does Jesus say about building on a solid foundation?

How can false prophets be identified by their actions?

What is the significance of choosing the narrow gate?