DISCIPLESHIP_MANUAL_SERMON_MANUSCRIPT_WEEK_1_I_WILL_BUILD_MY_CHURCH.docx

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation You Build On Determines What Lasts

Every life is built on something, whether we realize it or not. Some build on their achievements, others on relationships, comfort, or even religious activity. But just as a house with a weak foundation cannot stand against storms, so too our lives will eventually reveal what we have truly trusted in. The strength and endurance of our spiritual journey are not measured by outward appearances or even our best intentions, but by the depth of our connection to Jesus Christ.
Jesus invites us to examine honestly what we are building our lives upon. Are we relying on our own wisdom, or are we rooted in His truth and presence? The storms of life—disappointment, loss, change—will come to everyone. Only those who have built on the unshakable foundation of Christ will endure and find hope that lasts beyond the present moment.

“For thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.’” (Isaiah 28:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense you’ve been building on something other than Christ? What would it look like to begin shifting that foundation today?

Day 2: Shortcuts in Faith Lead to Spiritual Collapse

It’s tempting to look for the quickest or easiest way forward, especially when life feels overwhelming. Spiritually, shortcuts can look like seeking quick fixes, following the latest trends, or prioritizing comfort over obedience. But just as a builder who skips steps risks the collapse of the whole structure, so too do we risk spiritual collapse when we neglect the slow, sometimes difficult work of rooting ourselves in Christ.
True stability comes from daily, faithful choices—spending time in God’s Word, praying even when it feels dry, obeying when it’s costly. These habits may not always be visible to others, but they are the unseen work that prepares us to stand firm when storms come. God calls us to resist the urge to cut corners and instead invest in a deep, lasting relationship with Him.

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.” (Proverbs 10:9; 27:18, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you most tempted to take spiritual shortcuts—perhaps in prayer, honesty, or obedience? What is one small, faithful step you can take today to build a stronger foundation?

Day 3: Jesus Sets the Alignment for Our Lives

The cornerstone is the first stone set in a building, and every other stone is aligned to it. In the same way, Jesus is meant to be the reference point for every part of our lives. When we allow anything else—success, reputation, even good works—to take that place, we risk misaligning everything else.
The Church is not built on personalities, traditions, or even the faith of great leaders, but on the person and work of Jesus. He alone determines the shape, direction, and unity of our lives and our community. When we realign ourselves to Him, we find true purpose and unity, both personally and together as the Church.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:19-21, ESV)

Reflection: What is currently serving as the “cornerstone” in your life—what are you aligning your decisions and desires to? How can you intentionally realign to Jesus today?

Day 4: Storms Reveal What’s Hidden Beneath the Surface

Storms are a part of every life. They come in the form of loss, disappointment, conflict, or unexpected change. These moments do not discriminate; they come to every house, every person. What makes the difference is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of a sure foundation.
When Christ is truly our bedrock, we may be battered by life’s storms, but we will not be destroyed. These difficult seasons reveal what we have built our lives upon. If we have trusted in things that shift or fade, we will find ourselves shaken. But if we have anchored ourselves in Jesus, we will discover a resilience and hope that endures.

“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” (Psalm 62:2, 7, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent “storm” you have faced. What did it reveal about your foundation? How did you see God’s faithfulness, or where do you need to invite Him to be your refuge now?

Day 5: Rebuilding Begins with Returning to Jesus

There are seasons in life and in the church when rebuilding is necessary. Whether after loss, transition, or a time of drifting, the first and most crucial step is to re-establish Jesus as the foundation. This means letting go of lesser foundations, realigning our values, and making Christ the reference point for every decision and desire.
Rebuilding is not just about starting over; it’s about returning to what matters most. When we make Jesus our foundation, we become a dwelling place for God’s presence—a life and a community that can endure and thrive, no matter what comes. God invites us to begin again, with Him at the center.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.” (Isaiah 43:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life or our church that needs rebuilding? What is one practical way you can invite Jesus to be the foundation as you begin again?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon:**

In this first message of the series "I Will Build My Church," we explored the essential foundation upon which the Church—and our individual lives—must be built: Jesus Christ, the Rock and the Cornerstone. Drawing from passages in Matthew, Ephesians, Corinthians, and Isaiah, the sermon emphasized that just as every physical building needs a solid foundation to withstand storms, so too does the Church and every believer. Through personal testimony and the parable of the wise and foolish builders, we saw the dangers of shortcuts, misplaced priorities, and building on anything other than Christ. The call was clear: in this season of rebuilding, both corporately and personally, we must ensure that Jesus is the first and only foundation, the stone that determines the alignment and strength of everything else. Only what is built on Christ will endure the storms of life and eternity.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Foundation Determines Endurance: Just as a house with a faulty foundation cannot withstand storms, a church or life built on anything other than Christ is destined to collapse under pressure. The strength and longevity of our spiritual lives are not determined by appearances, resources, or even good intentions, but by the depth and quality of our foundation in Jesus. This calls for honest self-examination: are we building on the Rock, or on shifting sands?
2. Shortcuts Lead to Collapse: The temptation to cut corners—whether to save time, money, or effort—often leads to disaster. Spiritually, this looks like seeking quick fixes, following trends, or prioritizing comfort over obedience. True stability comes from the hard, sometimes unseen work of rooting ourselves in Christ’s teachings and presence, even when it’s costly or slow.
3. Christ Alone is the Cornerstone: The Church is not built on personalities, traditions, or even the faith of great leaders, but on the person and work of Jesus. He is the first stone set, the one who determines the shape, direction, and unity of the whole structure. When we allow anything else to take that place—be it success, reputation, or even good works—we risk misaligning everything else in our lives and communities.
4. Storms Reveal Our True Foundation: Life’s inevitable storms—loss, disappointment, conflict, and change—do not discriminate. They come to every house, every life. What distinguishes the wise from the foolish is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of a sure foundation. When Christ is truly our bedrock, we may be battered, but we will not be destroyed.
5. Personal and Corporate Rebuilding Starts with Jesus: In seasons of rebuilding—whether in the church or in our own hearts—the first and most crucial step is to re-establish Christ as the foundation. This means letting go of lesser foundations, realigning our values, and making Jesus the reference point for every decision and desire. Only then can we become a dwelling place for God’s presence, a community and a life that endures and thrives, no matter what comes.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: "I Will Build My Church – The Foundation"**

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### Bible Reading

- **Matthew 7:24-27**
- **Matthew 16:13-20**
- **Ephesians 2:19-22**

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### Observation Questions

In the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 7:24-27, what are the similarities and differences between the two builders and their houses?
According to Matthew 16:13-20, what is the “rock” that Jesus says He will build His church on?
In Ephesians 2:19-22, what does Paul say about the role of Jesus in the structure of the church?
From the sermon, what were some reasons given for why people might choose to build on a weak foundation?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus use the image of a foundation to describe our relationship with Him and the church? What does this say about what He expects from His followers?
The sermon talked about shortcuts and building on “sand.” What are some modern-day examples of spiritual shortcuts or “sand” foundations that people might use instead of Christ?
In Ephesians 2, Paul calls Jesus the “chief cornerstone.” What does it mean for Jesus to be the cornerstone in our personal lives and in the church community?
The storms in the parable hit both houses. What does this teach about the reality of challenges in the Christian life, regardless of our foundation?

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### Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to honestly examine our foundation. If you look at your own life, what are you really building on? Are there areas where you’ve relied on something other than Jesus (like success, relationships, or comfort)?
The story about the house with 17 piers showed the cost of ignoring the foundation. Are there “shortcuts” you’ve taken in your spiritual life—like skipping prayer, avoiding hard conversations, or chasing quick fixes? How have those shortcuts affected you?
When storms or hard times come, what usually gets exposed in your life? Can you think of a recent “storm” that revealed something about your foundation?
The sermon said that only what is built on Christ will last. Are there things in your life (habits, priorities, relationships) that need to be realigned so that Jesus is truly first?
In this season of rebuilding—whether in our church or personally—what is one practical step you can take this week to make Jesus the reference point for your decisions and desires?
The cornerstone sets the direction for the whole building. Is there an area of your life that feels out of alignment with Jesus? What would it look like to bring that area back in line with Him?
The pastor shared how her foundation in Jesus helped her stand through loss and pain. Who or what do you turn to when life gets hard? How can you make sure Jesus is your first foundation, not just your backup plan?

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**Closing Declaration:**
“Jesus is my foundation. Christ is my Rock. I build my life on You, Lord.”

Sermon Quotes

Every building must have a foundation. Whether it’s a skyscraper or a small cabin, it must have a solid base or else it will fall. The same is true for our lives and for the Church of Jesus Christ.

There are two ways to destroy a building: mess with its foundation, or build it with poor or weak materials. The same is true for our spiritual lives—what we build on matters.

Some people come to church and hear the word, do the word, and the word remains because their foundation is on Christ the Rock. Others hear the word, but it goes out the window because their foundation is not on Christ.

The foundation of the church is not Peter, not a denomination, not a leader, not emotions, but Christ Himself—the Rock. Jesus is the first and only foundation of the church.

The cornerstone sets the alignment for all other stones. Jesus determines our shape, our position, our function. Everything we do and say must be built upon Jesus the foundation and Jesus the cornerstone.

If you try to build your life on fame, it will fade. Money will be spent. Relationships will fail. Success won’t get you into heaven. Nothing other than Jesus will last.

Only when Christ is the rock of your life will you be able to withstand the storms and challenges that life brings. Life can be tough, but when your life is built on Christ, you will be able to withstand the evil of the day.

As a believer and a member of Christ’s church, Jesus must be the first stone set in your life that everything else is built upon. Everything else must come after. Christ must take first place in your life.

The only reason I’m standing here today—after losing my mother and father—is because my foundation is Jesus. Not mom. Not dad. But Jesus Christ.

Just as Christ is the foundation of the church, He must be the foundation of your life. Just as Christ is the bedrock of the church, He must be the bedrock of your life. Any other foundation apart from Jesus Christ will not last.

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