Building a Strong Foundation on Christ

In our new series, "Home Improvement," we explore the metaphor of our lives as homes, focusing on the foundational aspects that support every other area. Just as a physical home requires a solid foundation to stand firm, our lives need a strong spiritual foundation to withstand life's challenges. Today, we delve into the importance of building our lives on the rock-solid foundation of Christ and His teachings, as opposed to the shifting sands of worldly ideals and traditions.

Matthew 7:24-27 illustrates the difference between a wise builder who constructs on rock and a foolish one who builds on sand. The foundation determines the stability and durability of the structure. Similarly, our lives must be grounded in the Word of God. If our beliefs, traditions, and experiences are not aligned with God's Word, we risk building on a faulty foundation that will not endure life's storms.

To build a new foundation, we must first clear the ground by removing any beliefs or practices that do not align with God's Word. Romans 12:2 encourages us to renew our minds, discerning God's will and aligning our lives accordingly. This process involves testing our beliefs against the truth of Scripture, ensuring that our foundation is capable of supporting the weight of our lives.

Choosing the right foundation is a conscious decision. Joshua 24:15 challenges us to decide whom we will serve, emphasizing the importance of building our lives on the firm foundation of Christ. The enemy may tempt us to settle for less, but God's desire is for us to have a foundation that will not fail.

Finally, Ephesians 2:19-22 reminds us that Christ is the chief cornerstone of our lives. When He is the cornerstone, everything else aligns correctly. Our lives, like a well-built house, must be rooted in Christ to ensure stability and growth. As we assess our foundations, we have the opportunity to rebuild and realign our lives with God's truth, ensuring that every aspect of our lives is built on the solid rock of Christ.

**Key Takeaways:**

- **Foundation Matters:** Just as a house's stability depends on its foundation, our lives require a solid spiritual base. Building on Christ ensures that we can withstand life's challenges and remain steadfast. [01:36]

- **Clearing the Ground:** To build a new foundation, we must remove beliefs and practices that don't align with God's Word. This involves renewing our minds and discerning God's will, as outlined in Romans 12:2. [13:23]

- **Testing the Soil:** Our beliefs must be tested against Scripture to ensure they can support our lives. The Word of God is strong enough to sustain every aspect of our lives, providing a firm foundation. [16:23]

- **Choosing the Foundation:** We have the freedom to choose our foundation. Joshua 24:15 challenges us to serve the Lord, emphasizing the importance of building on the rock of Christ rather than the shifting sands of worldly ideals. [20:43]

- **Christ as the Cornerstone:** Ephesians 2:19-22 highlights Christ as the chief cornerstone. When He is the foundation, everything else aligns, ensuring stability and growth in our lives. [29:39]

**Youtube Chapters:**

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:36] - Importance of a Solid Foundation
- [03:21] - The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
- [04:57] - Assessing Our Foundation
- [07:03] - Viewing Life Through God's Word
- [08:45] - Building a New Foundation
- [10:11] - Clearing the Ground
- [11:41] - The Process of Renewal
- [13:23] - Renewing Our Minds
- [14:40] - Soil Testing
- [16:23] - Testing Our Beliefs
- [18:33] - The Strength of God's Word
- [20:43] - Choosing the Right Foundation
- [22:39] - The Freedom to Choose
- [24:31] - The Enemy's Deception
- [26:14] - Assessing Cracks in Our Lives
- [29:39] - Christ as the Chief Cornerstone
- [31:13] - Aligning Our Lives with Christ
- [33:28] - Building on the Rock of Christ
- [36:00] - Prayer and Commitment

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Home Improvement Series**

**Bible Reading:**
- Matthew 7:24-27
- Romans 12:2
- Ephesians 2:19-22

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**Observation Questions:**

1. According to Matthew 7:24-27, what distinguishes the wise builder from the foolish builder? How does this relate to the foundation of our lives? [03:21]

2. In the sermon, what are some examples given of beliefs or practices that might not align with God's Word? [07:03]

3. How does Romans 12:2 describe the process of renewing our minds, and why is this important for building a solid foundation? [13:23]

4. What role does Christ play as the cornerstone in Ephesians 2:19-22, and how does this affect the alignment of our lives? [29:39]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

1. Why is it crucial to assess the foundation of our lives before attempting to improve other areas, such as relationships or community involvement? [01:36]

2. How might worldly ideals and traditions serve as a "shifting sand" foundation, and what are the potential consequences of building on such a foundation? [04:57]

3. What does it mean to "clear the ground" in the context of building a new foundation, and how can this be applied to our spiritual lives? [10:11]

4. How does the choice of foundation, as described in Joshua 24:15, reflect our commitment to serving the Lord? [20:43]

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**Application Questions:**

1. Reflect on your current foundation. Are there any beliefs or practices in your life that might not align with God's Word? How can you begin the process of clearing these from your life? [07:03]

2. Romans 12:2 talks about renewing our minds. What specific steps can you take this week to renew your mind and align your thoughts with God's will? [13:23]

3. Consider the role of Christ as the cornerstone in your life. How can you ensure that your decisions and actions are aligned with His teachings? [29:39]

4. The sermon mentioned the importance of testing our beliefs against Scripture. What is one belief you hold that you can examine more closely this week to ensure it aligns with the Bible? [16:23]

5. Joshua 24:15 challenges us to choose whom we will serve. What practical steps can you take to demonstrate your commitment to serving the Lord in your daily life? [20:43]

6. Think about a specific area of your life, such as your marriage or career. How can you assess and strengthen the foundation in this area to ensure it is built on the rock of Christ? [26:14]

7. The sermon emphasized the danger of ignoring cracks in our foundation. Identify one "crack" in your life that needs attention. What actions can you take to address it and prevent further damage? [27:54]

Day 1: The Foundation of Our Lives

In life, just as in construction, the foundation is crucial. A house built on a solid foundation can withstand storms and challenges, while one built on sand is vulnerable to collapse. Similarly, our lives need a strong spiritual foundation to endure life's trials. Building on Christ and His teachings provides the stability and strength we need. When our beliefs and values are rooted in the Word of God, we are equipped to face difficulties with resilience and faith. The parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27 illustrates this truth, emphasizing the importance of choosing a firm foundation. [01:36]

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: What are the core beliefs and values that currently form the foundation of your life? How can you ensure they are aligned with the teachings of Christ?


Day 2: Clearing the Ground for Renewal

Before building a new foundation, it's essential to clear away any debris or obstacles. In our spiritual lives, this means removing beliefs and practices that don't align with God's Word. Romans 12:2 encourages us to renew our minds, discerning God's will and aligning our lives accordingly. This process involves examining our current beliefs and practices, testing them against Scripture, and making necessary changes. By doing so, we create a clean slate on which to build a strong, Christ-centered foundation. [13:23]

Jeremiah 4:3 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: 'Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.'"

Reflection: What beliefs or practices in your life need to be cleared away to make room for a renewed foundation in Christ?


Day 3: Testing the Soil of Our Beliefs

Just as a builder tests the soil before laying a foundation, we must test our beliefs against Scripture to ensure they can support our lives. The Word of God is a reliable and strong foundation that can sustain every aspect of our lives. By regularly examining our beliefs and aligning them with biblical truth, we ensure that our spiritual foundation is solid and capable of withstanding life's challenges. This process of testing and alignment is crucial for spiritual growth and stability. [16:23]

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (ESV): "But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."

Reflection: What specific beliefs or assumptions do you hold that need to be tested against the truth of Scripture today?


Day 4: Choosing the Right Foundation

We have the freedom to choose the foundation on which we build our lives. Joshua 24:15 challenges us to serve the Lord, emphasizing the importance of building on the rock of Christ rather than the shifting sands of worldly ideals. This choice is a conscious decision that requires commitment and intentionality. By choosing Christ as our foundation, we ensure that our lives are built on a stable and enduring base that can withstand any storm. [20:43]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to consciously choose Christ as the foundation of your life, and how will this choice impact your daily decisions?


Day 5: Christ as the Cornerstone

Ephesians 2:19-22 reminds us that Christ is the chief cornerstone of our lives. When He is the foundation, everything else aligns correctly, ensuring stability and growth. As we assess our foundations, we have the opportunity to rebuild and realign our lives with God's truth. By making Christ the cornerstone, we ensure that every aspect of our lives is built on the solid rock of His teachings, leading to a life of purpose and fulfillment. [29:39]

1 Peter 2:6-7 (ESV): "For it stands in Scripture: 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.' So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to realign with Christ as the cornerstone, and what practical steps can you take to ensure He remains central in your life?

All right, so is anyone ready to dive into our word? Hallelujah.

All right, let's pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. God, we thank you for this opportunity to hear from you. God, we declare your word is already anointed. So we ask that you would anoint our ears to hear you, to hear what you're saying individually to each and every one of us, and our hearts to be open to receive it. We acknowledge you. We thank you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

All right, today we are beginning a new series, and our series is called Home Improvement, okay? Home Improvement is our series. And in this series, we want to take a few areas of our home and look at how we are to improve them, hence the title.

All right, and the idea here is that we would be the home. And there are areas in our life that God has called us to improve, that God has called us to live up to an expectation or a standard, if you will. And while we're not looking at the physical aspects of a home, we are going to look at how we can improve our marriage, how we can improve our relationships and community, how we can improve our parenting, looking at the areas of our life and how we can improve them.

But first, before we even get there, it is important that we first lay the foundation. And so today, we're going to talk about the foundation.

Whenever you build or you begin building a project, there are some necessary factors that always have to be considered, okay? The first or the basis of any major home improvement project is always going to be decided first based on the foundation, okay? If the foundation is solid, then the project will be able to go forward. If it's not solid, then anything that you build on that foundation will not stand, okay?

You can try to improve your life. You can try to improve your marriage, your relationships. You can try to improve your community. And we will get to those things, but none of them can be improved unless we first assess the foundation on which these things are built on. Because if the foundation is faulty, anything that's built on the foundation will fail, okay?

Let's look at Matthew chapter 7. I'm going to go at verse 24, a scripture that we know and we've heard before. Matthew 7 verse 24 says, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man, a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man who built his house on the rock."

Okay? And the rain fell and the floods and the torrents came and the wind blew and slammed against that house, yet 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, stupid man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods and the torrents came and the wind blew and slammed against that house, and it fell. And great and complete was its fall.

The thing that decides whether or not these buildings stand or fall is the foundation. The foundation is the determining factor. So before we make any improvements, before we address anything in the house, today we need to look at what is our foundation.

Now, what do we mean when we say foundation? Throw that definition up there for me again, please. Foundation, the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level. Here we go. It is the structural base that supports the weight of the entire structure and ensures stability and durability, right?

It is the base that supports the weight of the entire structure and ensures stability and durability. What is your foundation? What is the structural base that is supporting your life? What is the thinking, the believing, and the behaving that supports everything that you do?

Jesus is referencing two types of foundations here. He's talking about the foundation that was built on solid rock and one that was built on the sand. One was built on the word and one is built on the world.

As believers, we need to know the condition of our foundation because if our foundation is compromised, excuse me, if our foundation is full of compromise, then it won't stand. Are you founded on the rock? Is your home founded on the rock?

Now, how we operate in our life is made up of our experiences, our traditions, and what we believe, okay? These are the things that make us who we are. If we do not view our experiences, our beliefs, and our traditions through the lens of the word of God, if we do not submit our experiences, our beliefs, and our traditions through the lens of the word of God, then we have opened ourselves up to have a faulty foundation.

We have opened ourselves up to have a faulty foundation. And when the rains come and when the winds blow, great will be the fall of whatever is built on that foundation.

Traditions, experiences, these things make us. And I understand that we go hard for our traditions. We go hard for our experiences because they are real things that have happened to us. They are things that have been passed down from generation to generation, and I understand that.

However, all things must be submitted and viewed through the lens of the word of God. And if we view it through the lens of the word of God, and it does not line up, we cannot hold that. I know, I know I'm getting in, I'm stepping on, I understand. But this is the fact.

If we want our life to have a solid foundation, if we want to build and be able to build higher because our foundation is solid, then we got to look at everything. Even those things that we hold tight to, even those things that, that, no, you don't understand. This is, I've had this for a long time. I've had this for a long time. And you don't understand.

I do understand. However, it has to be viewed through the lens of the word of God. And if it does not line up, we must get rid of it.

Okay. Great will be the fall of our foundation. Great will be the fall of your home. Great will be the fall of your marriage. Great will be the fall of your relationships. We must be founded on the word.

Is your life, is your everything, is your everything built on Christ and his word and his example, or is it built on your ideals, your opinions, and your traditions? Is it solid rock or is it sand? This is what we have to look at.

And here's the good news and the grace of God as always. If we evaluate today and we find, and we recognize that, you know what, there might be some opinions in there. There might be some traditions in there. There might be some ideals in there. Then God allows us the opportunity to now build a new foundation, to build a new foundation.

Joel is a builder. Brother Joel is a builder. I'm excited because I know this message is hitting him right here. He is getting every analogy. He's like, yes, that is correct.

And as a builder, right? One of the things that I was looking at is what is the process of building a new foundation? How, anywhere in Woodland, you will see that they will throw these houses up like it is nobody's business. I've never seen, I've seen six hotels on Main Street, six hotels built. And I'm like, y'all know something? I don't know.

But it's the thing that takes the longest and that is the most intricate to build. It's the foundation. Those two by fours and all of that, the electric, all that, that stuff will go up in a minute. You'll look at it. You'll be like, man, it's taking a long, they ain't even got the walls up yet.

Why? Because the thing that takes the time is the foundation. Because if I make sure that the foundation is right and the foundation is perfect, I could throw it up. I could, I, please. Why? Because the thing that it's founded on is solid and it will stand for years to come.

So I began looking up what is the process of building a new foundation. And I found that the first thing that we need to do in order to build a new foundation, the first thing that we have to do here is we got to clear the ground.

We must first clear the ground. It is important that we get rid of the faulty foundation. Get rid of the faulty foundation. Get rid of the things that we have been using as foundation. Get rid of the things that we have been using as foundation. Get rid of the thinking. Get rid of the believing. Get rid of the doing that doesn't line up with the word of God.

We have to clear the ground. When we moved into our house 11 years ago, in my backyard on the right-hand side, there's this gravel thing. Y'all know I love to plant, and so I was just excited. In Atlanta, we don't have, anyway. So there's a bunch of gravel. And I'm like, oh, I'm just going to move this little gravel. I'm going to move this little gravel. I'm going to shovel out the way because I want to plant strawberries, and strawberries require a vine. The vine can get long. It takes time, right?

And so I was like, oh, I'll just move these rocks out of the way. Now, it's a path of rocks. It's not like a little spot. It's an entire path of rock. And so I just get my shovel, and I just start moving some of the rock to the side. I'm like, oh, here's some dirt. Let me just put it down and then pat it and water it. And those strawberries never came. Never got there.

Why? Because it required clearing the entire area so that the ground would be fertile enough to grow something. I can't leave everything there, move a little piece of it, and then expect.

All right, I got to go. Clear the ground. How do we clear the ground? Romans chapter 12, verse 2. Scripture we all know. Romans 12, verse 2. Verse 2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Here we go. "That by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, and what is acceptable, and what is perfect."

Okay? As we begin to evaluate and change those things that don't line up and tearing out the faulty foundation, tearing out those faulty beliefs, tearing out those faulty things, as we renew our minds, as we renew our thoughts and our actions, that is how we begin to lay a new foundation.

When we observe that there is something in our life that does not line up, we no longer do that thing. We throw away the mindset that is attached to that. We throw away all the things that are attached to that. And then we begin to submerse ourselves to the will of God. And then we begin to lay a new foundation.

And then we begin to submerse ourselves in the truth. Okay? Here is the seat. Here it is right here. We begin submersing ourselves in the truth, in the foundation that matters, as we clear the ground.

And now the ground is ready. Okay? Now the ground is ready. And so we begin to clear the ground. Now this is a process. Okay? It's not a one day it's going to be good. No, no, no. As I learned, it's going to take a minute.

Because there are things in your life, I was talking to my wife about this yesterday. There are things in your life. And as you walk through life, you will begin to see things that you have believed, that you have walked out, that you have thought about that don't line up.

And as you recognize, as the Holy Spirit begins to speak to you, and you now recognize that this does not line up with the word of God, then you make an adjustment.

Okay? Today I'm clearing this area, right? Today I'm clearing this area. I'm changing how I believe. Oh, I realize here's another area of my life that doesn't line up. Okay? Then today I'm clearing this area and I'm getting rid of that.

Oh, here's another area. Here's my belief about my marriage that doesn't line up with the word of God. Okay? Then I'm going to pull that out. You know what? I've actually been doing my parenting in a way that doesn't line up with the word of God, just based on how I feel.

Okay? Now I need to pull that up. And as I do that, what do I do? I begin to submit to the word of God and say, God, how do you have me to do this? How do you have me to walk this out?

How do you? And this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to do this. I'm going to step one, clearing the ground. Step two, we need to do a soil testing.

I looked this thing up, y'all. I was a construction worker for about four or five days. All right? I was like, Joel, you got this. You got it. It's fine.

All right. So soil testing. All right? Paul says in part B of verse two, Romans 12, verse two, he says, "Testing," put that scripture back up for me again. Romans 12, two, he says, part B says that by testing, you may discern what is the will of God.

That by testing, the purpose of a soil test in building is to determine if the soil can support the foundation or the building that will be built on it. Paul says the way that transformation and the renewing of your mind will be proven will be through testing.

Now this word testing refers to the act of scrutinizing or proving. Proving the word of God and the ways of God and the will of God will always prove itself to be solid and true and able to withstand any scrutiny.

The word of God, the will of God, and the ways of God will always be able to withstand testing and scrutiny. Here is where we have to settle our soil and our life.

Okay? Christ and his word is strong enough to support and sustain every aspect of my life. Okay? This, you have to settle yourself here. This has to be in your life. This has to be in your life. This has to be in a movable fact that you remind yourself of, that becomes your confession, that becomes what you believe.

Christ and his word is strong enough to support and sustain every area of my life. Why? Because somewhere in there, we begin to believe that this wasn't strong enough.

We begin to believe that this wasn't enough, that we needed additive to put with the soil, that we needed to add a couple things, that we needed to mix in because we've, this is the truth. The truth is we believed at some part, at some point, that this wasn't strong enough.

We have to settle. Every aspect of my life can be founded, can be sustained, can be built on this alone. That is where we have to settle.

Soil testing, 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 12. All right. Verse 12 says, "Now, if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw, each one's work will become manifest for the day will disclose it."

He says, we're going to see what happened because when it gets to it, we're going to know the day will disclose it because it's going to be revealed by fire and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

He says, your soil will be found out. You can say, yes, pastor, you know, my life is built on the word and I believe, yes, my Christ is my firm found. Yes, you can sing it to the top of your lungs, but it will be revealed when you face a situation that's too much for you.

When you face a situation that you can't manipulate your way out of, when you face a situation that you can't think your way out of, the foundation and the thing that your life is built on will be revealed. It will be revealed. It will be revealed.

We have to make sure that we are built on the word. So we clear the ground. We clear the ground and then we test the soil. We make sure that the soil is where it needs to be.

Step three, we choose the foundation type. Choose the foundation type. Even God. After you've cleared the ground, after you have gotten rid of those things, after you've looked at the soil and you've passed the soil test, it is still up to you to choose the foundation.

It is still up to you to choose the foundation that you will build on. Joshua chapter 24. Joshua is talking to the Israelites. The Israelites are God's beloved and chosen.

He's talking to them. He's reminding them of God's faithfulness. He's reminding them of the goodness of God. He is going all the way in their history. He's going through the stories of what God has done, but because of their humanity, but because of the fact that they are flesh and blood.

In verse 15, he says, "If it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your father served in the region beyond the river or the gods of the Amorites in whose lands you dwell. But as for me and my house, as for me and my family, as for me and my marriage, as for me and my parenting, as for me and my conversations, as for me and how I work, we will serve the Lord."

Here's the thing, because he laid it out. And if you read Joshua in verse 22, he begins, look, God did this for you, and he brought you out there, and he did this, and you were surrounded by enemies, and he took you out, and he did this, and he continues to do this, and you thought you were down here.

And he goes two whole chapters describing the faithfulness of God. And then he goes, and he goes, and he goes, and he goes, and he goes, and he goes, and he goes, you choose.

I know I laid out a very good, very good track record of God, but you choose this day who you will serve. And just like it is for God's chosen people, it is the same for us. We have to make the decision for ourselves.

Having the knowledge and knowing the answer isn't enough if we never build a foundation for it. We can choose. We can choose to keep building on sand, or we can begin a new foundation that's built on the rock.

But God has made us free moral agents, which means we have the opportunity to decide. Now, the enemy will give you every reason that your foundation is fine, okay? He's going to give you every reason that your foundation is fine.

He'll say, it's not that serious. It's good. Like, look how far you've gotten, and look at where you are. It's fine. You don't need a new foundation. There's no need to start over. So what? There's a little area in your life that you have compromised. That's okay. God loves you, right?

That's what he's going to say. You don't need to make any real changes. But remember, as you're battling that conversation, remember that the enemy's desire is that when trials come, when situations arise, great and complete will be your fall.

That is his desire for you. His desire is not that you would have a good marriage. His desire is not that you would have a good family, that you would have good relationships, that his desire is that great and complete would be your fall.

But God's desire is that you will build a firm foundation. That's okay. That's good. That's good. That's good. That's good. That's good.

That's a firm foundation built on him so that as you build your marriage, so that as you build your family, as you build your relationships, as you build your community, that it would stand and that it would not fall because it had been founded on Jesus Christ, the solid rock, the firm foundation.

I remember when we purchased this building and we began to walk through these buildings and we had our realtor with us, Ms. Lori. And Ms. Lori, I'm excited. Me and my wife, we excited. I'm bright-eyed, bushy-tailed. I'm like, yes, I love it. We'll take it all. Yes.

Ms. Lori is a little different. Ms. Lori, she's been through hundreds of sales. Nothing surprises her. She's not like excited. She's excited, but she's like, whatever. She's like, hey, did you see? I'm like, it's fine. Did you see this? Did you see that? There's some water damage here. You might want to ask them about that.

I'm like, you're going to mess the deal up, Ms. Lori. Come on. Ms. Lori says, hey, I know this is how she is. She's like, I'm mom. She's like, I know you're excited. I know I get it. I'm with you. I can see the vision. This is exactly how she talks.

I can see the vision. I can see how it is. There is a big crack right there that we might want to look at. I'm like, where? I don't even... Look. I was like, oh, that is a big crack because I wouldn't have seen it. I was ready to sign the papers. I was like, let's go.

She says, we need to assess this crack before we agree on a purchase. You need to look at it. Now, you see the crack. We observe the crack. Now, you could do nothing about it. Then you could have all these people in here praising and worshiping God, and one day the entire building falls.

Let me take that back. You can see the cracks that you see in your life, in your relationships, in your parenting, in your marriage, and you can act like it's okay until one day as you decide to try to build it, the entire building falls.

We said, no, we need to check and make sure because when there is a crack in the wall, there's a couple of things that could be going wrong. Depending on how big the crack is and how far the crack goes down, there could be a foundation shifting that has taken place.

If there is a foundation shifting that has taken place, the next foundation needs to be evaluated to make sure that it is firm, or it could be some settling. Settling, fine. Shifting, not fine.

As we begin to evaluate the crack, it took some extra time to look at it and to make sure and have somebody come out and make sure that it was good. They assessed that it was well, that there was a window there, the window was not sealed up properly, and that the crack could be patched in.

Why? Because the foundation was still solid. We need to assess the things in our life. We have to assess the things in our life. We can no longer ignore it. We can no longer just let it go by. We can no longer just be like, oh no, it's fine that I feel this way about myself. It's fine that I believe this about myself.

It's fine that these are the things that I, no, no, no, you need to assess it and determine what is needed.

Ephesians chapter 2, verse 19. Uh, Adriana, you can come.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, outsiders without rights of citizenship, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, God's people, and are members of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone in whom the whole structure is joined together.

And it continues to increase, growing into a holy temple in the Lord, a sanctuary dedicated, set apart and sacred to the presence of the Lord.

Paul tells us that because we are believers, we are citizens and members of God's household. And as believers, Christ is the chief cornerstone.

Now, again, I told y'all I wanted, I was the construction purpose, so I need to look that up. What is a chief cornerstone? And I looked it up and it is the most important stone placed at the corner of a building to guide the builders in their course.

The cornerstone is one of the largest and it is the most solid and it is the most carefully constructed of any in the building. Once the cornerstone is set, it becomes the most common token building in our resistance.

We're going to learn the plan, set are some real examples in the rest of today's reading. More than new ideas come to mind. Here we find that the building is being constructed in a teaching-based way.

We find the den, here we find a new term, helping build other skills undefined use not only the field of inspiration, but the home of the church. Also the field of service. Every home will be divided into but the field of service also needs to express meeting man and the heart of God alongside the faith.

Determining everything of our life, we have a foundation that will not fail when he is the cornerstone. When everything is built from him, everything is aligned. When we look at how we move, we first look at the word and say, no, I'm gonna move here because it's based on the word.

I'm gonna do this because it's based on God. I'm gonna do this because this is what the Lord is speaking. When I lead my life, lead my actions, lead my choices based on the cornerstone, everything else is aligned.

When I don't, it's not aligned. And anyone who's built anything could tell you if the wall ain't right, the building will fall. If the foundation is not right, the building will fall.

So this is what we have to do before we build. Before we improve, our foundation has to be solid. Christ has to be the chief cornerstone of our life. Just like a house is only as strong as its foundation, so our lives must be rooted in Christ.

If our foundation is compromised, so are the structures of our life. And so we have to build to ask this question in every area of our life: Is our life built on Christ and his teachings, or is it failing on the shifting sands of the world?

No, I do this because I feel like this. No, no, no. I just feel, I just think that, you know, and my mom and my grandma and my dad and my grandpa.

No, why do you do this? I talk a lot about knowing the why. Any of my team will tell you knowing the why. If it doesn't go back to this, it's gonna fail. If it doesn't go back here, it's gonna fail.

And as believers, we should not have the story that great was its fall because we know we're here. We have access to it. We got to build it here.

And every day that God allows breath in our lungs, we have another opportunity to build it here. It's another opportunity.

Hey, today I'm gonna begin building a new foundation. Today I'm gonna begin getting rid of those things. Shouldn't be like one of those things. No, I'm gonna get to it.

No, today you have an opportunity to begin building a new foundation. It doesn't matter your age. It doesn't matter your season of life. You have an opportunity to say today, today my life will begin to completely align.

Completely align. I'm not doing the some foundation and some sand. I'm not doing the some rock and some minerals. No, no, no, no. Everything that we do has to come from here.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word. God, I thank you that we hear from you today looking at our life. And God, I know that your Holy Spirit is already speaking and showing us what areas we need to shore up.

Thank you for your grace, God. Thank you for your grace to have us here today to allow us to hear because your desire is not that any area of our life would fail, but that we would have life and that it would be abundant.

Our life would be founded on you and that everything built on it would sustain and be well. God, I thank you for every person under the sound of my voice. God, thank you for new foundations being built.

I thank you that in the process of clearing, God, that although it might hurt, although it might be different, although it might be uncomfortable, that you would sustain us, God.

Breaking those things that are not like you, removing those areas, removing those ideals, those opinions, those things that are not like you. And as we remove those things, God, that you would fill us, you would remind us, you would hold us and help us so that our lives as a whole would be better.

We honor you today, God. We acknowledge you. Thank you, Jesus' name. Amen.

I pray that this week that the Lord would begin to continue to speak to you. The one thing I can't assure you about the word of God is when you hear it, you will be challenged with it to confront it.

That's why it's dangerous to come to church. Why? Because you're going to be held accountable for what you hear, and the Lord will present you an opportunity.

And you have an opportunity to say yes, today I will build or not. Remember, you get to choose the foundation type. But I believe that we want our lives to flourish in every area.

I believe that we want to see God magnified in our life. We want to see the things of the Bible come to pass, but our foundation has to be built on him.

So I pray that as you see these areas that you will be strong enough to say, yep, I see it, Lord. Today I begin doing something different. Today I begin getting rid of those false ideals.

Today I begin building my foundation on you and you alone.

1. "The first or the basis of any major home improvement project is always going to be decided first based on the foundation, okay? If the foundation is solid, then the project will be able to go forward. If it's not solid, then anything that you build on that foundation will not stand, okay? You can try to improve your life. You can try to improve your marriage, your relationships. You can try to improve your community. And we will get to those things, but none of them can be improved unless we first assess the foundation on which these things are built on." [01:36] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "As believers, we need to know the condition of our foundation because if our foundation is compromised, excuse me, if our foundation is full of compromise, then it won't stand. Are you founded on the rock? Is your home founded on the rock? Now, how we operate in our life is made up of our experiences, our traditions, and what we believe, okay? These are the things that make us who we are. If we do not view our experiences, our beliefs, and our traditions through the lens of the word of God, if we do not submit our experiences, our beliefs, and our traditions through the lens of the word of God, if we do not our traditions and our beliefs to the word of God, then we have opened ourselves up to have a faulty foundation." [04:57] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "If we want our life to have a solid foundation, if we want to build and be able to build higher because our foundation is solid, then we got to look at everything. Even those things that we hold tight to, even those things that, that, no, you don't understand. This is, I've had this for a long time. I've had this for a long time. And you don't understand. This is what happened. I do understand. However, it has to be viewed through the lens of the word of God. And if it does not line up, we must get rid of it. Okay. Great will be the fall of our foundation. Great will be the fall of your home. Great will be the fall of your marriage. Great will be the fall of your relationships. We must be founded on the word is your life, is your everything." [07:03] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "The thing that takes the time is the foundation. Because if I make sure that the foundation is right and the foundation is perfect, I could throw it up. I could, I, please. Why? Because the thing that it's founded on is solid and it will stand for years to come. So I began looking up what is the process of building a new foundation. And I found that the first thing that we need to do in order to build a new foundation, the first thing that we have to do here is we got to clear the ground. We must first clear the ground. It is important that we get rid of the faulty foundation. Get rid of the faulty foundation. Get rid of the things that we have been using as foundation. Get rid of the things that we have been using as foundation. Get rid of the thinking. Get rid of the believing. Get rid of the doing that doesn't line up with the word of God. We have to clear the ground." [10:11] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "When we observe that there is something in our life that does not line up, we no longer do that thing. We throw away the mindset that is attached to that. We throw away all the things that are attached to that. And then we begin to submersing ourselves to the will of God. And then we begin to lay a new foundation. And then we begin to lay a new foundation. And then we begin to submersing ourselves in the truth. Okay? Here is the seat. Here it is right here. We begin submersing ourselves in the truth, in the foundation that matters, as we clear the ground. And now the ground is ready. Okay? Now the ground is ready. And so we begin to clear the ground. Now this is a process. Okay? It's not a one day it's going to be good. No, no, no. As I learned, it's going to take a minute." [13:23] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "Christ and his word is strong enough to support and sustain every aspect of my life. Okay? This, you have to settle yourself here. This has to be in your life. This has to be in your life. This has to be in a movable fact that you remind yourself of, that becomes your confession, that becomes what you believe. Christ and his word is strong enough to support and sustain every area of my life. Why? Because somewhere in there, we begin to believe that this wasn't strong enough. We begin to believe that this wasn't enough, that we needed additive, to put with the soil, that we needed to add a couple things, that we needed to mix in because we've, this is the truth. The truth is we believed at some part, at some point, that this wasn't strong enough. We have to settle. Every aspect of my life can be founded, can be sustained, can be built on this alone." [16:23] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "We have to make the decision for ourselves. Having the knowledge and knowing the answer isn't enough if we never build a foundation for it. We can choose. We can choose to keep building on sand, or we can begin a new foundation that's built on the rock. But God has made us free moral agents, which means we have the opportunity to decide. Now, the enemy will give you every reason that your foundation is fine, okay? He's going to give you every reason that your foundation is fine. He'll say, it's not that serious. It's good. Like, look how far you've gotten, and look at where you are. It's fine. You don't need a new foundation. There's no need to start over. So what? There's a little area in your life that you have compromised. That's okay. God loves you, right? That's what he's going to say. You don't need to make any real changes. But remember, as you're battling that conversation, remember that the enemy's desire, is that when trials come, when situations arise, great and complete will be your fall." [24:31] (87 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "We need to assess the things in our life. We have to assess the things in our life. We can no longer ignore it. We can no longer just let it go by. We can no longer just be like, oh no, it's fine that I feel this way about myself. It's fine that I believe this about myself. It's fine that these are the things that I, no, no, no, you need to assess it and determine what is needed. Ephesians chapter two, verse 19. Uh, Adriana, you can come. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, outsiders without rights of citizenship, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, God's people, and are members of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone in whom the whole structure is joined together." [27:54] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "When we look at how we move we first look at the word and say no i'm gonna move here because it's based on the word i'm gonna do this because it's based on god i'm gonna do this because i this is what the lord is speaking when i when i lead my life lead my actions lead my choices based on the on the cornerstone everything else is aligned when i don't it's not aligned and anyone who's built anything could tell you if the wall ain't right the building will fall if the foundation is not right the building will fall so this is what we have to do before we build before we improve our foundation has to be solid christ has to be the chief cornerstone of our life just like a house is only as strong as its foundation so our lives must be rooted in christ if our foundation is compromised so are the structures of our life and so we have to build to ask this question in every area of our life is our life built on christ and his teachings or is it failing on the shifting sands of the world" [31:13] (112 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)