Firm Foundation

Standing Firm in a Firm Foundation

OPENING

This morning I’d like to talk to you about Standing Firm in a Firm Foundation. What it means to have a firm foundation and how do we know when we have one.

PISA

The leaning tower of Pisa, as you all know, is an amazing piece of architecture. The Tower of Pisa was a work of art, performed in three stages over a period of about 174 years. Construction of the first floor of the white marble tower began on August 9, 1173, a period of military success and prosperity for Italy.

After a phase of structural strengthening, the tower is currently undergoing gradual surface restoration, in order to repair visual damage, mostly corrosion and blackening. These are particularly strong due to the tower’s age and to its particular conditions with respect to wind and rain

But did you know that the tower of Pisa will eventually fall.

Scientists actually predict that it will fall sometime within this year - The year 2007. They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch per year, and is now 17 feet out of plumb.

When Pisa does fall the 810 year old tower will have leaned too far and will collapse onto a nearby restaurant, which happens to be where Scientists now gather to discuss their findings about Pisa.

Time isn’t the main cause of Pisa’s dysfunctional architecture. Many other buildings the same age are still standing fine to this day. It isn’t so much weather and decay, either. The tower began to sink after construction progressed to the third floor. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, the engineers built higher floors with one side taller than the other. This made the tower begin to lean in the other direction. Because of this, the tower is actually curved. Pisa’s problem lies within the foundation. It is built on a swamp and its foundation is only 10” feet deep.

This means that from the day Pisa was built it was destined to fall.

Luke 6:46-49.

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck the house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck the house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Powerful words that Jesus spoke. He’s illustrating a person that truly does call themselves a Christian. This morning I want to talk to you about how to build a firm foundation and to truly put Gods word into practice.

DIG DOWN DEEP

The previous verse says we need to dig down deep when we lay our foundation if we truly call Jesus our Lord. What does that mean? How do we dig down deep for our foundation?

We need to go beyond the surface-level of Christianity.

- Not just showing up for church, but making our lives a worship to Christ.

Romans 12:1

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.

- Not just faith, but deeds that reflect our faith.

Luke 8:22-26

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let’s go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we’re going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

- Not just reading the bible, but sharing it with others.

- Not just fellowship, but hospitality and true relationships with those in the church.

- Not lip service, but doing what God asks of us.

John 14:15

15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

We need to examine ourselves.

We need to take an honest look at our faith, our lifestyles, our relationships with others, and most importantly our relationship with God. We need to apply the teachings of Jesus in our lives.