INTRO: The Bible makes right choices easy choices. Be wise or foolish. Build on rock or sand. There are hardly any easier choices than these. Our sinful flesh desires to do what is contrary to God’s Word. God’s will. The early apostles reminded the Jewish crowds they were responsible for having Jesus crucified. They even used wicked people to carry out their sinfulness. Conclusion: "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone" (ACTS 4:11). Though Christ was rejected Christ was still the Cornerstone. It is so important for us to remember: CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION. I. Shifting sand shifts. II. Solid rock is solid.
I. SHIFTING SAND SHIFTS (FAlLS)
A. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount covers chapters 5, 6, and 7 of Matthew. Long sermon.
1. Today’s verses (7:24-29) conclude the Sermon on the Mount.
2. Earlier Jesus taught about false prophets, the narrow gate, and the Lord’s prayer.
B. Verse 26. Those who hear and do not follow are foolish builders. They build on sand.
C. Verse 27. Rains came. Rivers rose. Winds beat against the house. It fell. Sand shifts.
1. Easy to understand illustration. All: young, old, know that sand is not a good foundation.
2. Very unwise and downright foolish to build on shifting sand. Expect complete destruction.
C. Rock or sand? None of us want to be foolish. None of us would build on sand. Would we? We all have acted foolishly. Therefore, we have built on sand from time to time. This happens when the wisdom of this world distracts us from the truth of God. His word. How often have we been misled by what the world declares to be true? All too often. Worldly wisdom has a bad habit of changing. Consider our solar system. Pluto was included in the listing of planets. Then excluded as not a real planet. Some have put it back into the planet category. Certain foods or drinks are good for you. Then bad for you. Then good. This week a headline declared that scientists think they have figured out how the world was formed. Really?!? God said: “Let there be light…” God created the world, universe, and everything in it. Human knowledge without God is foolishly built on sand.
“Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be shattered and captured. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have?” (JEREMIAH 28:9). Worldly wisdom is not divine truth.
D. Wise or foolish? Our society today does not like the biblical teaching concerning sin. People want to reject that word sin. Or deny sin. Or cover it up by calling sin something else (sickness, disease). Such foolish teaching and thinking do not excuse anyone from sin. Nor are we blameless. It is valuable when we start our worship service with confession of our sins. We are sinners. Our loving, heavenly Father forgives us. Calls us his children. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…If we say we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 JOHN 1:8…10). When God’s word is missing it is foolishness. The building on sand falls. Completely destroyed.
E. Rock / wise or sand/ foolish. Our second reading today (Galatians 5, especially verses 19-12) list the wickedness that dwells in our sinful nature. Our sinful nature opposes God. Our sinful flesh wants to do everything and anything that is not God-pleasing. We are sinfully selfish, self-serving individuals.
"Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. To be sure, whatever a man sows, he will also reap. Indeed, the one who sows for his own sinful flesh will reap destruction from the sinful flesh" (GALATIANS 6:7, 8). Worldliness is foolishness. Sand based complete destruction follows sowing to please our sinful flesh.
CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION. Shifting sand shifts (falls).
II. SOLID ROCK IS SOLID (STANDS)
A. Verse 24. Long sermon. Crowd heard much. Jesus reminded them hearing was the beginning.
1. Listening was very important. Take what heard and put into practical living.
2. Verse 25. Rain came. Rivers rose. Winds beat against house. Storms affect all people.
3. Now the house on bedrock did not fall. Wisely built on the sure foundation.
B. Verse 28. “When Jesus finished speaking these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching…”
1. People amazed at the truth of what Jesus taught. Rock / sand easy to understand.
2. Early in Jesus’ ministry. Not everyone sure of the Jesus’ divine nature. Amazed
C. Verse 29. “…because he taught them as one who had authority…” God’s word powerful.
1. People at this time familiar with religious leaders’ teachings. Sand-based foolishness.
2. Sadly the religious leaders had strayed from the word of God = wisdom and rock.
D. Rock or sand? The only firm foundation is the Rock. Storms will come in our lives. Storms have beat against us. Our house of faith did not fall because it stood firm on Christ the solid Rock. There may have been times when we felt like we were sinking in the quicksand of life’s storms. It is at those times our loving, heavenly Father reminds us that Christ and Christ alone is our sure foundation. Our solid Rock. We might feel all alone or forgotten. Abandoned by friends or even loved ones. We are not. "Nevertheless, God’s foundation stands firm, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord keep away from wickedness’" (2 TIMOTHY 2:19). The Lord knows us by name. Calls us to be his children. We know the Lord God of Armies loves us with a perfect love. God gives the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Wisdom. Strength to do what is right in his sight.
E. Wise or foolish? We do not want to be foolish. Or called foolish. Thank the Lord for his power to change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. God’s grace opens our ears to hear…eyes to see…hearts to believe Christ is our sure foundation. This is not the case with all too many in our world today. "Just as it is written: Look, I am putting a stone in Zion over which they will stumble and a rock over which they will fall. The one who believes in him will not be put to shame" (ROMANS 9:33). The foolish still stumble over the Rock. Wise children on the Rock will not be put to shame. The foolish declare unborn babies can be murdered. Foolish think there are more than two genders. God’s wisdom declares truth. Life begins at the moment of conception (Psalm 51:5). Male and female God created them (Genesis 1:17). Wisdom!
F. Rock /wise or foolish / sand? God’s chosen people shouted “Crucify!” It was the foolishness of their hearts. Their sand-based faith. Children of God Christ is our sure foundation. Rock. "You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Cornerstone" (EPHESIANS 2:20). Apostles = New Testament. Prophets = Old Testament. Cornerstone = Rock, wisdom.
CONC.: Life can be like quicksand. The storms of life beat against our very souls. We stand firm. Below all the sand there is solid rock. By grace we know Christ is our solid Rock. Wisdom. "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD. It is marvelous in our eyes” (PSALM 118:22, 23). Foolish builders on sand reject Christ. Wise builders on rock know Christ as the cornerstone. This is from the Lord. We marvel. Are amazed. The next verse: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” CHRIST IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION today and tomorrow…even eternally! Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENTECOST 6 readings.: 1 KINGS 19:14-21; GALATIANS 5:1,13-25; LUKE 9:51-62; (PSALM 62)
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