Rock Solid Faith: Sermon On The Mount

ROCK SOLID FAITH #2: THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

INTRO: Last week, our Senior Pastor Steve started a series on the Sermon on the Mount called, Rock Solid Faith. This is part two.

How many of you would like to have a rock solid-faith? Jesus gives us the key:

OPENING TEXT:

“24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:24-29).

• Jesus talks about, “hearing and doing these sayings of mine.” What sayings? Primarily he’s talking about his teaching in the sermon on the mount.

• How are you building your life? Are you being a smart or a stupid carpenter?

• If you want to develop a rock-solid faith, build on the rock of Jesus’ teaching!

ILLUSTRATION: Retiring Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

(illustration taken from a sermon on sermon central dot com)

• Are you ready to start developing a rock-solid faith? Let’s re-read Jesus’ words:

“24 These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit - but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. 26 "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” (Matthew 7:24-27, The Message).

GHANDI QUOTE: “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” Why is that? Because of Christians who don’t live the life. We need to change that!

BACKGROUND TO THE SERMON:

“23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew 4:23-25).

What do we learn about Jesus here? He is compassionate, and looks for ways to love and bless people. This is one of the things that motivated him to preach and teach the people, knowing that the truth of God’s Word can change their lives!

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: Jesus is THE Prince of Preachers!

“1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed…”

BLESSED: happy, supremely blessed; to be envied, and spiritually prosperous – with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation.