What Are You Building On?

What Are You Building On?

Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49

Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. [25] Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. [26] But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. [27] When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash."

Luke 6:47-49 (NLT)

I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. [48] It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. [49] But anyone who listens and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins."

Obedience Is The Key

 Many people are willing to “listen”

– They hear the truth

– They may even agree with the truth

 Obedience puts feet to your values

– The visible proof of your faith

– Evidence of a transformed life – James 1:22-25

James 1:22-25 (NLT)

And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. [23] For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. [24] You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. [25] But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Obedience Is The Key

 Many people are willing to “listen”

– They hear the truth

– They may even agree with the truth

 Obedience puts feet to your values

– The visible proof of your faith

– Evidence of a transformed life – James 1:22-25

 The man who listens and obeys is likened to the “wise” man

The Importance of Foundation

 The strength of the foundation determines the strength of the structure

 Storms will come – John 16:33

John 16:33a (NLT)

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows...

A Firm Foundation

 Your foundation provides the moral compass that guides your decisions

 Jesus is our firm foundation – 1 Timothy 6:3

– His teachings bring life to those who follow

1 Timothy 6:3 (NLT)

Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life.

A Firm Foundation

 Your foundation provides the moral compass that guides your decisions

 Jesus is our firm foundation – 1 Timothy 6:3

– His teachings bring life to those who follow

 Your foundation allows for absolutes to build your life upon – Jude 1:20

Jude 1:20 (NLT)

But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.

Shifting Sand

 The “foolish” man builds his house on unstable ground

– Will not withstand the storms of life

– Has no anchoring characteristics

 Moral relativism – James 1:8

– No moral absolutes

– Situational ethics

James 1:8 (HCSB)

An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

A Catastrophic Collapse

 The lack of strong foundation will lead to collapse in other areas of life

– Moral

– Financial

– Ethical

– Relational

What Is Your Foundation?

**Powerpoint available on request