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Jun 23, 2019

A Sure Foundation

A Sure Foundation

Passage: Matthew 7:24

Speaker: Ben Seneker

Series: The Highest Good

Keywords: hope, sermon on the mount, security, balance, satisfaction, solid rock, matthew 7

All of our lives are built upon something in which (or in whom) we find our hope, balance, satisfaction and security. In our personal kingdoms those house-foundations are naturally those things around us, which we desperately try to control (relationships, appearance, accomplishments). However, Jesus invites us to build our lives, hopes and satisfaction upon him, the Solid Rock, because he can never be moved or swayed; he is steadfast forever and ever, able to hold us up through the strongest storms.

Order of Worship

Pre-Service Text: Matthew 7:24
Call To Worship: From Psalm 18
Sermon Title: A Sure Foundation
Confession of Sin: Based on Micah 6 and Psalm 51
Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 34:22
Benediction: Ephesians 2:19-22
Post-Service Text: Matthew 7:28-29

06.23.19 Photo Illustrations

Readings & Scripture

Pre-Service Text: Matthew 7:24
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Call To Worship: From Psalm 18
LEADER: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

ALL: I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised.

LEADER: For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?

ALL: The God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
He made my feet like the feet of a deer
and set me secure on the heights.

LEADER: You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.

ALL: The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation
For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
and sing to your name.

Central Text: Matthew 7:24-29
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Confession of Sin: Based on Micah 6 and Psalm 51.
LEADER: Merciful God,
you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart,
nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness,
or walked humbly with you, our God.

ALL: Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness.
In your great compassion,
cleanse us from our sin.
Create in us a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Do not cast us from your presence,
or take your Holy Spirit from us.
Restore to us the joy of your salvation
and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 34:22
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Benediction: Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Post-Service Text: Matthew 7:28-29
 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Related Scriptures

  • Psalm 18:2
  • Psalm 40:2
  • Isaiah 28:15-16
  • Matthew 16:15-19
  • Romans 9:30-33
  • 1 Corinthians 3:11

Discussion Questions & Applications:

  1. As Jesus concludes his sermon, he has warned against the wide gate that leads to destruction, false prophets, and disciples that are not known by him (cf. Matthew 7:13-23). How is this parable about the wise builder and foolish builder similar? How is it different?
  2. What are examples of ‘houses’ that we all build? What are examples of weak foundations that we use to support our ‘houses’? How and why is Jesus always the more solid foundation?
  3. How does this parable relate to both our present lives as well our next life when we have to stand in judgement? What is the good news for both now and then?
  4. In verse 28, we read that the crowds were astonished at his teaching. What are some possible reasons for their reaction?

Quotes

“So there is nothing more vital for us to realize than this very thing: the Christian life, the Christian faith, is not something that we add on to what we have; it is something that is done to us.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones

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