The Gospel According to Matthew
Matthew 7: 24-29
Introduction: One of the most powerful tools a preacher can use in his sermon is a well told story that illustrates his point. A story that only meant to entertain can hurt the delivery of the message and yet a story in the right place with the right message can make a sermon powerful. Jesus used parables or stories all the time. He knew it was a powerful tool. Here at the end of His sermon he uses a parable to punctuate his point. These last words are important. Here He gives us two life changing points.
READ: Matthew 7:24-29
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Foundations are important. It doesn't matter what you put on top of a foundation, it the foundation isn't good, the house will fail. You can have the nicest of everything but without the foundation it is doomed to fail. If you have ever had a house with a failing foundation you know that no matter how many times you mend cracking walls they will crack again and again until the foundation is fixed! The foundation is everything!!!
So what makes up the strong foundation here?
What is the formula?
What do the strong and weak foundations have in common?
What makes them different?
After studying this sermon, how would you summarize what he was saying?
What did you hear?
What does it mean to put it into practice?
How would you put what you heard into practice?
Here Jesus is calling us to action. He has given us the tools for the good foundation! He has let us know what we need to do and is letting us know what will happen if we don't do what is needed.
What else does this passage highlight?
When my children were little, and as they grew perhaps the hardest thing to do and yet one of the most important things to do was to let them make choices. To help them see the benefits of making the right choice but letting them make the choice.
I remember each time we told them they were old enough and they needed to make the choice, we cringed as parents, spent even more time on our knees and hoped they would make the right choice.
Here Jesus let's us know that we have a choice. Choice is the very foundation, the essence of love. Without choice there is no love. As soon as choice is removed so is love. I choose to love I can not be forced to love.
In this final short passage Jesus is letting us know 2 very important life changing points.
1. I have given you all the tools you need to have a great foundation.
2. You have the freedom to choose whether or not you choose the strong foundation.
Both of these points tell us that one thing!
God IS LOVE!!!
Just like any good parent, God has given us everything we need to succeed. Just like any good parent, he loves us and desires us to love Him, therefore this all must be a choice we make. He will not force His path, His ways, His foundation on us.
What are we choosing between?
What is the answer?
"You have heard it said,... but I tell you"
What you have heard...
What He told you...
Our choice. Are we going to choose Jesus? Are we going to not just say it but DO it?
With this we see the importance of doing!
He doesn't just call us to know and understand but to take action and do.
NOW for the ENDING of the ENDING.
Read:
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Why is this important? Who cares. The sermon is over.
What are these two verses about?
The response. How people reacted to what He said.
They were stunned! Stunned.
Why were they stunned?
When you or I teach or preach about His word, we are sharing His word. He was sharing His word. In John 1 it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." Jesus was the authority, and the crowds heard the difference.
How important that we read the very words of God?!
How important that we do exactly what we do in this class. Study His word!
His words will stun us! His words will amaze us! His words will give us the tools to make wise choices. His words will warn us. His words will express His love for us. His words will transform us if we choose HIM! He is the way!
"You have heard it said,... but I say to you!!!"
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