May 18, 2003 - Lesson: Matthew 7:24-27

Sermon Title: The House on the Rock

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INTRODUCTION:

Little Johnny came home from Sunday School and told his mother that if he missed three Sundays in a row, the teacher would throw him into the furnace.

The horrified mother telephoned the teacher at once.

"What I said was," the calm teacher explained, "that if any child missed three Sundays in a row, he would be dropped from the register." (1)

  1. This humorous story well illustrates the point about understanding what is said and heard.

    1. Johnny head and not understand.

    2. Mom acted on what was understood or heard.

    3. Both needed clarification for true understanding and application.

  2. It has to do with hearing and doing.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. Helga and I met Pastor and Mrs. Norland at Governor Dodge State Park.

    1. I told him that Vivian Dodge had given me, not permanently, some serious historical documents of our church.

    2. Among them was an article from the Capital Times dated Saturday, October 3, 1970.

    3. The title of the article was: Minister, Members Build Additions to Arena Church.

    4. There was a picture of Pastor Norland and LaVerne Sneath.

      1. The caption under the photo read:

LaVerne Sneath and the Rev. Bernard Norland (in work clothes) discuss final stages of remodeling and addition building before Arena's 106 year old Congregational Church, the congregation, under the leadership of the Rev. Norland and Sneath, building chairman, are doing all the work themselves. The cost thus far--a $1,750 architects fee, $1,029 for plumbing and wiring labor, and $6,000 for materials--and no debt.

      1. I have been told that Rev. Norland built the kitchen cupboards it is an excellent piece of work.

    1. This original building from 1864-1865 and its additions have stood the test of time.

      1. The storms have threatened.

      2. The gales have blown.

      3. The rain and hail have beaten upon it.

      4. The building stands because it is built on a firm foundation.

      5. We know that a church is more than a building.

    2. A church is people.

      1. The gathered ones.

      2. The ones called by Jesus Christ into fellowship through owning the covenant of mutual love, support and encouragement.

    3. This congregation, organized in 1863, has stood the test of time.

      1. The storms have threatened.

      2. The gales has blown.

      3. The rain and hail have beaten upon you.

        1. Conflicts have arisen.

        2. Troubles have occurred.

        3. Differing opinions have sundered loyalties and families.

      4. The congregation has remained steadfast and sure because it is built on a sure foundation.

  1. Jesus is concerned not only with buildings and congregations but also with our personal lives.

    1. This is why he speaks of houses and foundations.

      1. This is why he speaks of words and hearing or not hearing.

      2. This is why he speaks of action and inaction.

24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

    1. The one who hears does more than listen.

      1. The one who hears integrates what is heard into life.

      2. The words become part of the very fiber of being.

    2. When the testing time comes the building remains.

25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

    1. Jesus also speaks about those who hear but do not integrate.

26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

      1. This person hears but does not integrate has no foundation on which to stand.

"GOOD QUESTION: In 1989, 96 fans were crushed to death in a soccer stadium in Sheffield, England, and another 200 were injured. At one of the hospitals to which these victims were taken, an attending surgeon spoke to the parents who had come to find out the fate of their children. The surgeon read the names of those killed, expressed his sympathy to the parents, and then said that as a Christian he believed that God understood the parents' grief and was with them in the time of need. One father bitterly responded: 'What does God know about losing a son?'" (2)

      1. The person hears but only partially integrates has little place to stand.

Talking with a friend who was in a panic. Preparing for a concert. Plugged his guitar into the amp and there was not a sound. Save your panic for something serious. By the way, all that was needed was to replace a 9 volt battery.

    1. The impact of the lack of integration is severe.

      1. What did Jesus say:

27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!" Matthew 7:24-27 (NRSVA)

      1. It may lead to such a doubt that the words no longer have significant meaning.

      2. It may lead to a separation from the words that there is a permanent and lasting break from the rock.

  1. There are other ways in which the use of a strong and lasting foundation ought to be considered so that we may integrate the words of Jesus into the whole of life and relationships.

    1. It has to do with living a life that really is life.

17As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NRSVA)

    1. It has to do with the foundation of information and understanding.

1Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, 2instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1 through Hebrews 6:2 (NRSVA)

    1. It has to do with the quality of the structure.

19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. Ephesians 2:19-22 (NRSVA)

1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation--3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." 7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," 8and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:1-10 (NRSVA)

    1. It has to do with counting the cost in terms of life and eternal life.

25Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Luke 14:25-30 (NRSVA)

  1. There are times in our building that we come to recognize that it is necessary to tear down as well as to build up.

    1. Bricks or blocks are put in place.

      1. They may appear to be beautiful and functional.

      2. Time reveals that they are unfit, misplaced or even dangerous to one's spiritual and religious welfare.

      3. These blocks must be removed and another strong and substantial one put into its place.

    2. This is the way it is with life.

      1. We have to constantly as ourselves, "What did we hear?"

      2. We have to be continually challenged with the question "How did we hear?"

    3. We do this because problems are going to develop.

      1. We do this because crisis are going to test us.

      2. Faith will be tested and sometimes severely so.

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CONCLUSION:

  1. We have a choice.

    1. We can build on sand.

      1. The building may be impressive and well-built.

      2. It may incorporate all our heart's desire.

      3. The question is will it stand?

      4. It is not likely that it will.

    2. We can build upon the rock.

      1. Whoever hears these words of mine and does them.

      2. It does not say how well or how complete or how perfectly.

      3. What it does say is that the person who does them to the best of understanding and ability will build a life that will last.

  2. And this is all that matters.

1. Presbyterian Life

2. Expository Times, May 2003. Quoted in the "Christian Century", May 17, 2002, p 6

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