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Matt. 7.24-27_Foundations, Faulty or Firm

Foundations, Faulty or Firm?

Matthew 7:24-27

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.”
Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

Digging Deeper

The Bible has much to say about obedience.  Take a few moments and look up these passages and discuss them together.

• Deuteronomy 5:29
• Psalm 1; 81:13
• John 14:15, 21
• Romans 2:13
• James 1:25
• Revelation 22:7

Digesting the Text

• Take a moment to compare the two characters of Jesus’ parable.  What is similar between each?  What sets them apart from one another?
• It takes hard work and extra time to dig beneath the surface and build a house on the rock instead of the sand.  What are some ways that you prefer the “easy way” in your Christianity?  Are there corners that you might cut in your obedience?
• No one likes to think of themselves as “deceived” and having built on sand instead of stone.  What are some sandy foundations that you have seen in your own life or in the lives of others? 
• This current crisis is not the final storm but it is a good opportunity for us to check our foundation.  How has this season encouraged you to examine your obedience to Jesus and your relationship with him, with his word, with his church?
• Take a moment of honesty and vulnerability.  Are there commands of Christ that you do not like or that you find difficult to obey?  How can you come together as a family or a group of friends to support each other in these known areas of weakness?
• How does the gospel’s message that Jesus’s perfect obedience and not our disobedience or incomplete obedience will be the firm foundation for all those who have put their faith in Jesus motivate you to be more obedient instead of less?