Wise and foolish builder

“We believe passionately that the Bible is indispensable for the future wellbeing of our world because it reveals God’s character and purpose for humankind. Not surprisingly then, we want to see a world where the inspiration, wisdom and realism of the Bible shapes and changes the way individuals, communities and nations live, where everyone everywhere has the opportunity to encounter the drama of the Bible for themselves, to bring purpose, dignity and vitality to their lives.”

Bible Survey 20% - only read when the “mood” takes them. 50% - study occasionally 20% - never study it!

James 1 v (Message) “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are nothing but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

Summary of our life: Immature Impoverished Immoral

SELF-DECEPTION We do not act on what we hear!

Sermon on the Mount 3 Warnings: Hear all about the kingdom but never enter it! Fooled by people’s appearance and abilities! Self-deceived!

Matthew 7 v (Message) “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.”

“Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

SIMILARITIES They had the same GOAL: Need for SECURITY Need for SELF-WORTH Need for SIGNIFICANCE

DIFFERENCES The foundations: Rock – SUBSTANTIAL Sand – SUPERFICIAL (non-existent!)

CONSEQUENCES In the time of testing: ONE STOOD and the other FELL “Fell with a great crash.” “Collapsed like a house of cards.” “Its destruction was complete.”

FINAL TEST “It is appointed unto men once to die, then comes the judgement.” (Hebrews 9 v 27) “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14 v 12)

“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5 v 10)

Matthew 7 v 21 “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Ezekiel 33 v 31,32 “My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.”

Question to Jesus: “What must we do to do the works of God?” “The work of God is this: to believe (to cleave to, to trust, to rely on and have faith in) the one he has sent.” (John 6 v 28,29)

JOHN 17 v 3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.”

“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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against that house; YET IT DID NOT FALL, because it had its foundation on THE ROCK.”