BUILDING GOD’S COMMUNITY TOGETHER Matthew 7:24-29

Introduction Story: My passion! We need to have an encounter with Jesus Our relationship with Jesus is the foundation of our faith

Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV) 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.” 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.

Context Jesus was coming to the end of his teaching on the Sermon on the Mount “therefore” – a conclusion of what has been said From: “I never knew you” to “I know them by their fruit”, “the narrow way”, “ask, seek, knock”, “do not judge”, “do not worry”, “you cannot serve God & riches”, “treasures in heaven”, “fasting” to the “Lord’s prayer”, “love your enemies”, “adultery in the heart”, “murder begins in the heart”, “Christ fulfils the law”, “salt & light”, and it all began with “the beatitudes”.

Building God’s Kingdom… Jesus spoke with authority and not legalism It was highly practical and applicable So much so that Jesus summed it up into two things in the end… Follow Christ or do everything else Translation: be a wise builder or a foolish builder

Building God’s Kingdom… The foolish builder actually did allot of things right (believe it or not)… They built a house – that’s allot of work But what matters is what they built it on The right foundation

Building God’s Kingdom… The wise builder built their house on the right foundation = Christ Isa 28:16 – 16 So this is what the Sovereign L ORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

Building God’s Kingdom… Quick observation about the two builders Both built houses Both faced storms One house stood while the other house fell The difference? The one who heard & does them vs. the one who heard & does not do them

Building God’s Kingdom… When you make Jesus your foundation – the fruit will be amazing (rather than something else)…

Application… So how do we do this, here, at Edge Church? Apply the 7 foundations of our church; and they are as follows…