Are you a wise or foolish builder?
Are you a wise or foolish builder?
Preached my 2nd sermon at the youth service today (the first was during my field education attachment during my final semester =) ... Well, the feedback received has been positive and encouraging - thanks all =) ... One of the feedback received, however, was that I had been a bit too fast during the delivery - in the aspects of moving on from slides to slides =P ... As a result, many of the youths who were trying to copy down notes from the slides could not jot down everything in time. Hence, I thought what I'll do is to summarize the notes here in this blog so that anyone who's keen may access it at any point in time =)
Firstly, the video clip that was shown with the tune quite stucked in many heads after the sermon ... lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ0L6DftGg&feature=related
A summary of the points covered during sermon (Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49):-
The similarity between the houses and the builders
- Externally there are no apparent difference between the houses
- The function of both would not have been significantly different from each other under normal circumstances
- On the surface, both sets of builders also appear similar
- Both are persons who pursue religious things
- Both sets of builders heard the same things taught by the Teacher
- Both sets of builders did something – both built houses
- The only difference was that one was willing to sweat it out more and take the harder route, and as a result grew deeper and stronger … whereas the other one was contended with merely skimming the superficial – as long as something is done.
So what was the difference that made the DIFFERENCE?
- The foolish builders planned only for the present, and for fair weather.
- He neglected the need and the importance of a safe and secure foundation.
- There was perhaps complacency and pride in their attitude, thinking that the little efforts put in would be enough to help counter the effects that trials bring
- ATTITUDE makes a great deal of difference, and decides for us whether we will become the wise builder or the foolish builder.
Why build on rocks? How does building on rocks benefit us?
- Jesus encouraged his audience to be wise builders – building on rocks than on sand.
- Rocks are hard, firm and solid.
- Sand, on the other hand, appears to be firm and solid during fair weather, but is actually fragile and undependable during times of storms and floods. Try recalling the times when you see sea water gushes in and the effects the water has on seemingly magnificient and sturdy sand castles
4 benefits of building on rocks
Helps us to:-
- be Rich, spiritually (we not only have resources, we will even have reserves!!)
- Orientate our life clearly and properly (because we know who we are and whose we are)
- Counter Satan’s attacks successfully (he knows God's Word too so shouldn't we all the more?)
- to Keep our faith when troubles comes (we know testing comes not because God loves us any lesser)
On the other hand, buildings on sand will sink make us when turbulent times come …
On SAND, we will become:-
- easily Suspicious about God and His goodness
- begin to find Alternatives and believe in our feelings rather than God
- become cultivators of Negative feelings
- and as a result, we become Disillusioned with who God is and His goodness
While the foundation you lay your house on is important, the material that is put in plays an equally important role. Houses that are built on rocks will also need quality material so that there can be a good complement between the foundation laid and the material used, and the house can function for the right purpose of protection.
How then should we build?
Luke 6:47-49 tells us we need to DUG DEEP (meaning, be willing to spend time with God, digging His Word, uncovering the treasures - use EZRA as an example =) ... and we also need to lay your foundation on the right material – Jesus Christ! And this means (1) having a knowledge of Jesus Christ’s character, person, offices, and work, (2) means rejecting all other things as a basis for hope, (3) depending solely on Jesus for pardon, acceptance and eternal life.
When we build our lives on Christ the Rock, it means that we have to actively believe, confirm and obey His authority – not simply hearing what He says but DOING what He desires.
To build on the rock takes time, and it requires hard work – are you willing to invest this time that will prove more lasting than shoddy pieces of work?
Your choice, your decision – wise or foolish?
What kind of builders do you want to be? The wise one who builds on the rock, or the foolish ones who builds on the sand?
When Jesus used the words, “wise man” and “foolish man” (in Matthew), He was not referring to wisdom that is measured by the world’s standards (straight "A"s ... successful career ... wise investment plans, etc). That would be “intelligence”, rather than wisdom.
Matthew identifies the hearer who acts upon what he hears as "wise" (phronimos in Greek) – and this is someone with practical skill or a cautious character. Wisdom therefore, does not come from simply knowing and understanding the Bible, but by acting upon that knowledge in everyday life.
The wise man HEARS, PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, and hence he is able to stand the rains that came down (false lies that attack our minds) … streams that rose (stresses of life) … and winds that blew and beat against the house (loud voices from the world that keeps bombarding us). To claim to believe and yet continue to act as before is foolishness; and the fool’s house - his or her very life – will be utterly destroyed in the storms and floods of life.
Jesus ended His Sermon on the Mount by challenging His audience to be wise builders – how about us – me and you? Are we going to be the ones that call, “Lord, Lord” and yet people whom Jesus knew not, or are we going to be people who truly act on the Living Word of God (James 1:22-25)?
Lord, give us all a heart that seek after You - not merely contented with head knowledge, but knowledge that transforms into living testimonies that glorify Your Name, allowing others to see You IN AND THROUGH us. Amen.
Preached my 2nd sermon at the youth service today (the first was during my field education attachment during my final semester =) ... Well, the feedback received has been positive and encouraging - thanks all =) ... One of the feedback received, however, was that I had been a bit too fast during the delivery - in the aspects of moving on from slides to slides =P ... As a result, many of the youths who were trying to copy down notes from the slides could not jot down everything in time. Hence, I thought what I'll do is to summarize the notes here in this blog so that anyone who's keen may access it at any point in time =)
Firstly, the video clip that was shown with the tune quite stucked in many heads after the sermon ... lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHJ0L6DftGg&feature=related
A summary of the points covered during sermon (Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49):-
The similarity between the houses and the builders
- Externally there are no apparent difference between the houses
- The function of both would not have been significantly different from each other under normal circumstances
- On the surface, both sets of builders also appear similar
- Both are persons who pursue religious things
- Both sets of builders heard the same things taught by the Teacher
- Both sets of builders did something – both built houses
- The only difference was that one was willing to sweat it out more and take the harder route, and as a result grew deeper and stronger … whereas the other one was contended with merely skimming the superficial – as long as something is done.
So what was the difference that made the DIFFERENCE?
- The foolish builders planned only for the present, and for fair weather.
- He neglected the need and the importance of a safe and secure foundation.
- There was perhaps complacency and pride in their attitude, thinking that the little efforts put in would be enough to help counter the effects that trials bring
- ATTITUDE makes a great deal of difference, and decides for us whether we will become the wise builder or the foolish builder.
Why build on rocks? How does building on rocks benefit us?
- Jesus encouraged his audience to be wise builders – building on rocks than on sand.
- Rocks are hard, firm and solid.
- Sand, on the other hand, appears to be firm and solid during fair weather, but is actually fragile and undependable during times of storms and floods. Try recalling the times when you see sea water gushes in and the effects the water has on seemingly magnificient and sturdy sand castles
4 benefits of building on rocks
Helps us to:-
- be Rich, spiritually (we not only have resources, we will even have reserves!!)
- Orientate our life clearly and properly (because we know who we are and whose we are)
- Counter Satan’s attacks successfully (he knows God's Word too so shouldn't we all the more?)
- to Keep our faith when troubles comes (we know testing comes not because God loves us any lesser)
On the other hand, buildings on sand will sink make us when turbulent times come …
On SAND, we will become:-
- easily Suspicious about God and His goodness
- begin to find Alternatives and believe in our feelings rather than God
- become cultivators of Negative feelings
- and as a result, we become Disillusioned with who God is and His goodness
While the foundation you lay your house on is important, the material that is put in plays an equally important role. Houses that are built on rocks will also need quality material so that there can be a good complement between the foundation laid and the material used, and the house can function for the right purpose of protection.
How then should we build?
Luke 6:47-49 tells us we need to DUG DEEP (meaning, be willing to spend time with God, digging His Word, uncovering the treasures - use EZRA as an example =) ... and we also need to lay your foundation on the right material – Jesus Christ! And this means (1) having a knowledge of Jesus Christ’s character, person, offices, and work, (2) means rejecting all other things as a basis for hope, (3) depending solely on Jesus for pardon, acceptance and eternal life.
When we build our lives on Christ the Rock, it means that we have to actively believe, confirm and obey His authority – not simply hearing what He says but DOING what He desires.
To build on the rock takes time, and it requires hard work – are you willing to invest this time that will prove more lasting than shoddy pieces of work?
Your choice, your decision – wise or foolish?
What kind of builders do you want to be? The wise one who builds on the rock, or the foolish ones who builds on the sand?
When Jesus used the words, “wise man” and “foolish man” (in Matthew), He was not referring to wisdom that is measured by the world’s standards (straight "A"s ... successful career ... wise investment plans, etc). That would be “intelligence”, rather than wisdom.
Matthew identifies the hearer who acts upon what he hears as "wise" (phronimos in Greek) – and this is someone with practical skill or a cautious character. Wisdom therefore, does not come from simply knowing and understanding the Bible, but by acting upon that knowledge in everyday life.
The wise man HEARS, PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE, and hence he is able to stand the rains that came down (false lies that attack our minds) … streams that rose (stresses of life) … and winds that blew and beat against the house (loud voices from the world that keeps bombarding us). To claim to believe and yet continue to act as before is foolishness; and the fool’s house - his or her very life – will be utterly destroyed in the storms and floods of life.
Jesus ended His Sermon on the Mount by challenging His audience to be wise builders – how about us – me and you? Are we going to be the ones that call, “Lord, Lord” and yet people whom Jesus knew not, or are we going to be people who truly act on the Living Word of God (James 1:22-25)?
Lord, give us all a heart that seek after You - not merely contented with head knowledge, but knowledge that transforms into living testimonies that glorify Your Name, allowing others to see You IN AND THROUGH us. Amen.
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