Grand designs

Preacher:

    
     Ted Pilling

Sermon Title: 
     Grand designs
     Matthew 7:24-27 
     (Communion) 

Series Theme: 
     The King's Speech
     Studies in the Sermon on the Mount  

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Powerpoint Transcript:

Slide 1
Foundations, Soils and Mirrors Matthew 7:24-27

Slide 2
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.'

Slide 3
Therefore... chapters 5-7 Correcting wrong thinking "you heard that it was said, but I say to you..." Anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, enemies Promoting positive living "seek first his Kingdom" Giving, praying, fasting, judging others, rejecting false teaching, seek God Therefore....

Slide 4
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.'

Slide 5
Everyone... 5:1 "When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them" 7:28 "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority.." "Everyone" is those who would listen to Jesus followers of Jesus curious

Slide 6
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.'

Slide 7
Storms... There is nothing more certain than the storms will come in our lives... Effect us physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually Short intense thunderstorm – relentless downpour Prolonged intense gale – persistent – hangs like a cloud Consumes our thinking – robs us of peace of mind and heart Illness, redundancy, bereavement, relational breakdown, destruction of our reputation, criticism Normally intrusive and unexpected and often when we are unprepared for it If you do not relate to this.... get ready!!

Slide 8
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.'

Slide 9
Foundations... Storms do not develop foundations – they reveal foundations Foundations are unseen and untested until the storm comes 1 Corinthians 3:11 "no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ 3:9 "we are... God's building" 3:11 Jesus is the foundation of the building 3:16 God's Spirit is the occupier of the building Jesus is the only foundation of our life that can help us to withstand the storm The assurance is not the absence of storms but the foundation that will allow our lives not to collapse when the storms hit us!!

Slide 10
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.'

Slide 11
Hearing... This is common to both builders... Hearing or listening is the first essential for any kind of response.. What kind of listener are you? Come with me to Mark 4:13-20 where Jesus tells the parable of the soils and then explains the meaning to his followers.

Slide 12
Mark 4:13-20 13 Then Jesus said to them, 'Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop – some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.'

Slide 13
Responses... For those who hear.... There are two possible responses...

Slide 14
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.'

Slide 15
Responses... For those who hear.... There are two possible responses... To follow Jesus and his teaching or ignore it Come with me to James 1:22-25 and consider another more contemporary illustration...

Slide 16
James 1:22-25 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do.

Slide 17
Responses... For those who hear.... There are two possible responses... To follow Jesus and his teaching or ignore it Come with me to James 1:22-25 and consider another more contemporary illustration... The invitation that Jesus gives is to follow him, allow him to be the foundation of our life, experience the comfort and stabilising presence of Jesus with us when the storms come Jesus promises to be with us wherever we go and to the end of the age – but we do need to trust him!!

Slide 18
Applications The curious you grow to know someone before you trust them Hear, read or listen to Jesus - is this someone I can trust? Jesus is trustworthy... The followers of Jesus Have you heard Jesus speak to you about some area of your life as we have considered the Sermon on the Mount? How have you responded? Not put it into practice – deceived yourself – it's OK really! Heard the words of Jesus and put them into practice – and found Jesus to be the 'rock' that holds life together in the hardest of times! Jesus