Slices
Prepare
Ask God to help you be wise as you reflect on Jesus’ words in his Sermon on the Mount.
Bible passage
The wise and foolish builders
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.
Explore
As the children’s Sunday school song reminds us: ‘The wise man built his house upon the rock’ (v 24). Take a few moments to reflect on these chapters of Matthew. What has Jesus been teaching you about living as a member of his kingdom?
Jesus used a simple story. Build your life on sand (or weak foundations) and it will collapse when storms of life come along (vs 26,27). Build your life on the rock (Jesus and his words) and you will withstand the difficult times (v 25). The apostle Paul picked up this teaching when he talked about building your life on the foundation who is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10,11). Playing on the meaning of Peter’s name, Jesus called his faith in him a rock on which the church is built (Matthew 16:18). Our belief in Jesus, put into action, is also part of the kingdom-building in which all believers are involved.
In God’s upside-down kingdom we are safe, whatever the storms of life and this world threaten. Like the first hearers of Jesus’ words, we stand amazed at the truth Jesus brings in contrast to what we hear from other authorities here on earth (vs 28,29). Let’s be wise and build on the Rock.
Respond
Pray: ‘Thank you for the blessing of being born afresh into your kingdom. May I put your words into practice and build your kingdom.’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Genesis 49,50; Matthew 18
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for all the volunteer leaders and team, without whom SU holidays and missions would not happen. Please pray too that God will call more people to become volunteers.
