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Built to Last: Week 1

Built to Last: Week 1

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Notes

We are called to make disciples, and this is a part of that.

  • The Five Spheres include the Home.
  • Getting this wrong impacts generations; we’re hardwired to connect.
  • When we preach on this, some beat themselves up too much. (Remember there are three parts to every situation: our part, their part, and God’s part.) Others ignore it because they don’t think it impacts them, or they think things are fine right now.
  • My hopes for this series is we will all wake up and pay attention. I am hoping you will decide to take the right journey; you’re at a crossroads.

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

GOD, THE GREAT CREATOR AND DESIGNER: THE BIBLE USES CONTRACTOR/BUILDER LANGUAGE

  • This week, we’re building a foundation of a spiritual house.
  • The Bible uses the analogy of a house in several places including using the church as an example. It also talks about the importance of a cornerstone, naming Christ is the cornerstone (also called the key stone). Ultimately, the cornerstone must be perfectly set and square. If it’s off, the rest of the house won’t be square and solid, and it won’t support the weight of the entire building.

Ephesians 2:19–22 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

[See also 1 Corinthians 3:10-15]

JESUS IS OUR CORNERSTONE AND OUR ARCHITECT-DESIGNER.

  • His words are the material we build with.
  • From His words we get our priorities, beliefs, values, and life directions.
  • He holds the plans to a life that withstands the storms.

THREE KINDS OF FOUNDATIONS WITH THREE DIFFERENT RESULTS:

  • A house built on sand, a house built on rock and sand, and a house on the rock

Matthew 7:24–27 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The 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. 26But 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. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

THE CHALLENGE

1. Let Jesus be the boss of every part. He gives life, and He leads to life. (See John 6:63 & 14:6)

  • A disciple is a Christ-follower in every area of their life.
  • Look at the book of Ephesians in each of the five spheres.

2. Figure out: Where you are really?

  • What kind of a family are you? What describes you? (e.g. a wrestling family, a soccer mom, etc.)
  • Opportunity cost: We don’t have time to be proactive so we end up reactive.
  • There is hope for our “prodigal sons.” (See Luke 15:13-32)
  • You can find out what a house has as its core with an inspection or when the house is exposed, like after the storm.

3. Commit to discovering what it looks like to build a home that will last.

  • Read (see Resources below)
  • Interview those who are older and been there
  • See RLU classes on marriage and parenting at www.reallifeministries.com/rlu and /marriageandparenting

4. All of us have something at stake in this as we are a part of God’s family.

  • “Blessed are the peace makers”—we see a problem, and we are a part of the solution.
  • The only retirement spoken of in Scripture is heaven!

5. A house built on the rock and a city built on a hill can be seen and draw people to a different kind of life.

Matthew 5:14–16 14You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider: Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Psalms 127:1

  • Share what was significant to you from the sermon. What made it meaningful to you?
  1. What experience do you have with foundations—good, bad, or indifferent?
  2. Read Matthew 7:24-27 and Psalm 127:1 twice. A) What does this say about foundations? What do you see about building a solid home?
  3. In this season, what are the priorities and values for your home sphere? What is it that directs your idea of how your home should work?
  4. What helps you regularly compare and adjust what you think about how life should work to what God says is best?
    1. How do you do that with the way your home functions including the relationships, focus, and activities?
  5. How would you recognize if a house was built on an unstable foundation—before it collapsed? A) How would you recognize sandy foundations in your life? (Think about your part, marriage, kids, “family,” home environment, finance, commitments, etc.)
  6. Take an honest evaluation of your own foundation. What is being built on rock, and what is being built on sand? A) What change is God pressing on your heart? Ask Him and take a step. B) With whom will you share and ask for wise counsel?

Passages to prepare for next week, Built to Last (Week 2) The Walls: Matthew 19:6; Ephesians 5:24-25

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Versi