Sermon snippet – Rocktober – Part III
INTRODUCTION – Matthew 7:24-27 – Probably many of you remember the Sunday school song about building a house on the rock or on the sand, especially because when you sang “And the house on the sand fell flat” you got to whomp your friends on either side right in church! There are simple lessons for us from this parable – simple and essential.
- BUILD DEEP
Common sense tells us that building on a solid foundation is necessary. However, using a shovel is easier than using a pickaxe, and we are always drawn to the easy way. We can convince ourselves that neglecting the foundation will free up time, energy, and resources for the house, and in fact such a house might look good – even better than the house built on the rock. Read verses 21-23, though, and be warned: People can look like good Christians, even great Christians, and not be Christians at all, because they have built on the wrong foundation. Really, they have no foundation at all. If our trust is in the Savior, Jesus Christ, we will never fall flat (Jude 24-25).
- BUILD WELL
I Corinthians 3:10-16 – Note that before we get to the building supplies (which are truly important) we must start with the foundation (verse 11). A good foundation deserves a good building. There will be more on this point next week. For now, let us recognize the teaching regarding the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and, especially in light of verse 16, let us ask ourselves if our “work” is consistent with the character of God.
- BUILD ETERNALLY
At the core of Christianity is the resurrection of God the Son. In Matthew 27:57-28:6, we read that the crucified Savior was placed in a “new tomb … hewn out in the rock” with “a great stone to the door of the sepulchre.” On the third day, as Jesus had predicted, He rose from the dead, defeating death and offering life everlasting. His tomb was empty then, and it is empty now. He is our “living stone” (I Peter 2:24); He is our resurrected Redeemer.
CONCLUSION – This brief message has touched upon the interesting and instructive imagery of stones. Let us be confident in the stability and security found in our strong Savior. May each one of us realize that we have an absolute choice – rock or sand, Jesus or nothing – and decide to run into the forever shelter of His empty tomb.