The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ for human flourishing in the upside-down of God.
Matthew 7:24-29 NIV
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.
Isaiah 28:16-17 NIV
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested, precious cornerstone for a sure foundation… I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place.
Sustainable Builders—
1. Reject false
Genesis 3:6 NIV
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
“When you choose to die to hoarding money… blessing over cursing someone who is difficult to love… When you opt in for truth-telling and simplicity of speech, the identities you build around deception crumble, and a deeper self, rooted in Christ, begins to surface.” –Rich Villodas, The Narrow Path
Luke 7:28 NIV
I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!
“Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification.” –Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
Question for Reflection:
Where in my life am I drawn to what looks impressive, but lacks depth. What quiet practices might God be inviting me into to build something real?
2. Inspect the
Jesus doesn’t just want to fix the , he wants to rebuild our .
Matthew 7:26 NIV
And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Proverbs 1:7 NIV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 12:15 NIV
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
“Both house builders are members of the visible Christian community. Both read the Bible, go to church, listen to sermons and buy Christian literature. The reason you often cannot tell the difference between them is that the deep foundations of their lives are hidden from view. Only a storm will reveal the truth.” –John Stott, Christian Counter-Culture
Question for Reflection:
What cultural values or assumptions have I adopted without realizing? How might conventional wisdom be shaping my life in ways that don’t align with God’s wisdom?
3. Follow the
Deuteronomy 32:46-47 NIV
Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.
Learning does not guarantee .
James 1:22 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Matthew 7:24 CEV
Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock.
“The great danger about the spiritual formation movement is to separate ‘practices’ from living in obedience to Jesus.” –Rich Villodas
True spiritual sustainability comes down to .
Matthew 7:27a NIV
He taught as one who had authority…
“Our commitment to Jesus can stand on no other foundation than a recognition that he is the one who knows the truth about our lives and our universe. Can we seriously imagine that Jesus could be Lord if he were not smart?… Once you stop to think about it, how could he be what we take him to be in all other respects and not be the best-informed and most intelligent person of all, the smartest person who ever lived?” –Dallas Willard, The Great Omission
Question for Reflection:
Where in my life am I still clinging to my own way, and what might it look like to surrender to Jesus instead?
Answer Key: manifesto, Kingdom; Illusions ; Foundation; surface, foundation; Blueprint; information, transformation; surrender