How to Build a Stronger Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27

  • Last week we considered Isa. 4 where the Branch of the Lord brings a shelter from storm and rain.

    • This past Sunday we considered the elementary principles and the laying again of the foundation of the faith.

    • All of this reminded me of that good old wise man who built his house on the rock.

  • So many things have happened in the last few days.

    • Probably one of the most amazing was getting to see the ultrasound of our new baby this morning.

    • Sadly I wasn’t able to be there in person, but Victoria called me using a video chat, and I was able to see it that way.

    • Both baby and momma are healthy, and I thank God for that.

    • But I know not everyone is so lucky.

    • You hear of all the babies that are not healthy, needing to go to the NICU when they are born, or having some congenital disease, Down syndrome, autism, or some heart defect.

    • Children with those challenges are loved just as much, but if any of us had a choice we would naturally choose for our children not to have those challenges.

    • It’s also natural for expecting parents to worry about it regardless.

  • But if we remember where our strength lies, where we put our hopes and rest, ultimately it shouldn’t matter.

    • Our Lord loves us and will take care of us, but that doesn’t mean our baby will definitely be healthy.

    • If our foundation is strong, if we have built it on the truth of the elementary principles of Christ, we can withstand any storm.

    • As we mentioned last week, Jesus stilled the literal storm (Mark 4), so He can still the storms in your life.

    • That’s why we don’t have to worry about what will happen tomorrow, or two months from now, or five months from now.

    • It’s all in God’s hands, and He will help us come what may.

  • Let’s us make sure our foundation is strong. How do we do that?

    • You know how there are so many weight loss schemes that are out there, but really it just boils down to: diet and exercise.

    • Well, as it is with building up your body, so it is with building up your faith: prayer and study.

    • Prayer helps you recognize your reliance on Him and can calm your fears and anxieties—“Be anxious for nothing…”—especially since Jesus talked about prayer in other places in the Sermon on the Mount (6:5-15; 7:7-11).

    • Study can build your faith by giving you a greater understanding of the truth of God’s Word (7:24).

    • And with study, comes acting upon what you learn, i.e. good works (5:16).

    • Just as with diet and exercise, there are different methods to pray and study—some even overlap such as with fasting—and we do many of these things here when we come together for worship.

    • We study God’s Word in worship and we certainly pray together.

    • This brings me to something else: finding a group to encourage you in your weight-loss journey can be very helpful.

    • What’s absolutely essential, however, is finding a group to help you in your faith journey—that is the church.

    • Coming to worship, getting to know your brothers and sisters in Christ, and communing with one another is so important and yet underrated.

    • I hope one of the things we learned this year was just how important coming together to worship is.

  • You want to build your faith so that you have a strong foundation to weather any storm? Pray, Study, and Worship!