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Active Christians Today at The University of Toledo
Bible Study ~ “The Parable of the Foundations" ~ Matthew 7:24-29
Our study in Matthew will show us how he structured his account of Christ as a new Torah with Jesus at the center. It is divided into five sections that each conclude with “when Jesus had finished saying these things” or something similar. Those words describe the power and impact of the words of Christ and what they mean for us today.
Locations & Times
Delta Church of Christ
2018 Bretton Pl, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
Wednesday 7:00 PM
Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount with the final verses of His four part conclusion: two different paths (7:13-14); two different kinds of fruit (7:15-20); two different professions of faith (7:21-23) and now two different kinds of builders who build on different foundations (7:24-27).
Opening Questions
What is the secret to building great sand castles?
What is it like to ride out a violent thunderstorm, hurricane, or tornado?
How do you feel when you offer sound advice and it is rejected?
What’s the worst storm you’ve ever been in?
What’s scary about storms?
What is the secret to building great sand castles?
What is it like to ride out a violent thunderstorm, hurricane, or tornado?
How do you feel when you offer sound advice and it is rejected?
What’s the worst storm you’ve ever been in?
What’s scary about storms?
Unpack the Text
This is the parable of the two foundations:
This is the parable of the two foundations:
What words of mine? To what was Jesus referring?
What does Jesus mean when He refers to those who hear His words and then does them?
Have you heard instances where Jesus uses this phraseology (hears then does) in other places?
What does Jesus mean when He refers to those who hear His words and then does them?
Have you heard instances where Jesus uses this phraseology (hears then does) in other places?
How does this verse relate to Matthew 7:24?
Which is easier: hearing or acting on what you’ve heard? Why?
How can we be better listeners to Jesus? What will change in our lives if we are better listeners?
Who did Jesus say is wise? (7:24)
Describe some qualities of a wise person. What makes one wise? What actions will be displayed in a wise person?
Jesus compared wise living to building a house on what kind of foundation? (7:24)
What sets fools apart from wise people? (7:24, 26)
Which is easier: hearing or acting on what you’ve heard? Why?
How can we be better listeners to Jesus? What will change in our lives if we are better listeners?
Who did Jesus say is wise? (7:24)
Describe some qualities of a wise person. What makes one wise? What actions will be displayed in a wise person?
Jesus compared wise living to building a house on what kind of foundation? (7:24)
What sets fools apart from wise people? (7:24, 26)
In Jesus’ analogy, what strong forces of nature pounded on the wise person’s house? (7:25)
What was the effect of the wind and rain on the house? (7:25)
Why wasn’t the house part of a "disaster area"? (7:25)
What was the effect of the wind and rain on the house? (7:25)
Why wasn’t the house part of a "disaster area"? (7:25)
What kind of people did Jesus talk about in contrast to the wise person? (7:26)
What individuals are like a man who builds a house on sand? (7:26)
According to Jesus, foolish living is like building a house on what kind of foundation? (7:26)
What individuals are like a man who builds a house on sand? (7:26)
According to Jesus, foolish living is like building a house on what kind of foundation? (7:26)
Is this a light, gentle rain? What kind of rain is it? How do you know?
What are the rain and the floods? What rain and floods have you faced in your life?
The winds “beat against” the house. It means to “strike with a hard blow,” like being punched. How might this be compared to something that happens in our lives? What event might be described as being “struck?”
In Jesus’ analogy, what happened when the wind and water crashed against the fool’s house? (7:27)
What is the main difference between the wise and foolish builders?
We have descriptions of two foundations. What are they and to what are they referring?
The rock is what? The sand is what?
What lesson is Jesus teaching in these verses?
What does the great falling (of the house) represent? What will happen to the person who doesn’t obey Jesus’ words?
What are the rain and the floods? What rain and floods have you faced in your life?
The winds “beat against” the house. It means to “strike with a hard blow,” like being punched. How might this be compared to something that happens in our lives? What event might be described as being “struck?”
In Jesus’ analogy, what happened when the wind and water crashed against the fool’s house? (7:27)
What is the main difference between the wise and foolish builders?
We have descriptions of two foundations. What are they and to what are they referring?
The rock is what? The sand is what?
What lesson is Jesus teaching in these verses?
What does the great falling (of the house) represent? What will happen to the person who doesn’t obey Jesus’ words?
We know this is the end of the Sermon on the Mount. How?
Matthew has a particular way of separating the teachings of Jesus. In the King James Version, the phrase “and it came to pass” is used. Contrast this with the English Standard’s use of “and when Jesus finished these sayings.”
The English Standard conveys a certain (and correct) view of Matthew when it uses “and when Jesus finished these sayings.” What might that be?
How many were affected by the teachings of Jesus?
How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ teaching? (7:28)
Why were the crowds impressed with Jesus?
How was Jesus’ teaching compared to that of the scribes and pharisees?
The Jewish leaders referred to the teaching of their “former rabbis” for their authority. What did Jesus refer to? (this might be a trick question) What difference does this make to the average Jew?
There was a huge difference between the Jewish leaders’ teaching and that of Jesus. What was that difference?
Originality was NOT valued in the teachings of the time. Teachers appealed to other authorities to validate their teaching. Why do you think this was?
The scribes taught that there was a “golden age” of the ancients. This was the authority to which they appealed. The scribes felt everything had gone down since then. Though Jesus consistently discussed the Torah, He framed His teaching differently. Why do you think Jesus abandoned this teaching and why does the way Jesus approached this confuse people today? (Andy Stanley, I’m talking to you.)
How would a Jewish rabbi describe the steps to get to heaven?
How did Jesus describe the steps to get to heaven?
Matthew has a particular way of separating the teachings of Jesus. In the King James Version, the phrase “and it came to pass” is used. Contrast this with the English Standard’s use of “and when Jesus finished these sayings.”
The English Standard conveys a certain (and correct) view of Matthew when it uses “and when Jesus finished these sayings.” What might that be?
How many were affected by the teachings of Jesus?
How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ teaching? (7:28)
Why were the crowds impressed with Jesus?
How was Jesus’ teaching compared to that of the scribes and pharisees?
The Jewish leaders referred to the teaching of their “former rabbis” for their authority. What did Jesus refer to? (this might be a trick question) What difference does this make to the average Jew?
There was a huge difference between the Jewish leaders’ teaching and that of Jesus. What was that difference?
Originality was NOT valued in the teachings of the time. Teachers appealed to other authorities to validate their teaching. Why do you think this was?
The scribes taught that there was a “golden age” of the ancients. This was the authority to which they appealed. The scribes felt everything had gone down since then. Though Jesus consistently discussed the Torah, He framed His teaching differently. Why do you think Jesus abandoned this teaching and why does the way Jesus approached this confuse people today? (Andy Stanley, I’m talking to you.)
How would a Jewish rabbi describe the steps to get to heaven?
How did Jesus describe the steps to get to heaven?
Your Story
Why is it difficult to apply God’s truth to our lives?
How does obedience to God bring security to our lives?
What foundation are you building your life on?
How can you build your life on Christ?
What are some sandy foundations you have seen people base their lives on?
How do you feel when you see people (friends or family members) ignoring God and making bad decisions?
What is the most amazing thing to you about all that Jesus ever said?
Why is a good foundation so crucial for weathering storms?
What is so attractive about building a life on a foundation of sand?
What are some of the hazards of ignoring God’s instructions?
What does it take to build a life on solid rock?
Why is it difficult to apply God’s truth to our lives?
How does obedience to God bring security to our lives?
What foundation are you building your life on?
How can you build your life on Christ?
What are some sandy foundations you have seen people base their lives on?
How do you feel when you see people (friends or family members) ignoring God and making bad decisions?
What is the most amazing thing to you about all that Jesus ever said?
Why is a good foundation so crucial for weathering storms?
What is so attractive about building a life on a foundation of sand?
What are some of the hazards of ignoring God’s instructions?
What does it take to build a life on solid rock?
Apply it to Your Life
What can you do today to encourage someone to listen to the voice of Jesus and obey what he or she hears?
What neglected command of Christ will you begin obeying this week?
Why do people ignore God’s instructions?
How can we avoid the mistake of the foolish builder?
How does it feel to know that you are responsible to obey everything Jesus taught?
If you could ask Jesus to clarify one expectation he has for your life, what would that be?
What can you do this week to build your life on Christ?
What can you do today to encourage someone to listen to the voice of Jesus and obey what he or she hears?
What neglected command of Christ will you begin obeying this week?
Why do people ignore God’s instructions?
How can we avoid the mistake of the foolish builder?
How does it feel to know that you are responsible to obey everything Jesus taught?
If you could ask Jesus to clarify one expectation he has for your life, what would that be?
What can you do this week to build your life on Christ?
That's it. That's all. There is no more.
Praise & Prayer