Building Upon the Rock

Discuss

Have you ever worked really hard on something you thought was important but it ended up being a waste of time? How did this change your experiences in the future?

Discover

Focus:  There are two things that are important with building: first what we build upon and secondly what we build with. 

I. Read Matthew 7:24-27. The nouns in this portion of the Bible symbolize various items. The first two are given. What do the remaining two signify?
A. Sand: refers to human concepts and natural ways.
B. House: refers to the living and work of the Lord’s people, the genuine believers.
C. Rock: ________
D. Rain, rivers, winds: _________

II. What then does it mean for us to build on the rock versus to build on the sand? 
A. Recall that in Greek there are two words that translate into “word”. They are logos and rhema. The written word of God is known as logos. But when it is applied in our situation it becomes rhema, the instant word of God.
B. In verses 24 and 26 there is the phrase “..these words of Mine..” Do you think the Greek word used is logos or rhema?

III. Matthew 7:24-27 emphasizes what we should build on, while 1 Corinthians 3:12-14 shows what we must build with
A. Paul lists six different materials that we can build with. Which ones should we use if we want our work to remain?
B. Read the excerpt below: Discuss what it means to build with gold, silver, and precious stones versus grass, wood, and stubble.

IV. In Matthew chapter 7 and 1 Corinthians chapter 3 we see two things that we need to take heed of if we are to build: the foundation and the materials to build. We must build upon Christ and His word as the foundation. We must use our personal experiences of Christ as the materials. It is possible to have the rock foundation but build with the wrong materials as well as have the right materials but a sandy foundation.

Apply

I. How can we be the prudent ones who build on the rock as our foundation today?
A.
Have you experienced any “rain, rivers, or winds”?
B. Read Matthew 6:19-21 and 7:3-5. How can we see “sand” and “the rock” in these verses?
C. What are some ways that we can build in our daily life? Hint: 1 Cor. 8:1; 1 Cor. 14:4, 26.

II. Bonus challenge: Read Matthew 16:16-18. Can you relate this portion to Matthew 7:24-26? How are these portions similar and different?

Excerpt

“The church, the house of God, must be built with gold, silver, and precious stones, materials produced from Christ growing in us. However, there is much possibility that we may build with wood, grass, and stubble produced by us in the flesh. Hence, each of us, including every member of the Body, must take heed how he builds, that is, with what material he builds…” 

“The foundation is unique, but the building may differ due to different builders with different materials. All the Corinthian believers had accepted Christ as the foundation. However, some Jewish believers among them attempted to build the church with their Judaistic attainments, and some Greek believers attempted to use their philosophical wisdom. They were not like the apostles, who built with their excellent knowledge of Christ and rich experiences of Him. The intention of Paul in this Epistle is to warn the believers at Corinth not to build the church with the things of their natural background. They must learn to build with Christ, both in objective knowledge and subjective experience.”

“The Divine Dispensing of the Divine Trinity,” CWWL, 1983, vol. 2, pp.405-406

Verses

Matt. 7:24 – Everyone therefore who hears these words of Mine and does them shall be likened to a prudent man who built his house upon the rock.

Matt. 7:25 – And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and they beat against that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Matt. 7:26 – And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them shall be likened to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand.

Matt. 7:27 – And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and they dashed against that house; and it fell, and its fall was great.

1 Cor. 3:10 – According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds upon it. But let each man take heed how he builds upon it.

1 Cor. 3:12 – But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble,

1 Cor. 3:13 – The work of each will become manifest; for the day will declare [it,] because it is revealed by fire, and the fire itself will prove each one’s work, of what sort it is.

1 Cor. 3:14 – If anyone’s work which he has built upon [the foundation] remains, he will receive a reward;

Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves dig through and steal.

Matthew 6:20 – But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not dig through nor steal.

Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 7:3 – And why do you look at the splinter which is in your brother’s eye, but the beam in your eye you do not consider?

Matthew 7:4 – Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the splinter from your eye, and behold, the beam is in your eye?

Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite, first remove the beam from your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.