This week, as we continue in our series in Luke, we will be reflecting on Jesus’ teaching from Luke 6:46-49 where we learn that we are to build our lives on the rock of Jesus’ teaching if we are to withstand the various storms that we will face.
‘“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”’ (Luke 6:46-49)
Lesson: The first act of obedience and the first foundation on which we build is to put our faith in the gospel for our salvation.
You can listen to this devotional at:
Jesus ends His Sermon on the Plain with this challenge to be doers and not just hearers of God’s Word. It’s easy to read a text like this and immediately jump to a sense of guilt and that I need to earn God’s love. We can fear that our lives are going to collapse in the storm because we are not fully obeying Christ - who is after all!
What jumps into your mind when you hear Jesus’ challenge: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” I guess it may be our impurity, our lack of prayer, our lack of whatever is most assaulting us at the moment. Whilst not wanting to rob this text of its call to obey Christ in certain practical ways, I first want us to see that we need to do what He says in regard to trusting in Him alone for salvation and the gift of righteousness.
This storm is many things but it certainly speaks of judgement; in the day of judgement what is the foundation, or who is the foundation, that will cause us to stand? Can we say that Christ is our sure foundation and He alone? The first act of obedience is faith in Him plain and simple! These words of our Lord put it so well:
‘Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”’ (John 6:29)
Response
The first act of obedience and the first foundation on which we build is to put our faith in the gospel for our salvation.
Are we doing what the Lords says and building our lives on His death and resurrection and is this our sure and certain promise of standing in the storm of judgment?
As a response, why not listen to Cornerstone, which speaks so well of this truth:
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
This week, as we continue in our series in Luke, we will be reflecting on Jesus’ teaching from Luke 6:46-49 where Jesus is finishing off this section often called ‘The Sermon on the Plain’. As He finishes, He ends with a parable in order to illustrate the vital place of building our lives on the good foundation of His teaching.
Please read Luke 6:46-49
On Sunday we saw that we are to be those who build on the rock of Jesus’ teaching; what aspects of Jesus’ teaching come to mind for you?
Our ‘icebreaker’ in our Community Groups is often: ‘How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?’ This is designed as a simple way of encouraging one another to read and do what’s in the Bible. When, where and how do you make time to devote yourself to the Bible?
What are the various ‘storms’ that assault and test the quality of our faith?
On Sunday, Phil shared a very painful storm that he had been through; Do you have any experiences that you would like to share of how you’ve persevered through storms and what truths did you stand on?
SIV - How will the way that we deal with the storms of life be a testimony to those in our lives?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ this week?
SIV - Lets now pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV.
Does anyone want prayer out of what we have reflected on together or for anything else?