The Parables of Jesus - Part 2 [Notes]

Jesus was a master storyteller, and He constantly used short stories or parables to communicate spiritual truths to the crowds that gathered to hear Him. When Jesus' disciples asked why He spoke in parables so often, His answer was profound. He said that the same stories that served to open the eyes of the spiritually hungry would have the effect of blinding the eyes of those who refused to believe. By telling parables, the secrets of the kingdom would be revealed to Jesus' disciples, but they would be hidden from His opponents.

Join us this week as we dive into some of Jesus's most memorable stories through our new summer series, "The Parables of Jesus."

Today's Takeaway // We need a solid foundation if we are to weather the storms of life.

Many of the foundations of our society have been so undermined, people don’t have anything to hold onto.

We need a solid foundation if we are to weather the storms of life.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
– Matthew 7:24-27 (HCSB)

The picture is not of two men deliberately selecting foundations, but it contrasts one who carefully chooses and prepares his foundation with one who builds at hap-hazard.”
– M.R. Vincent

We should not understand a deliberate choice of sand, but a failure to take seriously the necessity for a solid foundation.
– L. Morris

The two men are conceived as alike selecting a spot where the sand overlies the rock. The one builds directly upon the sand, the other digs through and down into the rock.
– C. Blomberg

We need a solid foundation if we are to weather the storms of life.

The combination of rains, rivers, and winds represent the severest testing the weather can bring to a house.
– L. Morris

And the rain descended—from above, and the floods came—from below, and the winds blew—sweeping across.and beat upon that house—thus from every direction.
– R. Jamieson

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.”
– Matthew 7:24 (HCSB)

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does.
– James 1:22-25 (HCSB)

We need a solid foundation if we are to weather the storms of life.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them,‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
– Matthew 7:21-23 (HCSB)

In the original parable the issue was probably already not simply passing a test but survival in the catastrophe of the last judgment.
– U. Luz

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.’”
– Matthew 7:21 (HCSB)

Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
– Matthew 7:19-20 (HCSB)

1. What are some ways in which God’s Word has changed your life?
2. Read Matthew 7:24-27. How is God’s Word a solid foundation for our lives? What do you think happens if we hear God’s Word but don’t put it into practice?
3. Why do you think it is sometimes hard to apply the Bible to our lives?
4. Read James 1:22-25. In what ways is God’s Word like a mirror? Why do you think we will end up deceived if we hear God’s Word but don’t apply it?
5. How can we become better doers of the Word?

My Defense // Where I'm Standing Now // Hymn of Heaven // Firm Foundation (He Won't)

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