Meeting guide · command 29

Build Your House on the Rock

Hear Jesus' words and put them into practice so your life rests on a foundation that endures storms.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 7:24–27

24 “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.”

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 6:45–49

45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? 47 Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who hears and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”

World English Bible

Jesus closes His sermon by contrasting two hearers: both face storms, but only the one who acts is founded on rock.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. Where is knowledge of Jesus' teaching being mistaken for the practiced obedience that actually builds on rock?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

Choose one teaching of Jesus you have heard but not acted on. Take a measurable step of obedience within forty-eight hours.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

What did you do, what resistance appeared, and how did obedience strengthen your foundation?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, keep us from hearing without doing. Give us courage to build each choice on your words before the storms come.

Teach

The difference between the builders is not exposure to Jesus' words or freedom from storms, but whether those words are practiced.