Sermon by Bruce McCallum 13 December 2015

1. How to build a rock solid life

2. Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV)
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built
his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet
it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does
not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built
his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and
it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished
saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his
teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority,
and not as their teachers of the law.

3. 1. We all experience storms

4. John 16:33 (NIV)
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But
take heart! I have overcome the world."

5. "Men, you'll never be a good groom to your wife unless
you're first a good bride to Jesus." Tim Keller
“It takes both spouses to say, ‘my self-centeredness is the
main problem in my marriage’ to have a great marriage.”
Tim Keller
“Marriage does not so much bring you into confrontation
with your spouse as confront you with yourself.” Tim Keller
“Lust uses another to please me. Love uses me to please
another.” Tim Keller

6. "More marriages die from inflexibility than
incompatibility”

7. 2. Build wisely … don’t be a moron
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
24 "… is like a wise man who built his house on the
rock.
26 … is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

8. "We are too busy to pray, & so we are too busy to
have power... We have not because we ask not."
Torrey

9. 3. If your house is shaking today – fix your eyes on the
unseen, not on the storm
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NIV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am
more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been
flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five
times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was
shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been
constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from
bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in
danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger
from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone
without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without
food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the
pressure of my concern for all the churches.

10. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving
for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.

11. 4. How to build your life on a solid foundation
Matthew 7:25 (NIV)
25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:27 (NIV)
27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell
with a great crash.“

12. Matthew 7:24-26 (NIV)
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock. ….
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and
does not put them into practice is like a foolish man
who built his house on sand.

14. James 1:22 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says.

15. Matthew 7:27 (NIV)
27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell
with a great crash."