The Stories Jesus Told #8 - The House on the Rock
Luke 6:46-49
Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Part of The Stories Jesus Told (Part 2)—April 6 - June 30, 2024
May 31, 2024

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Message Notes and Group Study Guide

Date: June 1-2, 2024
Speaker: Dr. Kurt Bjorklund
Series: The Stories Jesus Told (Part 2)
Message: #8 - The House on the Rock

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Scripture

46 Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 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. 49 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 (NIV)

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. —Psalm 90:1 (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. —1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV)

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. —2 Peter 2:1 (NIV)

15 If you love me, keep my commands. […] 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. —John 14:15,24 (NIV)

Notes

N.T. Wright - Early Christians understood their vocation as Jesus’ followers to include… their own suffering, misunderstanding, and likely death…. The suffering of Jesus’ followers is … not just the inevitable accompaniment to the accomplishing of the divine purpose, but actually itself part of the means by which that purpose is fulfilled.

2 Keys

  1. Reveal Answer
    the Word (Hebrews 10:23-25; 2 Peter 2:1)

  2. Reveal Answer
    the Word (John 14:15,24)

Elisabeth Elliot - I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God.

Study Guide

Step One: Icebreaker (Optional)
Someone has gifted you a beach house with the conditions that (1) you must live there at least 350 days each year and (2) you can never sell or rent it. Would you accept it?

Step Two: Open
Ask someone in your group to pray to open your time together. Ask another person to read Luke 6:46-49.

Step Three: Discuss

  1. What stood out to you the most in this weekend’s teaching? What was challenging, encouraging, or confusing to you?

  2. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the parable Jesus gives. From verse 48, what do each of the following represent: the man’s house, the foundation/rock, the flood.

  3. How does the question Jesus pose in verse 46 relate to the parable he tells in verses 47-49? Who do you think Jesus’ audience is here?

  4. This passage seems to indicate that there is a reward for obeying Jesus’ words. However, the Bible and our experience tell us that the road to discipleship is not an easy path (see Mark 13:13). What, then, is the reward for obeying Jesus? Is this reward to be found in the present life or in the future?

  5. Tell us about a time in your life where you built on a shaky foundation. What was the result? How did you handle it?

  6. What is the modern-day example of someone who calls Jesus “Lord” but does not do what he says? If you had a friend like this, how would you lovingly correct them?

  7. How does the gospel prove Jesus to be trustworthy? Why should we listen to him and order our lives according to what he says?

Step Four: Close in Prayer
Ask someone in your group to close in prayer.

  • Pray that Jesus would not be “Lord” in name only, but that your group would read His Word and do what He commands.
  • Pray for wisdom that God would show you ways you are building your house on shaky ground.
  • Pray for those God has placed in your life who do not yet know Him.