Sermon on the Mount 21 - The Wise & Foolish Builders
May 9, 2025

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PREPARE

It is not hard for us to imagine the destruction a storm can do, nor is it unlikely that we will face storms throughout our lives. In this final parable, Jesus describes two outcomes of facing the same storms based on what ones life is built upon. Building our lives upon listening and acting on Jesus words provides a foundation which cannot be shaken when the storms of life rain down.

As we wrap up our Sermon on the Mount study, take some time to reflect on the principles, perspectives, priorities, and practices that Jesus has shown to reflect the Kingdom of Heaven. As you move into the summer, take to heart what it means to be a citizen of this unshakable Kingdom and how you can build your life around Jesus as your King.
Some questions to help you ponder and reflect:

  • As a citizen of Christ’s Kingdom, what would it actually mean to welcome Jesus as King over my life? Over the places I oversee and manage? (my home, my relationships, my car, my coffee, my workplace, etc)
  • In light of all we’ve covered over the past 9 months, what is one significant truth that has impacted the way I think, the way I percieve the world, the way I relate to other people, the way I understand Jesus, and/or the way I see myself?
  • As I reflect on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, i.e. His Kingdom Manifesto, How has my understanding of His charactor grown? How has this impacted the way I relate to Him? What from this series has deepened my love for Jesus and grown my worship of Him?

Use the questions below to help you prepare for this week’s teaching:
Read Matthew 7:13-29
1. What key principles or truths is your life built on? What do the decisions you make reveal about what you believe to be important and true?
2. Read Matthew 7:13-23. In these verses, Jesus is ending the Sermon on the Mount. What three contrasts did Jesus give? What was the point of these contrasting examples? In your own words, what was Jesus warning people about? What did Jesus want people to do?
3. Read Matthew 7:24-27. Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount with a final example. Compare and contrast the two builders and the two foundations. What do you notice about how the builders and the foundations are described?
4. How does the example of the wise and foolish builders connect to the previous verses? What does the rain, streams, and wind represent? What is the result for the two builders? What is the difference between the two buildings?
6. What does it mean to hear Jesus’ words and put them into practice? Give examples of what it looks like to hear and obey Jesus’ teachings. Does obeying lead to salvation? What is the warning Jesus is giving?
7. Read Matthew 7:28-29. What was the crowd’s reaction to Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount? How did Jesus’ teachings compare to the teachers of the law?
8. What did you learn from the Sermon on the Mount? What can you do to put into practice Jesus’ teachings? What is needed to truly obey Jesus?

ATTEND

Verses: Matthew 7:24-29

Main Point: Choose the foundation of your life wisely. Only a life build on Christ will endure the storms of life.

1. The Situation

2. The Storm

3. The Response

REFLECT


- What impacted you most from this week’s message? What challenged you or encouraged you?
- What did you learn about the character of God?
- How did this week’s sermon affect your perspective on God or your perspective on yourself?

ACT


- What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
- How can you deepen your relationship with God and follow Him more closely this week?
- Who is someone you can share what you learned with?