Matthew 5-7
The Wise and Foolish Builders
READ MATTHEW 5-7 Read the passage together, and discuss the questions that follow.
Find others to do this study with you — friends, family members or coworkers — or join an existing group. You will understand more of God and better arrange your life around God’s Word as you pursue Him with others.
According to this parable, what is the basis for determining whether a person is wise?
This week we are focusing on the parable of the wise and the foolish builders. In Matthew’s Gospel, this parable is found at the end of what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. This is a collection of teachings of Jesus beginning with the beatitudes. It includes the Lord’s Prayer and a series of teachings on the Kingdom of Heaven.
Notice that both builders experienced the storm. What should this tell us about our lives?
Together look back over Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5-7. Notice the topics He chose to address. Notice the order in which the Gospel writer arranges them. All of this creates the context for our study.
Based on your answer, what does it look like to us when the house finally collapses from the onslaught?
Share Your Story What is the worst storm you have ever experienced? What was it like, where did you seek refuge, and what was the outcome?
WATCH THE VIDEO
NorthlandChurch.net/ParablesOfJesus Afterward have someone read the discussion questions in the “Hear God’s Story” section and start the conversation.
Welcome
Hear God’s Story
What do you think it means to “hear” Jesus?
What do you think the house represents in this parable? A life? A soul? A community?
Let’s worship God together!
The Parables of Jesus
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The Wise Builder
Connect & Grow
Find Your Story in God’s Story
Now talk about how you will apply the wisdom you’ve obtained from the teaching and Bible study. Then think about practical steps you can take in the coming week to live out what you’ve learned.
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We don’t build our foundation by ourselves. Christ is the foundation. Using Jesus’ metaphor, what is the foundation of your life? How are you building on it? The storm Jesus described clearly came from every direction — waters rose from beneath and came pouring down from above, and the winds whirled around the house. How have you weathered storms in your life? How has weathering storms enabled you to come around others experiencing trouble? The Church must be forever building, for it is forever decaying within and attacked from without. — T.S. Eliot, “The Rock”
... stooping very low, He engraves with care His Name, indelible, upon our dust, And, from the ashes of our self-despair, Kindles a flame of hope and humble trust. He seeks no second site on which to build, But on the old foundation, stone by stone, Cementing sad experience with grace, Fashions a stronger temple of His own. — Patricia St. John (1919-1993), “Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story”
How has your group helped strengthen your foundation? It is important to remember that there is no situation that Christ cannot redeem. Pray today for those who need to follow Him.
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JUNE 24-26, 2017
DIGGING DEEPER
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