BUILDING A SURE FOUNDATION IN CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

Many Christians are building their lives on unstable foundations. The only stable bedrock foundation is our Lord Jesus Christ who is the living word of God. Unstable foundations will not stand the test of time. Soon depression, disappointment and frustration will be part of your daily life. If we build on the sure foundation, our Lord and Master Himself will captain our ship.

Scriptures:      

1 Cor. 3:5-11

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Heb 4:12

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

1Cor 1:17-25:

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Examples of unstable foundations include

a. Materialism

b. Ambition

c. Sport

d. Education

e. Philosophies

f. Tradition of men

g. Earthly wisdom

h. Wealth

Application:

1. Each example above should be discussed.

2. How easy is it to fall into this trap?

3. Let's suggest how we can avoid these weak, unreliable foundations.