Standing Firm on the Rock or Sinking in the Sand?

Over the past few weeks at NTM’s Missionary Training Center we have focused on the chronological teaching method as a means for building firm biblical foundations. Where do we begin when attempting to build firm biblical foundations into the life of an individual or group? What does it look like and ultimately how will it manifest itself when it is all said and done? Let’s begin first by looking at the necessity for building firm foundations into the lives of individuals in the church.

Luke 6:47-49
47 "Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts upon them, I will show you whom he is like:   48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood rose, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 "But the one who has heard, and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house upon the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."
NAS

Cross-referencing these verses with the Gospel of Matthew you will see that this exhortation is preceded by three chapters of words in red, also known as words of instruction from Christ himself. In other words, Christ at this point has just finished giving very extensive instructions to his disciples in hopes of building firm foundations into their lives. It was now up to the individual hearer to respond appropriately.
So where do we begin? For Christ in this case He began with a few words of encouragement; “Blessed are…” (Matt 5:3-11; Lk 6:20-22). This is also known as the beatitudes. Looking at Matthew we then see Jesus begin to teach from the Law of Moses. The fact is though that Jesus met his listeners where they were. For His disciples the Law was an excellent starting point for building firm biblical foundations because they were well acquainted with the Law. As NTM missionaries, our goal is to preach the gospel to those that have not yet heard. Therefore, in order for us to even begin building firm foundations into the lives of those that have never heard, it becomes essential that we go all the way back to the very beginning of God’s story, to creation itself.

The person who hears God’s word, and responds appropriately… digs deep and lays a firm foundation: The book of Genesis provides the platform for doing just that. Our biblical thinking however will never be firmly impacted without first doing some hard work. In order to build firm foundations into the lives of others we must first ensure there are firm foundations built into our own lives. The creation story provides some excellent insight into the character of God, His attributes, and His desires. It also provides insight into who man is, what our role is before an infinite God and what our relationship is to Him. And then there is Satan. Not all that is known from scripture can possibly be discovered here but as we move forward through God’s story we become intimately aware of His consistency, of Mans inconsistency, and of Satan’s insanity. Of chief importance is the consistency of God in dealing with man despite Satan’s constant attempt to deride God’s plan and desire for man.

As we continue to teach chronologically through the scriptures, by the time we get to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, those being taught should be fully aware of the Holiness of God, of His need to see a just penalty paid for sin, of His love for man, ultimately culminating in the crucifixion of Christ as a perfect atonement once and for all for sinful man. This of course is not to mention the defeat of Satan in his constant attempt to derail and overthrow God.

Those who hear and do not act accordingly… are those without a foundation: The necessity for laying firm foundations cannot be taken for granted. To often it is though. We present folks with a watered-down gospel, pray some nice prayers, hand them a Bible and then leave them to flounder on their own like fish pulled out of the water gasping for life. My challenge is (and this I believe to be the challenge of Christ Himself) that we would dig deep into His word, lay firm foundations within our own lives, and then work diligently to lay firm foundations in the lives of others.

So then, are you one who is building firm foundations to stand firmly upon the rock or are your foundations nothing more than sinking sand? Praise God for those that are already building firm foundations, for those that are considering this, and for those that will do this. To God be the Glory!