Term 2 – Week 10
Big Idea – Followers of Jesus are to be doers of His word and not just hearers.
Matthew 7:24-27
Outcomes
- To know the difference between the wise and foolish builder
- To understand that living God’s way in this world means both hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice. This is the life of faith.
Implications
- Belief – Recognising most of our Sunday kids are from Christian families, encourage them to make a decision.
- Ask: Are you a wise builder? Will you listen to the words of Jesus and do what they or not? Outline the eternal consequences for those who do and those who do not.
- Behaviour – Get the kids to think of all the things Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount.
- Ask: What does Jesus say his followers are to do? What does Jesus say to do that you find hard? What can you do this week to help you do these things that Jesus says to do?
Introduction
Matthew 7:13-27 is Jesus’ conclusion to his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Four illustrations underline the importance of making a response to what has been heard and warn of the consequences of failing to respond his teaching. Each illustration draws out the contrast between a right and wrong response, between the true and the false, or the saved and the lost with the aim of motivating His hearers to take appropriate action.
The Four Illustrations
- The Narrow & Wide Gates (7:13-14) – This simple contrast is between the saved and the lost.
- False Prophets: Good & Bad Fruit (7:15-20) – This illustration focuses on the danger posed by false prophets who are by implication contrasted with true prophets who may be trusted. It’s about outsiders who pretend to be insiders.
- Insiders & Outsiders: Things may not be as they seem (7:21-23) – The contrast is between those who think they are insiders but are not and those who are.
- Wise & Foolish Builders: Hearing & Doing (7:24-27) – The contrast is between those who hear Jesus’ words and do respond and those who hear Jesus’ words and do not respond.
In each of the four illustrations, the result of a failure to respond is catastrophic: “destruction (v.13), “cut down and burned” (v.19), excluded from the kingdom of heaven (vv.21, 23), and the total collapse of the house (v.27)
The Wise & Foolish Builders illustration (7:24-27) leaves Jesus’ hearers with a simple but demanding choice: to hear and ignore, or to hear and put into practice. The one who hears the words of Jesus and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. “The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock” (vv.24-25). The one who hears the words of Jesus and does not put them into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash.” (vv.26-27). It’s not about the suitability of the building materials, but the solidity of the foundation.[1] It’s about building one’s life on Jesus and living for him each day, so that on the last day of final judgment when Jesus returns, the house will remain standing. This is the life of faith. Faith is not just hearing the words of the Lord, but it’s doing the words of the Lord. Jesus says, living God’s way in this world means listening to my words and putting them into practice every day!!!
[1] France, ‘The Gospel of Matthew, 297.
Memory Verse
Matthew 16:24-26 (NIrV)
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it. But whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses their soul? Or what can anyone trade for their soul?
Songs
The Hero – Awesome Cutlery – YouTube
Leaders PDF
This has been put together using purchased external material and therefore this resource may only be used by Dundonald Church. For more information please contact kids@dundonald.org
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