June 6, 2014 What's Next?

What’s Next?

Matthew 7:24-30 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

THE sermon is over, and it’s time to go home. The congregation was “amazed” at Jesus’ sermon. The Greek meaning of amazed tells us they were “struck” with Jesus’ words. We can easily picture the church standing in awe, almost silent as they contemplated what the Living Word had just said to them. They may have said to each other, “Did you hear that? What an amazing sermon. What an astonishing teaching!”

     But here’s what I want to know. What did they do with what they heard? Did they consider the blessing of the Beatitudes? Did the men turn an adulterous eye from the pretty woman they saw on the way home? Did anyone turn the other cheek from an insult? Did they pray more often, even for their enemies? Did they rest more fully in faith, knowing God would provide for them? Did anyone live into Jesus’ sermon by doing at least one thing differently in their life?

LIFE Link: It’s not a good sermon until you live it.