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[0:00] Well, hey, thank you so much for tuning in today. My name is Ray Sweet from First Christian Church in Greensburg, Indiana.! And as always, if you'd like to learn a little more about us, you can go to FCCGreensburg.com or you can check out the FCC Greensburg Facebook page.

[0:15] But hey, thank you so much for tuning in today. We just pray that God will move through His Word and truly change our hearts. The title of the message today is Good Foundations.

[0:27] We're in a series on the book of Luke called Good News. This is week number three. And if you want to turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 6, that would be great. You know how sometimes you're going about your everyday routine and something sparks a song in your head and then you just can't get it out as you drive everybody crazy singing it all day long?

[0:47] Well, when I was preparing for a passage in Luke 6, I was looking at the section before it that talks all about good trees bearing good fruit. And that word good kind of stuck in my head.

[0:59] And then I started looking at our passage today all about good foundations. And that did it. That's when my ADD mind took a detour. And this time it was the Beach Boys.

[1:11] And I'm going to turn it over to our worship pastor, Tyler. Sing it with us.

[1:29] Good, good, good, good vibrations. Good, good, good, good vibrations. Ah, I love it.

[1:43] You know what? There is something wrong with us here at FCC. Now, I've got to tell you, my ADD mind wasn't done yet. Because as I read our passage, I realized that a lot of us may have grown up in church singing this kid's classic that's a lot more holy than what we just sang.

[2:01] Tyler, take it away. The wise man built his house upon the rock The wise man built his house upon the rock The wise man built his house upon the rock And the rains came tumbling down The rains came down And the floods came up The rains came down And the floods came up The rains came down And the floods came up And the house on the rock Stood firm The foolish man built his house upon the sand Foolish man built his house upon the sand Foolish man built his house upon the sand And the rains came tumbling down

[3:02] The rains came down And the floods came up The rains came down And the floods came up The rains came down And the floods came up And the house on the sand Went crash Thank you, Tyler.

[3:23] I truly appreciate that. And church, welcome back to the third week of our series walking through the Gospel of Luke hitting select passages as we head towards Easter.

[3:34] And what the Lord is doing is He is preparing our hearts with the euangelion That means the Gospel the good news of Jesus Christ. See, in November and December we spent seven messages talking about how the Word God the Word, that's God He became flesh bringing life and light into our darkness.

[3:57] And now for these first three months of 2026 we're picking up the rest of Jesus' earthly ministry as we head towards the crowning point of our faith that's the cross of Christ the empty tomb and our resurrected Lord that brings life.

[4:13] Now, if you're not already there let's go ahead and head towards Luke chapter 6 We're going to start in verse 46 about four-fifths the way through your Bible It's actually the third book of the New Testament Matthew, Mark, then you come to Luke And I want you to see today that this passage is not just a reason for kids to sing a cute song This scripture is all about what our lives are built upon Not just in my words but more importantly, in action Because church, hear me This is the most important daily decision that we'll ever make And our foundation will determine our eternity So let's start here in Luke chapter 6 verse 46 And here's what Jesus says Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?

[5:06] As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice I will show you what they are like They are like a man building a house who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock When a flood came the torrent struck that house but could not shake it because it was well built But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation The moment the torrent struck that house it collapsed and its destruction was complete Now church, if you remember last Sunday we looked at Luke chapter 5 where Jesus does a miracle that defied all fishermanly logic and this miraculous catch of fish Jesus, with it he calls Peter and James and John to be his disciples as they left everything behind to follow him And we really see this cool progression of how the grace of God shown in our lives must lead us to full surrender of our hearts to Christ which also has to lead you and I to truly following Jesus

[6:16] If it doesn't it's a watered down counterfeit faith not my ways anymore but Jesus first and it makes all the difference And today we see another progression as we discover the only good foundation that we can build our lives upon That's Jesus So if you're a note taker and you're kind of new with us maybe listening for the first time here's how we want you to be able to remember what we're doing today So if you got your own journal that's great do your thing but you can access our sermon outline You can go to the YouVersion That's Y-O-U version Bible app It's a fantastic resource free download If you go to the menu hit events hit First Christian Church of Greensburg and you can see our outline that way take notes off to the side But let's start this sentence with these two words Okay?

[7:12] Here it is True disciples And listen Jesus spent a lot of time differentiating between real Christianity and man-made religion And that's why I can't get behind people staking their eternity on the traditions of man Especially when we have the Word of God for ourselves and we can walk in the truth that sets us free We don't need to add anything to it So let's start to break down this passage starting in Luke 6 verse 46 Jesus says Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?

[7:52] So right away Jesus is calling out hypocrisy like he just talked about a few verses earlier in verse 42 See, in that first century culture hypocrisy was a picture of going to a play where you have actors portraying a story and it was common that the same people would play multiple parts but wear a different mask showing which character they were depicting So they may act one way with one mask on and may act another way with another mask Well, that makes perfect sense in the performing arts but Jesus consistently says that's not okay when it comes to your faith in the Lord and that's the definition of hypocrisy a different mask depending on what day of the week it is or who I'm around See, that's the picture of what most of the religious leaders in Jesus' day were doing They took a sincere commitment to God and they made it into a bunch of man-made rules and traditions adding all their own stuff in there

[8:56] And as Jesus would say many, many times their hearts were so far from God He even goes on to say that they wouldn't enter the kingdom of heaven See, He's talking about what we would call the preachers the leaders of the church How sad is that?

[9:15] And yet every single one of us can fall into the same trap We can't be staring at a gossipy gale fictional character by the way down the street We have to look inward at our own heart And while I'm not looking to play word police today that's why you'll never hear me refer to a true disciple of Jesus as being religious Because when you read the word of God for yourself you discover that it's all about a relationship with a holy God that produces a forgiven and transformed life that seeks to live for Christ every day And speaking of a personal relationship with Christ that phrase Jesus uses here when He says Why do you call me Lord, Lord?

[10:03] That phrase is important to understand We even see that that same phrase Lord, Lord in Matthew 7 starting in verse 21 where Jesus says Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven Many will say to me on that day Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles Then I will tell them plainly I never knew you Away from me you evil doers See when they used the word Lord just once it was an acknowledgement of His authority recognizing Jesus as master and ruler But in the first century Koine Greek language when you repeated it and you said Lord, Lord that not only meant that He's my master and my ruler but now it means I have a close personal relationship with my master and my ruler my Lord

[11:07] He's not distant Yes, He's the awesome God of all creation that I adore and I worship and there's also a reverence there for sure but I also know Him personally I'm invited into His presence daily and He truly is my source of everything that I need in this life being that we just came off the Christmas season a few weeks ago Do you remember that scene from Elf where Buddy's working at the toy store and the manager announces that Santa's coming the next morning and do you remember what Buddy said after getting so excited and screaming Santa!

[11:47] He says Santa I know Him You know what? As goofy as that movie is we can say a much more important statement we can say Jesus I know Him He's the Lord Lord of my life I am invited into a personal relationship with the God of the universe so right away Jesus calls out the fact that many claim to be His children and yet they perverted what Scripture really teaches or they simply just don't do what He says it's just lip service it's just a religion or following what mom and dad said and if it's good enough for them then it's good enough for me uh uh listen I love my parents but when it has to do with my eternity and what I pass on to my kids I need to know what the word says I don't need to take anybody's word for it I need to know it for myself a true disciple of Jesus is all in not perfect but forgiven redeemed and all in covered by His blood walking in His grace then the next part of this sentence says true disciples choose obedience see anytime

[13:08] I'm working on a message that talks about obedience there's one traditional hymn that just comes into my mind every time and I'm not I'm someone who really didn't grow up singing any church songs whatsoever so I didn't grow up with the the reservoir that my wife has being in church all her life but does anybody have a guess what song jumps in my head when I think of obedience yes trust and obey the words were written by John H.

[13:36] Samus in 1887 he had been to a D.L. Moody revival meeting and there was someone given a testimony and then after he heard that testimony he went home and wrote this and it sounds a lot like Luke 6 he says when we walk with the Lord in the light of his word what a glory he sheds on our way while we do his good will he abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey now let's pick up here in Luke 6 46 and let that lead us into verse 47 Jesus says why do you call me Lord Lord and do not do what I say as for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice I will show you what they are like and we'll look at that picture here in a second but he's clearly talking about obedience and this is hard because our flesh that's filled with all kinds of pride and selfishness loves to get in the way and sometimes that being told what to do thing man it doesn't jive with our flesh either but we have to come to this point where we realize that he's God and I am not his ways are not my ways and his ways are way better than my ways and Craig Groeschel put it this way he said

[15:04] I believe Christians often perceive obedience as just some test designed just to see if we're really committed to Jesus but what if it's also designed as God's way of giving us what's best for us or as Proverbs 3 5 and 6 says trust in the Lord with all of your heart lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight you know this happens all the time when you're trying to parent your kids how many times especially as your kids hit those preteen teenage years do you try to help your child see hey this is what's best this is how you navigate a situation with godly wisdom and discernment and all they can see is what's right in front of them and that's okay because that's normal for kids we all did it but trying to get them to trust you as a parent who's been where they are and not think that you're dumb is the tough part showing them that there's a big picture that's so important and listen

[16:08] God is that parent to us and we are the child who still can't see the big picture and when we choose obedience to him through his word even when it doesn't make sense or if I just want to do it it's amazing it's amazing the blessings that he pours out when I just don't want to do it what did Proverbs 3 6 say in all your ways submit to him and he'll do what he will make your path straight I remember back in 2015 feeling like God had released us from the ministry that we had been at for 8 years and listen it was really really hard because the church was our first love in the ministry sense our first lead pastor role as a married couple I think I started there when I was 23 and we saw the Lord do so many awesome things in the middle of a cornfield in the middle of nowhere and we love those people dearly and yet he made it clear that we were to go and God that we were to leave that ministry after 8 years and God knowing

[17:14] I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed he made it even more clear where we were to go I mean he just swung doors wide open 330 miles away from home to a town and a church we didn't know in a state that wasn't Indiana and it didn't take make sense really professionally as that church was a little smaller than the one we were leaving it also didn't seem right that we would take our almost 2 year old son away from his grandparents and yet we felt this amazing peace about going with no idea that we would only stay for 3 years because God knew we needed a healing stop after that first ministry that would then launch us right where we are now at FCC where we're supposed to be and I'll tell you I stand in awe of God's perfect timing of his plans when we are willing to step out in obedience and trust me there have been too many times where I didn't obey and that's when my life always gets messy so really two big reasons why we choose obedience first because he's God and I'm not and I want to obey him as the one who set me free and then second because God's ways are perfect and when I walk in obedience he will make my paths straight there's an incredible freedom and peace walking in his plans now let's finish out that sentence okay true disciples choose obedience here it comes discovering life that may not sound like rocket science it may not be something that you put on a bumper sticker on your car or sticker on your coffee mug but I'm telling you when it's put into practice this is the life that every person who's ever breathed has desires who's ever taken a breath we desire this life now before we get to the good news let's face the bad news and I love this about Jesus he was real and he didn't hold back from speaking truth even when it's unpleasant look at verse 49 it says but the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation the moment the torrent struck that house it collapsed and its destruction was complete now what's what Jesus is talking about what's he talking about when he speaks about the torrent or the storm that struck the house some say it's referring to when life gets hard and the storms roll in those who have their life built on the foundation of Christ they can weather the storm they can be okay on the other side and you know what that's absolutely true according to the word but that's not exactly what this passage specifically is talking about this passage is actually talking about when it all comes to an end during God's judgment when that comes and I know I sound like a broken record here but this is so important when we stand before Jesus to give an account for our life our God is just and holy all sin must be paid in full and when we build our foundation on things like

[20:27] I'm a good person who gives to the needy and I'm a good person who serves at the food kitchen every month I even tithe back to my church listen that won't stand up to the storm or if we build our lives on a religious affiliation and church attendance down goes the house but listen when you are covered by the blood of Christ the perfect unblemished lamb and his blood is on the doorpost of your heart that's what protects you from that storm nothing else and I'm concerned for so many people who've missed this point who build their foundation on a preacher who needs Jesus just as bad as you do who've built the foundation on a church building although God can use these brick and mortar structures who've built on a title or a leadership position upon man-made traditions or rules upon the emotions I get in a worship service when the praise team knocks it out of the park and some of these things aren't bad at all they were never designed though to be your foundation that has to be your relationship with Christ that changes everything about your life and how you live a saving personal intimate walk with the God of the universe that forgives every ugly sin that redeems our hearts and sets us on the solid rock so your story can be used for his glory but for those who build on the rock of Jesus Christ our story ends jubilantly in heaven this past Monday we had a celebration of life service in the sanctuary for a long time and faithful follower of Jesus here at FCC she was in just an all in with Jesus she served him faithfully such an encourager great Bible teacher and there's no question she will be missed see around six years ago she got brain cancer and her body just wore down but here's the good news she could truly sing my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and his righteousness

[22:32] I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus name and she had a saying that was less about dessert and more about heaven when she would say hey save your fork the best is yet to come and we celebrated that on Monday because that spunky lady is with Jesus right now no longer bound by the aches and pains of this life she was a picture of Luke 6 48 that says they are like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock when the flood came the torrent struck that house but could not shake it because it was well built why because Jesus was the foundation not my version of him not a manipulated or weaponized version often for political or selfish purposes the unfiltered Jesus of scripture and listen obedience isn't what saves us it's the grace of God that we don't deserve that we can't earn that saves us as we put our faith fully in Christ and obedience is the fruit of salvation which produces all kinds of good fruit scripture says love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control and like we talk about often context is key when studying scripture we have to understand what's happening around the passage we're looking at we can't just rip things out of its context and right before our story today

[24:06] Luke chapter 6 verse 43 says this no good tree bears bad fruit nor does a bad tree bear good fruit each tree is recognized by its own fruit people do not pick figs from thorn bushes or grapes from briars a good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of and right after this passage is the story about building your life on the rock of Jesus Christ so not only does Jesus as your foundation save you from the storm of his perfect justice and righteousness but it's the only thing that transforms these hearts and produces godly things out of us even our words that come out honor Christ because they are a direct reflection of what's happening in this heart and when they're not good that means the heart needs more of Jesus so good news good news this song filled message isn't over yet because I think we can take some liberties with that Beach Boys song and we can change it from good vibrations to what really matters good foundations so sing it with me okay and I'm a terrible singer so just put up with it but sing this with me ready good good good good foundations one more time good good good good foundations now I know we're kind of goofy today and we're having fun with this but here's the good news if you build your life on the foundation of Christ not just with words but with your actions with his power you will stand strong through every storm and into eternity as true disciples who chose obedience and then discovered life let's pray together father thank you so much for opening up your word to us today showing us that true disciples choose obedience to your perfect love to your perfect standards and father when we choose obedience we discover life in Jesus name thank you for this powerful truth may you just sear it into our hearts and may we know you deeper and deeper every day thank you thank you for your amazing grace by Jesus going to the cross giving his innocent life for our guilty ones and then three days later he rose from the grave to conquer death and offer us life on this earth and life eternal and father we just fall on our knees and say thank you thank you thank you thank you for this amazing love and may we live a life worthy of the calling we've received in

[27:11] Christ father I just pray if there's anyone listening right now who doesn't know your amazing grace in their heart today can be a day where you just transform that heart where lives are surrendered to you and father you just begin to transform us into the image of Christ we love you Jesus you are so good and we pray all this in your holy and awesome name the name above all names the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and God's people said amen and amen hey want to give you a real quick invitation here so if you've been listening to this and maybe just have questions about your faith maybe you want to talk about our church a little bit and maybe if it could be a good fit for you maybe you want to talk about giving your life to Jesus and you're not sure how to go about that and you need somebody to walk alongside you listen

[28:12] I get it I've had people walk alongside me as well so here's how you can reach out to us if you have any of those questions you can call the church office at 812-663-8488!

[28:26]  812-663-8488 or you can email me at ray at FCC Greensburg dot com hey thank you so much for tuning in today and may our lives truly be built on that good foundation