Well, over the summer, we've been looking at one of the sermons that Jesus gave early on in his public ministry, which we read about in Luke chapter 6.
And today we're going to hear about how Jesus brought this sermon to a close.
And as a reminder, you're welcome to open to there in your Bible, Jesus spoke about a variety of things on this particular occasion.
He talked about the great reversal that was coming for his followers, and how though they may face hardship and sorrows now,
they are blessed because they will soon inherit the kingdom of God, and they will soon see all their tears replaced with joy.
In contrast, Jesus also warned about how there was a great reversal coming for those who do not receive him,
and how their times of comfort and laughter will be replaced with want and weeping.
Jesus then talked about how his followers should respond to mistreatment from others.
He taught that we are to love our enemies and not retaliate.
Instead, we're to respond with kindness and mercy and generosity, treating others the way we would want to be treated.
After all, that's how God has dealt with us, despite how we've treated him.
And Jesus said that there's a reward in store for those who show that same kind of love to others, even when it's hard.
Then we heard Jesus exhort his followers not to be judgmental and hypercritical of others.
Instead, we're to be gracious and forgiving.
First, looking at the faults in ourselves and making sure that we address those things before trying to help others with their issues.
And then last week, we heard Jesus warn about false prophets and teachers and how to recognize them,
how to discern what's inside a person by the fruit that eventually comes from their lives.
Well, now Jesus finally brings this sermon to a close,
and we're going to hear how he concludes in Luke 6, verse 46.
Let me read it for us.
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.
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 a house on the ground without a foundation.
The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.
Probably most of us are quite familiar with these words of Jesus.
They've made it into some of the songs we sing even from early childhood in the church.
The wise man built his house upon the rock.
Maybe you remember singing that when you were young.
Or my daughter Sophie's favorite.
Don't build your house on the sandy land.
And then later we learned some of the old hymns.
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
So we're very familiar with these words.
And yet even though we're familiar with them, they don't easily lose their impact.
They're shocking.
They're powerful images that speak to our hearts again and again.
And let's look at this first statement of Jesus here in verse 46.
He says,
Why do you call me Lord?
Lord.
And do not do what I say.
This is the shocking part.
And here in Luke's gospel, this is just an abbreviated version of what Jesus said on this occasion.
The fuller version of this is in Matthew's gospel.
But can you imagine ending a speech in this way?
Or a class lesson in this way?
Why do you call me the honored guest speaker?
And don't do what I say.
Or why do you call me the teacher?
And don't do what I say.
It's kind of jolting, isn't it?
Jesus ends his sermon by calling out all the pretenders in his audience.
It's like he's saying, there are many of you here who aren't taking me seriously right now.
You've been following me around.
You've been calling me your Lord, your Master.
Just like my true followers do.
And yet you're completely disregarding my words.
You're doing the very things I'm telling you not to do.
And you're neglecting to do the things that I'm instructing you to do.
Even early on here in Jesus' ministry, hypocrisy was a problem.
Religious hypocrisy.
Pretending to be a follower of Jesus was a real thing.
Today, we call this nominalism.
It has to do with people who are Christians in name only.
People who claim Jesus to be their Lord, their Master, their Savior, their King.
And yet their claim is hollow as seen by the fruit in their lives.
There's the connection to what Jesus said just before this.
When it comes right down to it, they don't live according to Jesus' words.
How they live betrays their profession of faith.
And it's shocking because maybe there were many in the crowd that day who felt quite comfortable
keeping their doubts and their skepticism to themselves.
You know, we'll just try and blend in with the rest of them for now.
But now it's like Jesus is looking them all straight in the face and saying,
You can't fool me.
What you really believe about me is plainly on display in how you live.
How you respond to my words.
And so it's pointless to try and fake it.
It's pointless to pretend to be my disciple.
When you're living says otherwise.
Why do you call me Lord, Lord?
And do not do what I say.
A true disciple of Jesus
takes Jesus' words seriously
and does what Jesus says.
A true disciple of Jesus
takes Jesus' words seriously
and does what Jesus says.
Or to say it another way,
if Jesus really is your Lord,
your Master,
then you will do what He says.
Jesus then brings this point
to a close
with one final illustration.
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 a house
on the ground without a foundation.
The moment the torrent struck that house,
it collapsed.
And its destruction was complete.
So there's essentially two responses
that we can have to Jesus' words.
His words in this sermon
and all His other words as well.
There are two responses.
We can hear them
and put them into practice.
Or we can hear them
and not put them into practice.
And Jesus gives an analogy for each.
He says,
The person who hears my words
and puts them into practice,
that man's like a man
who in building his house
dug down deep
and laid a foundation
on rock.
But the person who hears my words
and does not put them into practice,
says Jesus,
is like a man who in building his house
doesn't even bother
to build it on a foundation.
Just builds it right on the ground.
No footing,
no piles,
no bedrock,
nothing.
Just stands up the walls,
nails them together
right there on the ground.
Matthew,
in his gospel,
even records Jesus
as saying,
what kind of ground?
Sand
or loose dirt
kind of ground.
Also in Matthew's gospel,
Jesus
very explicitly
describes the character
behind this decision.
He says,
One of these decisions
is wise
and one of these decisions
is foolish.
And I think it's obvious
which is which.
But you know,
initially,
there may seem to be
no consequence.
Both men have a house
to live in.
Once it's finished,
the foundation
is not really that visible
except to people
who like to look
for those things.
The foolish man
may even congratulate himself
since he didn't have to go
to as much trouble
or expense
or time
to do all that digging
and foundation stuff.
I was thinking back
to Jesus' days.
Like,
they didn't have
backhoes then.
This was by hand.
They would do this digging.
So initially,
there may seem
to be no consequence.
In fact,
it may even be
that the foolish man
is ahead.
But then
comes the flood.
This is where
the difference
in the two houses
is seen.
And the language
Jesus uses
to describe the flood
is quite vivid.
This is a picture
of a river
overflowing its banks
and a part of that river
crashing
or breaking
against the house.
The video footage
we're about to see
comes from the flood
that happened
just this summer
on July 4th
in Texas.
and this video
is sped up
as you'll see
on screen
but it shows
what happened
in just 10 minutes
to one of the roads.
10 minutes.
That's a lot of water.
Here's a second clip
showing some
of the effects.
That's a house
colliding with a bridge.
It's like this
for miles
and miles
and miles.
Can you kill the audio
on it, Rob?
So utter devastation.
An estimated
38,000 homes
damaged
and 138 people
have been found dead
and sadly
there were many
children among them.
Here's a man
standing in what's
left of his living room.
You can see
some of his roof
and the walls
of his house
on the ground
behind him.
hear these words
of Jesus.
The one who
hears my words
and does not
put them into practice
is like a man
who built a house
on the ground
without a foundation.
The moment
the torrent
struck that house
it collapsed
and its destruction
was complete.
Jesus is saying
that this
is the situation
this will be
the situation
for the person
who hears my words
and doesn't
take them seriously.
Fortunately
for this man
he wasn't in his house
sleeping
when it collapsed.
But this is a picture
of complete loss.
Total
destruction.
And that
says Jesus
is what awaits
those who
disregard my words.
Those who do not
act on them.
up until this point
in the analogy
Jesus has been
quite clear
of what the elements
of this analogy
refer to.
The building
of the foundation
refers to
hearing his words
and putting them
into practice.
Not building
the foundation
refers to
not
putting the words
of Jesus
into practice.
But what does
the flood
represent?
what does
the torrential
flood
that comes
crashing
against the house
represent?
Jesus
leaves it up
to us
to figure it out.
But I think
he knows
that we know
what it represents.
The torrential
flood
represents
God's judgment
which is coming
for all of us.
And it's not
because God
is vindictive
or unkind
that his judgment
is coming
but because
of our rebellion
our wickedness
our sins.
The Bible
tells us
that God
is bringing
this catastrophic
flood of judgment
at the end
because he
is good
and because
he is just
and because
we really
do deserve
it.
It will be
the ultimate
disaster
that sweeps
us all away
and completely
ruins us
unless
we have
heard
and truly
believed
and put
into practice
the words
of Jesus.
He is the
salvation
that we need.
He
is the
rescue.
If we hear
his words
and do
as he
says
we will
be saved.
And when
the flood
of God's
judgment
comes
this is
going to
be the
outcome
for us
instead
says
Jesus.
Those who
hear my
words
and put
them
into
practice
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.
The torrent
struck
but could
not
shake
it.
So there
is a way
to pass
through the
coming flood
of God's
righteous
judgment.
We will
not be
disturbed
moved
or shaken
by it.
We will
be completely
spared
of its
devastation
so long
as we are
well founded
having truly
believed
and taken
seriously
the words
of Jesus.
And we
might wonder
how do we
know if
we are
truly
believing
the words
of Jesus?
How do we
know if
we are
taking
Jesus'
words
seriously?
Well we
know
that we
do
if we
put his
words
into
practice
and do
them.
If we
do what
he says
that
reveals
whether
he is
truly
our
Lord
truly
our
master.
Very
simply
Jesus
shows us
our
choice.
Hear
his
words
and put
them
into
practice
or hear
his
words
and ignore
them.
Don't
put them
into
practice.
One
choice
is wise
and leads
to life.
The
other
is foolish
says
Jesus
and leads
to
disaster.
And so
I want
to ask
you
very
simply
this
morning
have
you
made
the
wise
choice?
Have
you
made
the
wise
choice?
Have
you
come
to
Jesus
not
just
to
hear
his
words
but
have
you
embraced
his
words?
Are
you
putting
them
into
practice
in
your
life?
If
you
haven't
made
this
wise
choice
yet
then
I
want
to
urge
you
make
it
make
it
today
we
don't
know
how
long
each
of
us
has
before
we
take
our
last
breath
and
that's
it
make
the
wise
choice
today
begin
to
put
into
practice
and
obey
the
words
of
Jesus
that
is
true
faith
anything
less
than
that
is
pointless
pretending
now
I
know
that
many
of
you
here
have
made
the
wise
choice
already
that
makes
me
rejoice
inside
you
have
believed
in
Jesus
you
have
owned
him
as
your
Lord
and
you
are
trying
to
put
his
words
into
practice
and
so
if
that's
you
this
morning
and
I
think
you
know
if
it
is
take
comfort
rest
secure
the
coming
devastation
will
not
shake
you
Christ
took
the
punishment
that we
deserve
on
himself
so that
we
could be
spared
and if
we
belong
to
Christ
we
are
safe
forever
what a
comfort
that
being
true
we
should
not
let
the
salvation
which
we
now
have
become
an
excuse
to
do
less
of
what
Jesus
has
told
us
to
do
these
are
the
words
that
really
stuck
in
my
heart
and
mind
this
week
here's
my
words
and
puts
them
into
practice
if
Jesus
really
is
our
Lord
and
our
master
our
king
the
one
we
pledged
allegiance
to
then
we
should
make
it
the
very
mission
of
our
lives
to
put
his
words
into
practice
more
and
more
every
day
to
learn
what
he
has
said
by
reading
it
in
our
Bibles
and
to
carry
out
his
commands
and
instructions
as
best
and
as
much
as
we
can
and
not
just
these
instructions
here
in
this
one
sermon
but
all
of
his
instructions
all
of
his
commands
which
we
find
throughout
the
rest
of
the
pages
of
this
book
this
is
what
it
really
means
to
believe
in
Jesus
and
to
be
a
follower
of
Jesus
and
so
I
want
to
ask
you
is
that
your
mindset
to
go
after
a
deeper
understanding
of
Jesus
words
and
more
to
go
after
a
fuller
obedience
to
Jesus
words
this
is
priority
number
one
for
all
of
Jesus
disciples
this
is
priority
for
the
disciples
he
was
speaking
to
back
then
in
the
crowd
and
this
is
his
number
one
priority
for
us
today
who
call
him
Lord
let's
do
what
he
says
let's
not
sit
back
and
coast
along
content
with
what
we've
already
done
the
Lord
has
us
here
each
day
on
this
earth
for
a
reason
and
it's
to
do
what
he
says
to
bear
much
fruit
for
his
glory
to
do
the
works
which
he
prepared
which
God
prepared
in
advance
for
us
to
do
maybe
you're
a true
Christian
but
have
fallen
into
complacency
or
apathy
if
that's
you
this
morning
let
these
words
wake
you
up
we
have
words
of
Jesus
to
put
into
practice
to
do
the
race
is
not
over
yet
let's
throw
off
everything
that
hinders
and
the
sin
that
so
easily
entangles
and run
with
perseverance
this race
that's
marked
out
for
us
fixing
our
eyes
on
Jesus
the
author
and
perfecter
of
our
faith
Jesus
has
given
us
a
clear
mission
go
and
make
disciples
of
all
nations
let's
not
forget
the
mission
the
mission
is
not
to
get
the
job
we're
most
interested
in
or
the
house
that
we've
always
wanted
or
the
vehicle
that
we
really
like
the
mission
is
not
to
dial
up
the
comforts
and
the
pleasures
and
spend
as
much
time
as
possible
in
sport
or
hobby
or
recreation
the
mission
is
not
to
get
the
ideal
picture
perfect
family
whatever
that
is
in
our
definition
it's
to
spend
our
days
living
for
Christ
doing
what
he
says
is
that
your
priority
number
one
I
think
to
those
words
of
Paul
the
apostle
Paul
to
live
!
is
Christ
he
said
and
to
die
that's
gain
because
then
I
get
to
be
with
him
but
if
I'm
to
go
on
living
in
the
body
he
said
this
will
mean
fruitful
labor
for
me
the
kind
of
labor
that
sees
more
people
come
to
hear
about
Jesus
and
follow
him
as
we
think
about
this
whole
analogy
of
the
house
and
the
flood
I'm
reminded
that we
shouldn't
just be
focused
on our
own
house
but
that
there
are
still
others
in
this
world
who
haven't
heard
of
Jesus
is on
a rescue
mission
and if
we're
enjoined
to him
because
he is
our
Lord
then that
puts
us
on
that
same
mission
with
him
we
don't
want
to
see
anybody
get
swept
away
by
the
torrent
that's
coming
at
the
end
so
I
just
want
to
ask
you
is
that
your
priority
today
your
number
one
priority
to
do
what
the
Lord
says
let's
pray
Lord
Jesus
thank you
for these
words
which you
spoke
long
ago
and
which
still
are
powerful
today
in our
lives
you
know
the
things
that
are
holding
us
back
the
things
that
are
distracting
us
the
things
that
are
keeping
us
from
following
you
with
all
our
heart
and
I
pray
that
you
would
set
us
free
from
those
things
and
that
you
would
unleash
us
with
your
power
to
do
the
things
you
said
that
may
look
different
for
different
people
in
this
room
in
our
church
but
we
want
to
be
used
by
you
we
want
to
serve
you
and
one
day
you're
going
to
bust
through
the
clouds
and
we
want
to
be
found
doing
what
you
have
given
us
to
do
stir
that
fire
in our
hearts
if
we've
lost
it
keep
it
burning
if
we
haven't
we
commit
ourselves
to
you
for
your
glory
amen