Larry Siegle · Matt. 7:24-27
Link to sermon video: The Foundation of True Discipleship – L Siegle
Foundation of True Discipleship
(Matt. 7:24-27)
Thesis: How We think affects faith, action, and example.
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of this message is, “Foundation of True Discipleship”.
2. Augustine “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5-7).
a. These three chapters are ‘foundational’ as it pertains to Kingdom Identity-
-what it means walk and to live each day in the Presence of God.
b. Jesus wants to demonstrate what it really means to become disciples, and
afterward to demonstrate the evidence of genuine discipleship.
3. In February we began to explore the prayer of Jesus for the restoration of His
glory (John 17:1-5; Phil. 2:5-11).
a. “Let this mind be in you…” (Phil. 2:5), and this goes back to the very
foundational principles of what Jesus teaches here in this text (I Cor.
2:16)– the “mind of Christ”– two different words, both of which refer to
how we understand what we think and what that means in a practical
sense in our everyday reality.
4. Jesus preaching and teaching ministry to the multitude (crowd) that has
gathered around the area, takes a seat (as was the custom of a Rabbi–
teacher), his “disciples” gathered around him (Matt. 4:23-25; 5:1).
a. It was not “fame” in the sense we think of, but simply the “news” had
spread and people were curious about this teacher and the essence of His
message (Matt. 7:28, 29)
b. Notice the specific “audience” that was the focus of His attention (Matt.
5:2)–the “crowds” were there, but His “disciples” were the one being
taught
5. Jesus begins with the pronouncement of 9 “blessings” or more accurately,
what it takes to have the kind of “happiness” that only God can give–(Matt.
5:53-11).
a. “Blessed” (makarios)–It is a descriptive word that is better translated as
‘happy’–but not as the result of ‘happenstance’ or outward situations and
circumstances of life–but rather the ‘happiness’ that only comes and
arises from having a relationship with God–‘happiness’ defined by God.
1) If I only had a bigger house, nicer car, better things.
2) This ‘happiness’ is all about how God takes who we are (character), and
transforms every part of our being (Rom. 12:2).
b. Discipleship involves “one who comes under discipline for instruction in
righteousness”
c. The very first of these pronouncements of ‘blessed’ (happy) involves the
foundational basis from which everything else arise.
6. One translation (Matt. 5:3), “Happy are those conscious of their
spiritual need, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens”
a. “poor in spirit” means the recognition of that which is lacking in the
innermost parts of our being, an emptiness that only God can fill up.
b. We cannot know the value of what God wants to give us until we first
understand just how ‘spiritually bankrupt’ we are without Him.
THE SOLID FOUNDATION
1. Jesus lays the “foundation” of how it is that true ‘discipleship’ is built (Matt.
7:24)
a. Notices the relationship between ‘hearing’ and ‘doing’–the steps we take in
our actions come from listening to what Christ has said (James 1:22).
b. Israel was given “the law” and looked toward it as the means of their
‘justification’ before God (Rom. 2:13, 17; 10:1-4).
1) They could not be ‘justified’ through “dead works” (Heb. 6:1; 9:14).
2) Faith comes by ‘hearing’ (Rom. 10:17).
3) The ‘hearing’ of what Jesus was teaching had to be rooted in genuine
faith otherwise it would have been worthless (James 2:20).
c. The “foundation” for genuine discipleship is that our life is built on the
solid foundation of Gods’ Word (Psa. 119:105; Matt. 4:4)–the “rock”
2. The strength of the foundation will be tested by difficult circumstances of life
(Matt. 7:25).
a. The extent of these difficult circumstances is the process through which we
learn to trust God each day. (James 1:1-8).
b. The assurance is given that IF our lives are built upon the solid foundation
of God’s Word it will STAND through whatever problems, circumstances,
and situations we face in life.
c. Discipleship is the ‘awareness’ of knowing that God is the One who brings
us through–emotional, financial, relational, etc problems.
THE WEAK FOUNDATION
1. Jesus demonstrates the consequences of what happens when we do not have
a strong foundation.
a. It is “whoever” over against “everyone”
b. It is “wise” in comparison with the “foolish”
1) Notice that both were present to “hear” what Jesus was teaching.
2) The “message of the cross” is “foolishness” to those perishing (I Cor.
1:18; Rom. 1:16)—same message different perspective.
2. Those who “hear” but do not have actions consistent with what they have
heard the message to say–have no real foundation upon which to stand.
a. People have “opinions” “theories” “philosophies” etc–but no solid
foundation (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23).
b. It is easy to go our own way while things seem “good” (Psa. 119:67).
3. When problems situations and circumstances arise, and our lives are not built
upon knowing and practicing what the Word of God says, the house of our
lives cannot stand (Matt. 7:27).
ISRAEL THE EXAMPLE
1. God used the nation of Israel to draw a vivid picture of what it means to have
been given revelation, God’s Word, and what happens when they “heard” the
message of “the law” and the prophets but did not take heed to be willing and
obedient (Isa. 1:19)
a. As a nation, the “northern kingdom” was invaded by the Assyrians in 722
BCE
b. As a nation, the “southern kingdom” was invaded by the Babylonians in
586 BCE
c. The final judgment of the nation came when the Roman armies
surrounded Jerusalem, destroyed the temple in 70 CE
2. God speaks to the church through the example of what happened to Israel.
3. God speaks to each believer through the examples of those whose personal
lives were defeated through sin and disobedience to God’s Word.
4. If we love Christ we will keep His commandments (John 14:15; 15:10; I John
5:2)
CONCLUSION
1. Are we the “crowd” or are we “disciples” who have come to learn, to do, and to
be?
2. How prepared are we to have the ‘mind of Christ’ in facing our daily
problems, circumstances, and situations?
3. Is the foundation of our life rooted in both faith and obedience to God in our
thoughts, words, and actions?
4. Prayer
Outline (Word document): Foundation_of_True_Discipleship.docx