Letting Christ Transform You From The Inside Out
Printable study in Black & White
The Foundations section is meant to help you understand what it means to build your life on the "solid foundation" that Jesus talks about in the Bible. This will enable you to be a stable, and "grounded" person who is centered on what really matters in life. Other people and other philosophies won't be able to easily sway you and get you off track from your purpose in life.
Laying the Groundwork For A Spiritual Foundation
Please read the following scriptures by either opening your Bible or referencing the passages written out below. Try to think about what they might mean, then answer the questions beneath them.
Scriptures:
Matthew 7:24-28 - At the end of his famous "Sermon on the Mount" (See Matthew 5:1 - 7:28) Jesus stated the following:
"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. 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. 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. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." Matthew 6:24-28
John 8:31-32 - Jesus also made the following statement:
To the Jews who believed Him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:31,32
1 Corinthians 3:11 - The apostle Paul, while addressing the Corinthian church, made the following statement about laying a foundation:
But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
1 John 4:9 - The apostle John make the following statement about Christ Jesus:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
Matthew 16:13-19 - Jesus is addressing his disciples. Reading Matthew 16:1-12 will help with the context.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ (Messiah/Savior), the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. " Matthew 16:13-19
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." Matthew 9:16-17
Q. What is the rock foundation that our lives should be built on?
Q. What do you think it means to live your life "through" Christ?
Q. Do you think Jesus' teachings are just additional rules?
Q. Why do you think Jesus says we need a "new" wineskin to embrace his teaching? What could this possibly mean?
Daniel 2:all - The prophet Daniel interprets the king's dream and describes the rock that will be coming.
Matthew 5:1 - 7:28 - Read all of the Sermon on the Mount. This will help you to understand the principle-based perspective of Jesus.
Q. In Daniel 2:34-35, 45 what does the "rock" symbolize. How does this relate to what you learned in the scriptures above?
Q. In Matthew 6:25-34 what principle is Jesus trying to relay about your view of God?