Lesson 15
How Firm a Foundation
Luke 37-49
I have thought a lot over the years about what the title of this lesson means. Many years ago I read a biography about Billy Graham. The one thing that that stuck out in his story which I have never forgotten was his decision about God’s word. His foundation for faith was to be built on the total commitment to the belief that God’s word was infallible. As he did, I have made a willful choice to accept the total Bible, every word as the inspired message that God has provided for us that we might have life eternal and a personal relationship with Him right now.
This is not to say that I have not questioned parts of it. I do not understand why God did certain things which seemed so unfair. I would just as soon skip over those parts that talk about infidelity and the destruction of whole nations. There has come an acceptance that God has a right to do what He pleases and that everything that has occurred was and is beneficial for His children.
Sadly there are many denominations and individual churches that refuse to accept God’s word in totality. They want to pick and choose those passages that suit their philosophical stands and ignore the fact that the Bible is a complete narrative of God working in the hearts of man. We now have names for the different groups and the way they view Scripture. Those who reject many parts of the Bible and interpret it in the way that suits them are called liberals. There are others who hold the Bible as the inspired infallible word of God. Even within all denominations there are divisions with one group taking one stance while others take another. Liberals forget that God Himself in two different places issues the warning that His word is not to be altered. The book of Hebrews speaks of the living word, Jesus, as being “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
Luke 6:37
Jesus certainly did not mean that judgment should not come to someone who had broken the law. It was God who gave the law that was to be obeyed. He was commanding His disciples to not have a critical spirit. It is easy to criticize others for a number of different reasons. It may be the way they dress or something about their personality that might be different. In any case finite man is not the standard by which others are to be measured. By criticizing or judging others a person may find himself as the subject of the same. This is different than having a discerning spirit. When it comes to interpretations of the Scriptures one should be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who “Examined the Scriptures daily to see whether these things (What Paul was teaching) were so.”
Along with judgment is the idea of condemning others. No one has the right to put down another person. There may be circumstances that may cause someone to act the way he or she does. Here again if one is not careful he may find himself the one being condemned.
Instead of judging or condemning a person should forgive or pardon others. In another place Jesus said that in order to receive forgiveness a person has to forgive. See the model prayer.
- What is the difference between what happens in our justice system and the way we sometimes judge others? (One is according to the law and the other may be driven by our own prejudices.)
- What is the idea behind judging? (It is being unfairly critical of others.)
- What is the danger in judging others?
- What are some of the things we are to judge?
- What right do we have to condemn the actions of others?
- What might happen if we continually condemn others?
- What should be our attitude towards others?
Luke 6:38
There are all kinds of giving in which man may participate. First of all one must consider the attitude of the giver. Giving with the expectation that one will be repaid defeats the whole idea of the giving. As mentioned there are those who have the material resources to be generous with what they have. They give because God has blessed them and they give out of a heart of gratitude. Quite often God will allow them to have greater wealth because He knows they will use what they receive for His glory.
Others may not have the material wealth mentioned above but are willing to give of their time, giftedness and abilities in sacrificial service. Their reward will be the joy of knowing that what they are doing is according to God’s purpose for their lives.
Whether a person receives the financial blessings from his generosity or the joy of doing what God has called him to do, both will understand how generous and loving the Father truly is. Remember that God has already provided each of us with more than we could ever deserve. He has not skimped in any way. Just think of His mercy and the gift of eternal life and man will realize that he can never outdo God.
- What is the most important thing to remember about giving?
- Why do people forget that giving is not just about money?
- In whatever ways can one give?
- What can we expect from our gifts?
- What should be the results when we give to others in service to the Father?
Luke 6:39-40
One who does not understand the ways of God cannot lead another into faith. Both the one guiding and the one following will find themselves walking the road to destruction. Jesus could have easily been talking about the religious leaders of His day. He then carried the idea one step further. No teacher can teach what he does not know. The student, if he remains under the teaching of a leader, cannot learn anymore that the leader has to offer. He can however grow to be like his teacher by learning everything those instructing him has to offer. James spoke of not everyone should desire to be a teacher because they will incur a stricter judgment especially if they fail to teach God’s word truthfully. (See James 3:1)
Sadly, in the time which is called the post modern era by many, there are whole denominations which are misleading millions of their members by teaching false doctrine and theology. Jesus was warning His disciples to always teach the truth.
- What is the danger of allowing just anyone lead small groups or preach from the pulpit?
- To whom was Jesus referring when He spoke of the blind guides?
- Why can a pupil not advance any further than his teacher?
- How do we recognize blind guides?
- Who did Jesus want His disciples to follow?
- Why was He the ultimate guide and teacher?
- To whom do you turn for guidance in your own life? Why?
- Who is a teacher that has had a great influence in your life?
- How do you become like the Master Teacher?
Luke 6:41-42
It is a fact of life that it is much easier to see the shortcomings and sins of others while being blind to one’s own. The object in one’s own eye, the beam, should appear larger because it is hitting closer to where you are. The spec is seen at a distance. Jesus was telling His disciples to repent and confess what is wrong in their own lives before even attempting to say anything to someone else. Jesus called that man a hypocrite for he was pretending to be what he was not. Every man is a sinner and must face the sins he has committed is his life. Only then can he even understand what is taking place in the lives of others.
- Why is it so much easier to criticize others instead of looking at one’s self?
- What does being a hypocrite mean?
- At what point will you be able to correct someone else’s behavior?
- Have you reached that position in your life where there is nothing wrong with a spiritual walk?
- Why was the object in one’s own eye bigger than what was in his neighbor’s eye?
Luke 6:43-45
A critical spirit and an evil heart cannot produce that which is good. The actions of a good man will be equated to the good fruit produced by a spiritually healthy person. There is a story told about two families in New England in the 1700’s. From the godly family came, college presidents, preachers, teachers, a vice-president and a Supreme Court justice. The other family who lived close by were drunkards, thieves etc. The family tree brought forth fruit in accordance to the goodness or rottenness of the tree itself. Many times a man’s words are reflective of what is in his heart.
- What comparison did Jesus give between a good tree and a bad tree?
- What are some examples of good fruit in a person’s life?
- When does a person become like the bad tree?
- What influence do people have on others?
- What does the tree symbolize? (It is the source of all nourishment that produces fruit.)
- What do you think of the example used above comparing the two families?
- What are some modern day examples we see that are examples of what Jesus was talking about?
Luke 6:46
Jesus asked a very important question to those around Him including the disciples. He wanted to know why they would call Him Lord meaning Master if they were not acting according to what He had taught them.
- How do you react to the question that Jesus asked the disciples there with Him?
- What are the two important parts of what He said? (They were calling Him Master but they were not doing what He had taught them.)
- How do you know what Jesus expects of you?
- In what ways do you try to make Jesus Lord of your life?
Luke 6:47
Luke provides the picture of two different responses to the teaching of Jesus. Notice that there are two constants in the parable Jesus tells. In both there is a house and a storm. What happens to each depends on the view each has of God’s word.
The first man, representing many people:
- Comes to Him
- Hears the words of Jesus
- Acts on them
He is like one who builds the house, his life, on a solid foundation of rock. Notice he does not just sit his house on the rock but digs deep making the foundation solid and firm. When the inevitable storms of life come because he has sunk his roots deep into what Christ has said, his house stands firm.
The second man also hears the same words as the first but does not live out his life according to what he has heard. He then is an example of a man who builds his house on the shifting sands and did sink any foundation whatsoever. When the same storm comes that the first man experiences, the house of the second man collapses. Jesus ends by saying, “the ruin of that house is very great.”
- What are the constants in the two stories? (The house and the storm)
- What is the difference between the first and second man?
- What is the foundation upon which the first man built and the second ignored?
- What is the foundation upon which you are building your life?
- Why was the first house able to withstand the storm?
- What do the storms represent?
- How are you going to weather the storms that come your way?
- There are two admonishments that Jesus gives that have not changed for us since the day He gave them. Do not judge. Do not condemn others. In both cases we are not to set ourselves up as better than others.
- You are called to give of yourselves. There will be blessings from God beyond your wildest dreams. Some of you will be able to give generously from your finances others may not be able to do so but are able to give themselves in sacrificial service using all of your gifts and abilities to glorify God.
- Be a person of God’s word. By digging deeper and building your life upon the solid rock found there, you will be able to weather any storm that this world may throw at you.
- Make sure that your life exemplifies the fruit of the spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23.
- If you fill your hearts with Christ good treasures will flow out from you.
The church is to be different than any other organization in the world. One thing we have that no other one has. It is the good news of Jesus Christ. The gospel is radical and we are called to live radically for our Lord. If we try to carry out every teaching of Jesus we will become like the Pharisees in making them like the law. Jesus knew even as He taught His disciples that to become true followers that they and we would be a work in process. Church is about that process. We will grow to become more like Jesus as we did deeper into His word and build our lives on the foundation embedded in the rock who is Jesus. Do not become discouraged or overwhelmed upon hearing the message found in the pages of the Bible.