Sermon Reflection: Becoming the Church God Is Calling Us to Be: Rooted in God's Word
Matthew 7:24-27
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Link to service
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 18th October service -
We all want something solid to build our lives on. We want security and the confidence that when the storms come, we will stand firm.
When I was a child, I went on Christian summer camps near the beach, where we built sandcastles. One year, the leaders timed the competition with the incoming tide! We desperately dug trenches and built walls, but eventually the sea swept everything away. All that hard work, gone in moments.
In Matthew 7, Jesus tells a story about two builders. One builds on rock, the other on sand. When the storms come, one house stands firm while the other collapses.
Last week, we were reminded that Jesus must be at the centre of everything we do. But how do we know what it means to follow him? We need to listen to his teaching and put his words into practice.
That brings us to our second core value: Rooted in God's Word.
1. What is your foundation built on?
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).
Perhaps building on sand was easier. Digging down to the rock took more time and effort. I wonder whether that's how it can be for us, too.
We don't usually decide overnight to stop listening to Jesus. Instead, we gradually absorb the ideas and values around us. We're surrounded by advice: “Follow your heart.” “Do whatever makes you happy.” “Look after number one.”
Some advice might be helpful, but we need to ask: whose wisdom is really shaping my life?
Our feelings and circumstances change. The world's opinions change. We need something more solid on which to build.
Paul tells Timothy that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible isn't simply a collection of ancient ideas or inspirational sayings. It is God's gift to us, revealing who he is, showing us how to live and pointing us towards Jesus.
Being rooted in God's Word means asking, “Lord, what are you teaching me? Where do I need to change?” Sometimes Scripture encourages us; sometimes it challenges us. But we must allow God's truth to shape every part of our lives.
Think about parenting. There's plenty of advice about raising children, but God's Word reminds us that our children are made in his image and deeply loved by him. Parenting isn't about being perfect. It's about loving faithfully, setting boundaries, forgiving and pointing our children towards Jesus.
We all need God's wisdom because our instincts aren't always right. We need reminding to be patient and challenging when we're being selfish.
The same is true when life gets difficult. When anxiety or uncertainty comes, we can rely too heavily on our ability to manage everything. God's Word reminds us that he loves us and we can trust him, even when we cannot control what's happening.
Our problems might not disappear, but we can remember that our security isn't found in our ability to hold everything together. It's found in the God who holds us.
So, what is your foundation built on? Are you allowing God's Word to shape your life, or are other voices having more influence than you realise?
2. Are you digging deep?
Imagine you're having an extension built, but halfway through digging the foundations, the builders say, “That'll do!”
You wouldn't be impressed! You want to know the foundations are solid before the walls go up.
So what does it mean to dig deep and become rooted in God's Word? Here are three simple things.
Firstly, read God's Word regularly.
We can't expect our lives to be shaped by a book we rarely open. But reading the Bible doesn't have to mean an hour every morning with three commentaries and a strong cup of coffee!
It might mean ten minutes with these Digging Deep notes, reading a Gospel or listening to the Bible on the way to work.
Ask yourself: What does this teach me about God? What does it show me about myself? What difference should it make to how I live?
Secondly, learn God's Word together.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo activity. Worship, preaching, Bible study groups and conversations with other Christians all help us grow.
We can encourage one another, ask questions and gently challenge one another when needed.
This matters for St John's, too. If we want to become the church God is calling us to be, we need to ask not simply, “What would we like to do?” but, “What has God called us to do? How can we be faithful to Jesus here?”
Thirdly, put God's Word into practice.
Jesus' wise builder doesn't just hear his words; he acts on them.
We can attend church and read our Bibles regularly, yet still struggle to forgive someone, share what we have or make time for a neighbour.
So here's a simple question to ask whenever we read Scripture or hear a sermon:
What is one thing God is calling me to put into practice?
Perhaps we need to apologise, forgive someone, serve others or trust God rather than give in to fear.
We won't always get it right, but God's Holy Spirit helps us live out his Word. When we fail, Jesus offers forgiveness and the grace to keep growing.
That's discipleship: hearing God's Word, trusting his grace and learning to put Jesus' teaching into practice.
Building on the rock
There's one final thing to notice in Jesus' story: the storm comes to both houses.
Following Jesus doesn't mean life will always be easy. Christians experience illness, bereavement, disappointment and suffering, just like everyone else.
But when the storms come, we have a foundation we can trust. Our circumstances change, but God's character doesn't. When we don't know what tomorrow holds, we can trust the God who holds tomorrow.
We cannot be a church with Jesus at the centre unless we are a church rooted in God's Word.
God's Word shows us who Jesus is, reminds us of his grace, challenges us when we wander and equips us to live for him.
So let me leave you with those two questions: What is your foundation built on? And are you digging deep?
Let's be people who love God's Word, learn from it together and put it into practice, standing firm in Jesus and bearing fruit for his glory.
Reflection Questions:
1. What voices or influences are most likely to shape my decisions apart from God's Word?
2. In Matthew 7:24–27, what teaching of Jesus do I need to put into practice?
3. In 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Paul describes how Scripture teaches and corrects us. How has God's Word challenged or encouraged me recently?
4. How could I make reading God's Word a more regular part of everyday life?
5. How can I learn from Scripture alongside other Christians?
6. When storms come, how can I remind myself that my security rests in God's faithfulness?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Word and for revealing yourself through Jesus. Forgive us when we listen to other voices rather than yours.
Help us to read Scripture faithfully, learn together and put your truth into practice. By your Holy Spirit, make us more like Jesus and make St John's a church deeply rooted in your Word.
When the storms come, help us stand firm in your love and faithfulness.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
