Generally, a church needs to address more than one area of church life in order to engage its community for the sake of the gospel. The first area is the most important: spiritual renewal. Churches need to rediscover their passion for God and [God’s] mission.
Breaking the Missional Code, David Putman and Ed Stetzer*
When you build something, you need to make sure it has a sturdy base. You can have the most beautiful house in the entire world, but if that foundation is made of sand, then it’s not going to last for very long.
Jesus said something similar at the end of the Sermon on the Mount.
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. [25] Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. [26] But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. [27] When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NLT)
When we have a solid foundation, we can withstand the storms of life. No matter what happens, we can persevere, even thrive, in the midst of adversity.
For one who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ, that foundation is Jesus himself. It is the foundation of Jesus’ teachings, of his example, of his love for each one of us. It is not a guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen. It’s a shield for when it does.
Have you ever thought about what a shield does? A shield doesn’t prevent impact; it absorbs the impact. It lessens the damage that one takes, but it doesn’t stop it altogether.
With Jesus as our solid foundation, we can proceed in life knowing that it’s not going to be easy, but that we can overcome whatever faces us. We can stand strong.
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