How does the parable connect with your life?How does the parable connect with your life?

There must be more weight below the waterline than above it

There must be more weight below the waterline than above it

Matthew 7:24-27Matthew 7:24-27

"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say "Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who and obeys it will be like a wise person who

built a house on rock. Rain poured, and built a house on rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against floods came. Winds blew and beat against

that house. But it did not collapse, because that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. Everyone who its foundation was on rock. Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on like a foolish person who built a house on

sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, blew and struck that house. It collapsed,

and the result was a total disaster." and the result was a total disaster."

"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say "Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who and obeys it will be like a wise person who

built a house on rock. Rain poured, and built a house on rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against floods came. Winds blew and beat against

that house. But it did not collapse, because that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. Everyone who its foundation was on rock. Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on like a foolish person who built a house on

sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, blew and struck that house. It collapsed,

and the result was a total disaster." and the result was a total disaster."

Building Strong Foundations for Life

Building Strong Foundations for Life

Have Daily DevotionsHave Daily Devotions

WorshipWorship

ReadRead

ReflectReflect

JournalJournal

PrayPray

WorshipWorship

ReadRead

ReflectReflect

JournalJournal

PrayPray

1

RoutineRoutine

PlacePlace

PlanPlan

RoutineRoutine

PlacePlace

PlanPlan

Have Daily DevotionsHave Daily Devotions

Practise God’s PresencePractise God’s Presence

2

Being persuaded that God is everywhere Being persuaded that God is everywhere present on all sides, we praise Him as we till present on all sides, we praise Him as we till

the ground, we sing hymns as we sow the the ground, we sing hymns as we sow the seed, we feel His inspiration in all we do.seed, we feel His inspiration in all we do.

Clement of AlexanderClement of Alexander

The Goal:The Goal:Increase your level of awareness Increase your level of awareness

of God who is always with youof God who is always with you

Practise God’s PresencePractise God’s Presence

Practise God’s PresencePractise God’s Presence

How?How?

Practise God’s PresencePractise God’s Presence

DEVELOP REMINDERSDEVELOP REMINDERS

Practise God’s PresencePractise God’s Presence

USE YOUR SENSESUSE YOUR SENSES

SightSight

SoundSound

TasteTaste

TouchTouch

Deal with SinDeal with Sin

1. Worship no other Gods1. Worship no other Gods2. Make no idols or images2. Make no idols or images3. Don’t use my name irreverently3. Don’t use my name irreverently4. Observe the Sabbath4. Observe the Sabbath5. Honour your parents5. Honour your parents

6. Do not murder 6. Do not murder

7. Do not commit adultery 7. Do not commit adultery

8. Do not steal8. Do not steal

9. Do not lie9. Do not lie

10. Do not envy10. Do not envy

3

1. Make God your Number One1. Make God your Number One

2. Don't put anything else before God2. Don't put anything else before God

3. Never use God's name as a swear word3. Never use God's name as a swear word

4. Have a day off once a week4. Have a day off once a week

5. Always respect your mom and dad5. Always respect your mom and dad

6. Don't kill anybody6. Don't kill anybody

7. Be faithful in marriage7. Be faithful in marriage

8. Never steal8. Never steal

9. Never lie9. Never lie

10. Don't be jealous of other people’s stuff10. Don't be jealous of other people’s stuff

Deal with SinDeal with Sin

True Confession:True Confession:

1. Examination1. Examination

2. Sorrow2. Sorrow

3. Determination3. Determination

Walk in forgivenessWalk in victory

Walk in forgivenessWalk in victory

Deal with SinDeal with Sin

Which command to confessWhich command to confess

How it has broken God’s heartHow it has broken God’s heart

What you can do in the futureWhat you can do in the future

Deal with SinDeal with Sin

Create Space for GodCreate Space for God

If the devil can’t make you bad,If the devil can’t make you bad,he’ll make you busy.he’ll make you busy.

4

Create Space for GodCreate Space for God

What do you need to What do you need to startstart doingdoing to to create space for God?create space for God?

What do you need to What do you need to stop doingstop doing to to create space for God?create space for God?

Develop Spiritual FriendshipsDevelop Spiritual Friendships

I need regular contact with a I need regular contact with a friend who keeps me close to friend who keeps me close to

Jesus and continues to call me Jesus and continues to call me to faithfulness.to faithfulness.Henri NouwenHenri Nouwen

5

Develop Spiritual FriendshipsDevelop Spiritual Friendships

My Paul

My Timothy

My BarnabasMEME

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Do Practical ServiceDo Practical Service

6

Spirituality is not Spirituality is not simply an inward simply an inward disposition. It disposition. It must come to must come to expression in acts expression in acts of kindness, deeds of kindness, deeds of love and of love and thankful service.thankful service.Charles RingmaCharles Ringma

Do Practical ServiceDo Practical Service

How are you currently involved How are you currently involved in practical service?in practical service?

Where can you serve outside Where can you serve outside your ministry context?your ministry context?

The Wise ManThe Wise Man

Chri

stos

Where are you building?Where are you building?

Here?Here?Or Here?Or Here?

Above the Above the WaterlineWaterline

Beneath the WaterlineBeneath the Waterline

Building Strong FoundationsBuilding Strong Foundations

1. Have daily devotions1. Have daily devotions

2. Practise God’s presence2. Practise God’s presence

3. Deal with sin3. Deal with sin

4. Create space for God4. Create space for God

5. Develop spiritual friendships5. Develop spiritual friendships

6. Do practical service 6. Do practical service