View source for Matthew 7:24-29 Foundation for Life

=Learning Objectives=
*Students will recognize that the love of Jesus provides a foundation for the rest of life.
*Students will determine to build upon the foundation of Jesus' life.


====Materials====
*4x4x4 blocks
*Gallon bag half full of sand half full of air.
*Burning Bible w/ lighter fluid

=Introduction=
 The text in the notes here is intended to be a rough approximation of what you might say, it should not be something that is just read.


====Text (3 Minutes)====
*SAY: We are going to play a quick game here. I have two volunteers and we are going to see who can use these blocks to build the tallest tower.  However, there is a twist. we are going to ask xxxxxx to build ontop of this bag of san.

====Transition====
*SAY: Jesus used a similar example with his disciples. After teaching his disciples how they should live by loving God and loving others, Jesus gave them an important example.

=Main Body (4 minutes)=
*<blockquote>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. </blockquote><ref>Matthew 7:24-25, NIV</ref>
*Did you catch what Jesus was saying, Jesus was saying that in life it is important that we build on a firm foundation. Everyday that you live, you are slowly building who you are.  Christ wanted his disciples to know that they needed to build on a solid rock.  What is that solid Rock? Christ is the rock.  Christ loves us, he died for each of us, and that must be our foundation.
*<blockquote>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. </blockquote><ref>Matthew 7:26-27, NIV</ref>
*Jesus gave another example. There are people who decide to ignore what Jesus states. These people are like a foolish man building on sand. 
*Jesus wanted the people to build on a firm foundation so that when the challenges of life come they will remain strong.

==Conclusion (3 Minutes)==
*Jesus told the people that those who listened to his word and acted on them were building on a firm foundation. When we build on a firm foundation our life will not crumble. So how do we continue to build on such a foundation

===Burning Bible===
*The word of God contains the words of life and when we open it and apply it to our life it is like a flame burning within us