Breaking Ground
What’s the biggest project you’ve ever undertaken (personal, work, or otherwise)? What did you make & how did you get it done?
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued our series Jesus the Christ by exploring Jesus’ parable about the wise & foolish builders.
Begin by reflecting on how you make decisions in your life (big or small).
What’s your process for making life decisions? Do you take any specific steps when considering your options & choosing your path forward? How did you create & come to rely upon this process?
Next, read Matthew 7:24-27. Jesus tells this parable at the end of the Sermon on the Mount; which is his longest, single ethical teaching about life in the Kingdom of God. In it, Jesus tangibly lays out how his disciples are called to live within God’s Kingdom & describes the upside-down actions that he expects his disciples to model in the world (turn the other cheek, love your enemy, embrace non-judgment, give generously, foster direct union with God, do not worry, etc).
With this in mind, reflect upon the major elements of this parable.
Who are the main characters? What does the storm represent? What choices do the builders make & why are these choices surprising? How does each decision impact the ultimate outcome of the two building projects?
Critically, this parable focuses on tangible action & practice, not just head knowledge or good ideas. Why does Jesus end his sermon on Kingdom ethics by focusing on the tangible actions that he expects his disciples to practice in their lives? What lessons are Jesus trying to teach us about how to live well & foster a reliable ethic that can carry us through the storms of this life?
Consider how this parable can speak to you in this season of life.
Where do you identify with the foolish builder? Where do you try to build your life, peace, ethic, or identity upon things that cannot actually support such tasks?
Where do you struggle to tangibly make the right choices despite having an established, internal ethic or process for making the “right” decisions, especially when life gets hard or you undergo unexpected experiences of upheaval? Why do you think that is?
Where are you currently struggling with this problem in your life? What would it mean for you to embrace the example of the wise builder in this parable? What tangible changes would you need to make in your life to do so?
Getting Out of the Hole
In this series, take time each week to reflect upon the story from the story & how you can find yourself within it during this season of your life.
- Read Matthew 7:24-27. First, break this story down into pieces. What is Jesus doing in this story? How are people responding to him? What changes by the end of the story?
- Next, close your eyes & reflect upon the story. Imagine yourself in it. Put yourself into the space of the various characters & imagine what it would be like to encounter Jesus in the story.
- What images, teachings, or ideas speak to you the most in this story? What intrigues or confuses you? What feelings arose as you thought about being in the story? How can this story impact your life & your relationship with Jesus in this next season?
Journal, reflect, & pray on how God might be speaking to you through each week’s teaching. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
TheBibleProject.com
Simply Jesus by NT Wright
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, October 6th: Join us next Sunday as we continue our series Jesus the Christ!
* Please see mye3.org for details.