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Series 4:
Lesson 55: |
PARABLES
THE TWO BUILDERS |
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Passage to Study: Luke 6:46-49; Matthew 7:24-29.
Read with the class: Luke 6:46-49.
Memorization Text: Younger children - Luke 6:46.
Older children - Matthew 7:24.
OBJECTIVES: To teach that:
1. Everybody is represented by one or other of these two builders.
2. The ideas and philosophies of people in the world are constantly changing and do not
provide a firm foundation for living.
3. Ability to handle demands in day to day living, and security for eternity depends on
the spiritual foundation that is used.
4. The Word of God is the only adequate basis for all that is done in this life.
Note: Starting in Matt.5:2, the Lord Jesus takes his disciples aside to teach them the
principles of behaviour expected of those who call him "Lord". Many
aspects of life are mentioned and in Matt.7:21 he states that not all those who call him
"Lord" will enter into the kingdom. He shows that those who belong to Him
are those who 1. HEAR the Word, and 2. OBEY it. It involves receiving and applying
the Word.
This points to the need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation according to
what is revealed in His Word. In other words believing on the Lord Jesus according
to what has been revealed is to have an eternal firm foundation. This will be seen in the
life of the person who believes. It will give stability to the believer in the face of
trials and temptations, and when life comes to an end, the firm foundation remains and the
believer finds him or herself in Heaven.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: A scene in which two men are preparing to work, one with a
shovel in hand and the other with construction materials, as each forms his ideas about
the house he wants to build.
DEVELOPMENT:
Sug. Ask the students about their plans for the future. Young children will not have very
clear ideas but teens will have something in mind. Refer to the eloquent pictures in
the news where destruction caused by hurricanes and earthquakes point to the importance of
having a firm foundation.
- The first stage represents a desire to build something adequate and enjoyable for life
and for eternity.
Cmt. The choice of an adequate foundation starts during the lifetime as one prepares for
eternity.
- Each one of us, teachers and students alike, have some hopes and dreams relating to our
future.
- Intentions and objectives may differ, as well as the variety and quality of the
materials used to plan for the future, but the Word of God ought always to form the
foundation.
Cmt. Each student is represented by one or the other of the two builders. The task
of the teacher is to guide them to choose the best foundation, the words of the Lord Jesus
in the Gospel.
Apl. The work of the builder who dug deep to find the rock (Lu. 6:48) shows
the need required to be sure the foundation is safe and secure. Care in choosing THE
firm foundation should be emphasized.
- The solidity of the house did not ultimately depend on the material that was built on
top, but on the foundation that was placed underneath.
- The Lord contrasted two men, examples of the two divisions of all humanity, the saved
and the lost. Their concern about the future is described as being wise or foolish, rather
than good and bad.
- All the teaching the Lord Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount are "these sayings
of mine", upon which the hearers were to build the "house" of their lives.
- Wisdom consists in knowing how to apply to our lives the truth expressed by the Lord
Jesus in view of time and eternity.
Sug. Quote a verse of Scripture and ask the students what it means. This will
require them to verbalize what the Lord Jesus is teaching. Follow this with showing
how His words are HEARD and then discuss how they may be OBEYED.
Exm. "If ye love me, keep my commandments"; What are the commandments?
How is this seen in practice? Exm. "Let not your heart be troubled, ye
believe in God, believe also in Me."; How can this be applied to bring peace
and tranquility to life?
Exm. In the Sermon on the Mount, consider these verses:
Matt.5:8, 20, 37, 48; 6:12, 21, 24; 7:13-14, 20-23.
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS. A scene in which the two finished houses are seen,
each with a different foundation.Add something to represent the forces of nature beating
upon the houses. Have on hand a figure of a house in ruins to replace one of them
and demonstrate the disastrous effect of the storm upon the house built upon the sand.
DEVELOPMENT:
Cmt. If it is possible to have figures of two houses that are similar, this will show that
there are lives which at first glance seem alike.
- While one builder constructs his house upon the rock, the other builds upon the sand.
Cns. The lives of people show similarities found in their customs, manners, language,
concerns, etc. Differences are not that great from the outside. Stability comes from
the unseen foundation
- As the water rises, it undermines the foundation of the house built on the sand.
- The ruined house shows that the owner had mistaken expectations and was negligent about
making sure he was building on the rock, a firm basis on which to build his house.
- The strength of a construction is revealed at the critical moment when the tempest
strikes.
Cns. The three directions from which the foundation was tested. The rivers came on a
horizontal plane. The winds surround the house. The rain fell from above.
Cmt. During each person's life, his/her house experiences many tempests which test the
firmness of the foundation on which the building has been placed.
- The Christian who does not have the Word of God as the guiding principle in his life
when making decisions will feel afflicted and distressed.
Cns. The ultimate test of the foundation is when the cold blast of death brings an end to
life on earth.
Apl. Only the person who has built on the Rock, Christ Jesus, will enter the eternal abode
of Heaven.
- The unsaved person that has paid no attention to God's Word will, sooner or later, find
that all he/she has labored for will end in eternal destruction.
Cmt. The application of this part of this lesson is twofold.
1. To people in relation to their daily lives.
2. To people in relation to eternity.
SCENE No. 3. APPLICATION FIGURES: A young person standing on sand beside a destroyed
house on which has been written the words, "foundation of human ideas",.
Another young person standing upon the Bible and an undamaged house.
DEVELOPMENT:
- The young person standing on sand represents the person who makes decisions on the basis
of ideas with human origin.
Cns. The New Age movement with it's emphasis on the signs of astrology is not a worthy
foundation. Many young people know their "star" while being totally
ignorant of God's way of salvation.
- The destroyed house shows what will happen to those who don't take God's Word into
account. The Lord calls him a foolish person who builds his house on an unstable
foundation.
Cns. The ideas of mankind have been changing constantly throughout the ages, like
shifting sand, and do not provide a firm basis for life.
- The young person standing on the Bible represents the strength and security provided
when the Word of God is taken into account and applied to life for time and eternity.
- The life that withstands the storm is a testimony to the sustaining power of God because
the person has put the teachings of the Lord Jesus into practice.
- The Word of God is a sufficient and adequate foundation for all that we do in this life.
It provides a stability that extends into eternity.
Apl. It is important to remember that the Lord does not require that we admire or approve
of His teachings, but that we act upon them.
- It is not a matter of hearing and understanding but of DOING what He says.
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