Life Needs a Solid Foundation: A Preaching Version
Introduction
Friends, we all want something solid to build our lives on. Life can feel shaky, uncertain, and sometimes downright stormy. Jesus gives us the answer. Listen to His words:
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24–27)
Notice the contrast. One house stands; the other collapses. The difference is the foundation. To live with stability, we must build on Jesus’ words and the message He entrusted to His apostles. That’s our starting point.
Scripture Shows More Than One Heavenly Power
When we read Scripture carefully, we discover something fascinating: the heavenly realm is not made up of only one figure. The Father is the Most High God—but He is not the only one with divine authority.
Daniel saw this in a vision:
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13–14)
Here, the "Ancient of Days" is God the Father. And yet, there is another figure, “one like a son of man,” who receives authority. Scripture is presenting more than a solitary figure of divine power.
Psalm 82 reinforces this truth:
"God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 'I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.'" (Psalm 82:1, 6)
The Most High presides over other beings who share in delegated authority. Scripture paints a hierarchy, not a flat, single numerical divinity.
Jesus Himself Points to This Plurality
Jesus affirmed this understanding. He appealed to the Jewish law requiring two witnesses when He spoke about Himself and the Father:
"In your Law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." (John 8:17–18)
Two witnesses must be two beings. Jesus used this distinction to make His point.
When accused of blasphemy, He cited Psalm 82:
"Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, "I said, you are gods"?'" (John 10:34)
Jesus showed that recognizing other divine figures does not diminish God’s supremacy.
Peter affirmed Jesus’ full humanity:
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—" (Acts 2:22)
Yet God exalted Him above every other authority:
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."(Acts 2:36)
The Son is a divine figure in the Psalm 82 sense:
"But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.'" (Hebrews 1:8–9)
Yet Jesus remains distinct from the Father:
"Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17)
The Father and the Son Work in Unity, Not Identity
The Father and the Son operate in perfect harmony, yet they are not the same being. Paul explains:
"Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." (1 Corinthians 8:4–6)
The Son receives authority from the Father:
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" (Matthew 28:18)
He always acts in accordance with the Father:
"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'" (John 5:19)
Their unity is real, but it is unity of purpose, truth, and action:
"That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:21)
Notice: this is not a merging of identities—it is perfect cooperation.
The Message About Jesus
The message is clear. God appointed Jesus as Lord and Messiah:
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."(Acts 2:36)
He gave His life for us:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18)
God raised Him from the dead:
"And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." (Acts 3:15)
Now He lives forever and holds authority above all powers:
"That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church." (Ephesians 1:20–22)
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Those who believe this message receive the Holy Spirit:
"And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38)
The Spirit guides into truth:
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.'"(John 16:13)
The Spirit purifies our lives:
"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)
And marks us as belonging to the Son:
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13–14)
The Freedom Jesus Brings
Finally, Jesus promises:
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
The truth He brings—His grace, His teaching, His life—is the foundation that frees us from sin, from fear, and from instability. Christ died for you, and in Him, your life can be built on unshakable truth.
Sermon Slide Blueprint – “Life Needs a Solid Foundation”
Slide 1 – Title Slide
Title: Life Needs a Solid Foundation
Subtitle: Building Your Life on Jesus’ Words
Background/Image Suggestion: Rock cliff with sunlight
Cue: Welcome audience; introduce theme of stability in life through God’s truth
Slide 2 – Life Needs a Solid Foundation
Title: Life Needs a Solid Foundation
Bullets:
- Hear and do the words of Jesus
- Wise man builds on rock
- Foolish man builds on sand
Scripture Snippet: “Everyone who hears these words of mine…like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24)
Background/Image Suggestion: Left: house on rock, Right: house on sand
Slide 3 – Scripture Shows More Than One Heavenly Power
Title: Scripture Shows More Than One Heavenly Power
Bullets:
- Father is Most High God
- Others have delegated divine authority
- Hierarchy, not flat divinity
Scripture Snippets: - Daniel 7:13–14: “One like a son of man…was given dominion and glory and a kingdom.”
- Psalm 82:1,6: “I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High…”
Background/Image Suggestion: Celestial sky, throne icon
Slide 4 – Jesus Himself Points to This Plurality
Title: Jesus Confirms Multiple Divine Figures
Bullets:
- Two witnesses: Himself and Father (John 8:17–18)
- Quotes Psalm 82 to defend plurality (John 10:34)
- Fully human yet exalted (Acts 2:22,36; Hebrews 1:8–9)
Scripture Snippet: “Is it not written…‘I said, you are gods’?” (John 10:34)
Background/Image Suggestion: Jesus teaching, scroll/Bible icon
Slide 5 – The Father and the Son Work in Unity, Not Identity
Title: Unity Without Merging Identities
Bullets:
- Father holds supreme authority (1 Cor 8:4–6)
- Son receives authority (Matt. 28:18)
- Unity of purpose, not identity (John 5:19; John 17:21)
Scripture Snippet: “Truly, truly, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19)
Background/Image Suggestion: Two hands together or interlocking circles
Slide 6 – The Message About Jesus
Title: The Central Message of Jesus
Bullets:
- Appointed Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36)
- Suffered and died for sins (1 Peter 3:18)
- Raised and exalted (Acts 3:15; Eph. 1:20–22)
- Holds authority above all powers
Scripture Snippet: “God has made him both Lord and Christ…” (Acts 2:36)
Background/Image Suggestion: Cross and crown, rays of light
Slide 7 – The Work of the Holy Spirit
Title: The Holy Spirit at Work
Bullets:
- Given to believers (Acts 2:38)
- Guides into truth (John 16:13)
- Purifies and renews (Titus 3:5)
- Marks belonging to the Son (Eph. 1:13–14)
Scripture Snippet: “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Background/Image Suggestion: Dove or flame icon with soft glow
Slide 8 – The Freedom Jesus Brings
Title: Freedom Through the Truth
Bullets:
- Truth sets us free (John 8:32)
- Grace and stability for life
- Foundation in Christ
Scripture Snippet: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
Background/Image Suggestion: Open chains, sunrise, light breaking darkness
Slide 9 – Closing Slide
Title: Build Your Life on Christ
Bullets:
- Hear, believe, and obey
- Receive the Spirit
- Stand firm on His truth
Optional: Prayer or invitation at bottom
Background/Image Suggestion: Rock or anchor with calm horizon
Design Tips
- Font: Large, sans-serif (e.g., Calibri, Helvetica), bold key words
- Colors: High contrast; light text on dark backgrounds or vice versa
- Images: Subtle, symbolic, not cluttered
- Transitions: Simple fade or zoom; keep focus on content
- Scripture: Show short phrases; read full text aloud
