Have you ever tried to build legos on carpet? Sometimes the carpet makes the legos lean, or sometimes the little carpet fibers get stuck in between blocks. It's the worst... But building on hard floors or on a table, your legos are stable, there's no hair mixed in, they don't lean... It matters what you build on!

In Matthew 7, Jesus is talking about building a house, but He's really talking about building your life. Do you build your life on sand or on the rock (Jesus's teachings)?

CRISIS IS COMING

- John 16:33 (NLT) — "…here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

- Jesus tells us what to do WHEN crisis comes, not IF it comes.

- He gives us vivid images when talking about storms:

- Rain: erodes things away over time (like disappointments, let-downs, stress...)

- Floodwaters: overwhelming, consistent rains produce floods; allows us to have thoughts like "it's always gonna be this way... I'm not good enough..."

- Winds: sudden, unexpected, catastrophic events (loss of a loved one, divorce, abuse, chronic illness...)

God would rather allow you to go through a difficult season than to build your whole life on the wrong foundation.

FOUNDATION IS EVERYTHING

- You can't building something great on a weak foundation.

- Everything Jesus is saying throughout The Sermon on the Mount ties back to LOVE.

- Love is the #1 fundamental in the Kingdom; it's the first fruit of the Spirit; God is love!

- Everything we do is rooted in love... it's our foundation.

- Without a solid foundation, you will always have trouble creating anything of value.

How do you ensure your foundation is solid?

Be an IMITATOR, not an IMPOSTER

- An imposter is someone who is not who they say they are, and they practice deception.

- An imitator is someone who is trying their best to follow someone or something as a model or an example.

- Imitate Jesus! Follow His example! But don't pretend to follow Jesus at church, and then forget about Him at home...