June 15, 2025 – A Study of Matthew – What are We Building

What are We Building

Ezekiel 13:8-16 – New International Version (NIV)

⁸ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁰ “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, ¹¹ therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. ¹² When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”

¹³ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. ¹⁴ I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. ¹⁵ So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, ¹⁶ those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

Why is the Sovereign Lord against the false prophets of Israel (verse 8)?

Who will the Lord’s hand be against (verse 9)?

What kind of wall do the false prophets build (verse 10)?

What do they cover the wall with (verse 10)?

Who is Ezekiel to tell that the wall “is going to fall” (verse 11)?

What will people ask “when the wall collapses” (verse 12)?

What will the Sovereign Lord unleash (verse 13)?

When will the false prophets “know that I am the Lord” (verse 14)?

What will be poured out “against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash” (verse 15)?

Who “saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace” (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is revealed about the people in this passage by what they built?

Matthew 7:24-29 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “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. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ 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. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Who is “like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (verse 24)?

Why did the rain, streams and wind not cause the house to fall (verse 25)?

Who is “like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (verse 26)?

What happened to the house built on sand when “the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against” it (verse 27)?

How did the crowds react to Jesus as He finished the Sermon on the Mount (verse 28)?

How did Jesus teach (verse 29)?

Who did Jesus not teach like (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is revealed about the people in this passage by what they built?

In your opinion, what do the false prophets of Ezekiel 13:8-16 and the foolish man in Matthew 7:24-29 have in common?

Acts 4:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Who did “the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees” come up to while they were speaking to the people (verse 1)?

Why were they “greatly disturbed” (verse 2)?

What did they do to Peter and John (verse 3)?

How many men believed (verse 4)?

Where did “the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law” meet (verse 5)?

Who else was at the meeting (verse 6)?

What question did they ask Peter and John (verse 7)?

How was Peter filled (verse 8)?

What were they being “called to account” for (verse 9)?

How did Peter say “this man stands before you healed” (verse 10)?

What is Jesus (verse 11)?

Who is salvation found in (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is revealed about the people in this passage by what they built?

In your opinion, where does the whitewashed wall of Ezekiel 13:8-16 show up in Acts 4:1-12?

In your opinion, where in Acts 4:1-12 do you see examples of building on the sand and building on the rock that Jesus talked about in Matthew 7:24-29?

1 Peter 2:4-10 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

⁸ and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Who is “rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him” (verse 4)?

What are those “like living stones” being built into (verse 5)?

Who “will never be put to shame” (verse 6)?

What has “become the cornerstone” to those who do not believe (verse 7)?

What does the stone do to those who do not believe (verse 8)?

Who is to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (verse 9)?

What are “you” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is revealed about the people in this passage by what they built?

In your opinion, why would the false prophets who built the whitewashed wall of Ezekiel 13:8-16 stumble over the cornerstone of 1 Peter 2:4-10?

In your opinion, what does 1 Peter 2:4-10 teach us about the rock that the wise man in Matthew 7:24-29 was building on?

In your opinion, how does 1 Peter 2:4-10 expand on his response to the “rulers and elders of the people” in Acts 4:1-12?

In your opinion, what do these Scriptures from Ezekiel, Matthew, Acts, and 1 Peter teach us about how to determine what is whitewashed wall and what is built on the cornerstone of Jesus?

In your opinion, how can we wisely build a rock solid “house” today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

November 4, 2018 – Wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the Sermon on the Mount – Built for Action

Built for Action

Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 - New International Version (NIV)      

⁸ “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
    “Everything is meaningless!”

⁹ Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰ The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. ¹² Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

What does the Teacher say is “meaningless” (verse 8)?

Who did the the Teacher impart knowledge to (verse 9)?

What did the Teacher search for (verse 10)?

In your opinion, how are the words of the wise “like goads” (verse 11)?

What does the Teacher say to “be warned” about (verse 12)?

What is the Teacher’s “conclusion of the matter” (verse 13)?

What will God do with every deed and every hidden thing (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Matthew 7:24-29 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ “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. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ 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. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Who is “like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (verse 24)?

Why did the house not fall even though “the rain come down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house” (verse 25)?

Who is “like a foolish man who built his house on sand” (verse 26)?

What happened to the foolish man’s house when “the rain come down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house” (verse 27)?

How did the crowds feel about Jesus teaching (verse 28)?

How did Jesus teach (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how do the Teacher’s conclusion in Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 and the parable of Jesus recorded in Matthew 7:24-29 agree?

James 2:14-24 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ²¹ Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³ And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

Who does James ask the question “can such faith save them” (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what changes if you say to someone “go in peace; keep warm and well fed” (verses 15 and 16)?

What is faith “if it is not accompanied by action” (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between someone who says “you have faith; I have deeds” and James who says “I will show you my faith by my deeds” (verse 18)?

What do demons believe that causes them to shudder (verse 19)?

When was Abraham considered righteous (verse 20)?

What worked together to make Abraham’s faith complete (verse 22)?

When was it credited to Abraham “as righteousness” (verse 23)?

What must be added to faith so that someone is considered righteous (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how are the deeds the Teacher says God will bring into judgment in Ecclesiates 12:8-14 and the deeds James encourages in James 2:14-24 different?

In your opinion, how are James’s  description of the one with faith and without deeds and the one with faith and deeds in James 2:14-24 similar to Jesus descriptions of the wise man and the foolish man in Matthew 7:24-29?

1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 – New International Version (NIV)

² We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

When does Paul thank God for the Thessalonians (verse 2)?

What does Paul remember about the Thessalonians (verse 3)?

Who has God chosen (verse 4)?

How did the gospel come to the Thessolians (verse 5)?

In your opinion, how could the Thessalonian Christians have been able to welcome the message with joy when they were “in the midst of severe suffering” (verse 6)?

What did the Thessalonian Christians become (verse 7)?

What “rang out” from the Thessalonian Christians (verse 8)?

What did the Thessalonian Christians turn from idols to do (verse 9)?

Who rescues us from the coming wrath (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the Teacher’s statement that “God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” opposed by Paul’s message in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10?

In your opinion, how does 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 show us that Thessalonian Christians were wise and built their faith upon the rock as Jesus describes in Matthew 7:24-29?

In your opinion, how is the faith of Abraham that James described in James 2:14-24 similar to the faith of the Thessalonian Christians that Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, James and 1 Thessalonians teach us about the difference between actions that are meaningless and actions that prove our faith?

In your opinion, how can our actions show God’s love?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)