Foundational

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

There is a church in north Naples that has been greatly challenged in the last couple years because their building has developed severe cracks in the concrete slab which have broken the slab apart and shifted it to such an extent the walls have also cracked, and the ceilings are a threat to fall. It had to be abandoned.

The problem wasn’t caused by the building. The building was built to code. Everything in the building was just fine for several years prior to the cracks showing up.

The problem was the ground the church was built upon.

Had anyone involved in the building of the church known the condition of the ground the church was built upon, they never would have built it in that location. They never would have invested in a church not built upon solid ground.

Jesus teaches His disciples exactly the same lesson here. There is no point building the church upon any other ground than solid rock, firm enough to withstand any and all attempts to shake it down.

The ground Jesus tells His disciples to build His Church upon is faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

There is no point building any church on any other ground, as it will eventually falter and fail. Just as owners of physical buildings may occasionally check the condition of the ground they are built upon, the same is true for His Church. What the church stands for has everything to do with what the church stands upon.

-Pastor Bill