Israel’s Shaky Foundations

Judges 2:15 (NIV2011) "15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress."

Matthew 7:26-27 (NIV2011) "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.”

The history of Israel in the Old Testament is a recurring cycle of rebellion, defeat and God’s deliverance. There was a flaw in their foundations. They lacked:
 • Leadership Judges 2:8, Joshua 24:15, John 3:17
 • Relationship Judges 2:10, John 10:14-15, Jeremiah 29:13
 • Boundaries Judges 2:11-12, Matthew 18:8-9

Shaky foundations lead to sad and unfulfilled lives. Psalm 137:1 (NIV2011) "1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion."

Building our lives on Jesus leads to a happy and fulfilled life. Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV2011) "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." 

Home Group Questions: 

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What faith looks like

John 20:29 (NIV2011) "29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
If we only ever believe what we can see and prove, we exclude faith from our lives."
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV2011) " 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,"

Thomas needed certainty. Jesus calls us to live by faith. Faith is:
• Challenging v24-25, Hebrews 11:1
• Risky v26-27, 2 Corinthians 5:8
• Rewarding v28-29, 2 Corinthians 4:18
Living by faith requires courage, but the benefits will transform us and change the world. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV2011) "6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

How are you exercising your faith today? How are we as a church exercising our faith?

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) " 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."