21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matt 7:21-27
Q & A：
- Have you been building your identity on the sense of self-worth or the worldly lure of being significant in life? Explain how you may relate to the parable of the foolish man who built his house on the sand, especially with the lack of foresight and the outcome when the floods and storms hit. (Matt 7:21-23, 26-27; Ps 90:10)
- What is the world telling us to conform to in terms of our identity and whom we seek approval? Discuss and share the challenges of identity crisis or the experience of feeling worthless when nobody is cheering you on at the different stages of your life (e.g. new to start working, mid-life career halt, entering retirement, empty nest).
- What foundation should you build your new identity on, knowing that a wise person is focused on seeking the approval from our God as the sole cheer leader? Bearing in mind that we are God’s workmanship and steward of all the gifts and talents that He has given us, discuss how we can live out our identity with God’s purpose of placing us in the marketplace or whatever position we hold to be a person of influence. (Matt 7:24-25; Matt 6:19-21; Matt 25:21; Eph 2:10)