In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus teaches about the importance of building one’s life on a firm foundation. He contrasts the wise builder who builds his house on rock with the foolish builder who builds his house on sand. Let’s take a closer look at what this passage teaches us about wisdom and folly in our own lives.

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In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7:15-21), Jesus gives instruction about true and false prophets and disciples. This instruction is as applicable today as it was when it was first spoken.

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It was an obscene hour of the night when I came across this poem. I’d been sifting through a list of things weighing on my mind and had altogether given up on falling asleep. Then, thumbing through The Valley of Vision, I discovered a page poignantly titled Sleep—so of course I had to read it.

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Jesus taught his followers not to judge others and to instead show mercy and forgiveness. This teaching is often referred to as the Golden Rule and has been repeated throughout Christian scripture and history. But how do we practically apply this teaching to our daily lives?

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In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us not to worry. He says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” (Matthew 6:25) While this is challenging and difficult instruction to follow in our daily lives, it is one that can have profound implications for our spiritual health and well-being.

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When I was about 6 years old, I suffered an embarrassment in Sunday School that I have obviously not forgotten. We kids were all standing in front of our rows of chairs, singing a song. At the end of the song, the teacher told us to sit down. As I lowered myself into my chair, the boy sitting behind me pulled the chair out from underneath me and I landed on the floor.

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