2. To belong or not to belong … that is the question!

3. Luke 6:46-49 (The Message) “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

4. “ If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last.

5. “ But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.”

6. We build our lives, our sense of belonging on anything other than Jesus and we find ourselves on constantly sinking sand.

7. Belonging & Identity

8. The truth is that if God is not creating our lives, then those around us are... There is no such thing as a self- constructed life. There is only being in Christ or there is the nothingness that others create for us.” M Craig Barnes, “The Pastor as Minor Poet”

9. We build our lives, our sense of belonging, our sense of identity on anything other than Jesus and we find ourselves on constantly sinking sand.

10. Jesus Only

11. Luke 6:46-47 “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.

12. AND Christ? or IN Christ?

13. We build our lives, our sense of belonging, our sense of identity on anything other than IN Jesus and we find ourselves on constantly sinking sand.

14. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand …

15. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

16. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand …

17. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.

18. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand …

19. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; ’Midst all the hell I feel within, On His completed work I lean.

20. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand …

21. We build our lives, our sense of belonging, our sense of identity on anything other than IN Jesus and we find ourselves on constantly sinking sand.