Matthew 7:24-27

1. 12Ways to Sustain Successful Friendships ~ Part 2Family Worship CenterRev. Mark Schwarzbauer, Ph.D.

2. Matthew 7:24-27 24 “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.

3. Matthew 7:24-27 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.”

4. 1. Choose healthy role models-

5. 2. Healthy relationships require two healthy people Matthew 5:1-11

6. 3. Be Salt and Light with Good works Matthew 5:12-16

7. 4. Keep relationships pure Matthew 5:27-30

8. 5. Keep your word Matthew 5:33-37

9. 6. Be a positive person of kind action- not reacting or being selfish Matthew 5:38-48

10. 7. Do good without looking for credit - Don’t toot your own horn Matthew 6:1-4

11. German proverb (loses the jingle in translation) "Eigen-lob stinkt, FreundesLob hinkt, fremdesLob klingt," "Self-praise stinks, friends' praise limps, strangers' praise sounds."

12. 8. Don’t let financial issues become stumbling blocksMatthew 6:19-34

13. 9. Don’t be critical- deal with your faults not othersMatthew 7:1-6

14. Fundamental Techniques in handling people • Don’t criticize, condemn or complain • Give honest sincere appreciation. • Arouse in the other person an eager want. Dale Carnegies “How to win friends and influence people.”

15. 10. Golden Rule- Pay it forward Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

16. Code of Hammurabi - Babylonian law code, dating back to about 1772 BC. Louvre Museum – Paris France

17. Code of Hammurabi - Babylonian law code, dating back to about 1772 BC. Louvre Museum – Paris France

18. Golden Rule ~ ethic of reciprocity • A. The Bible is different from other ancient codes like Hammurabi, Ancient Greece, Hinduism etc. These express the ethic in a negative of don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you. • B. Jesus expressed it as a positiveinstead ~ “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” • C. Jesus Calls us to PAY IT FORWARD

19. 11. Avoid addictions – The narrow vs. the wide… Matthew 7:13-14

20. 12. Build on the eternal if you want things to lastMatthew 7:24-27

21. Matthew 7:24-27 24 “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.

22. Matthew 7:24-27 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.”

23. Jude 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…”