The Challenge of Churching the Church

Jim Davis

New churches are emerging all over the metropolitan areas of the country. All sorts of things are being done to attract members. Market surveys have been taken of what people are looking for in a church. Great efforts are made to profile churches to the perceived desires of those looking for a church. The surveys often only reflect how church goers think the church needs to change to be more relevant to non-church goers. 

The results of the surveys are showing up on church signs. I noticed one sign with a caption under its name that read “Church done differently.” I see other signs with captions that say, “Traditional Worship”—“Contemporary Worship”—“Casual Dress.” I can only wonder what does a sign that reads “Church done differently” mean to someone who has never been to church. 

Is the world as enamored with it all as church people are. Does any of this have any real meaning for the unchurched or non-Christian? Many think that doing things differently makes them more spiritual. Others think doing things the way things have always been done is indicative of true faithfulness. One group has ten things it can do—another has ten things it can’t do. Each group seems consumed with promoting its own way of doing church. One can only wonder what the unchurched think as they visit churches.  

What Is Being Left Undone?

Jesus stepped into a religious world not much different from our modern religious world. Amazingly, he didn’t seem to take issue with how things were done, but he was concerned with what was being left undone. 

Luke 11:42
"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. NIV

What we are doing may become our undoing. Jesus told the Pharisees, “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are” (Matthew 23:15). We must ask ourselves, to what are we converting people? What is the final result? What is their focus? Are they converted to a church’s way of doing things, or are they converted to Jesus Christ? Do they become a child of God or twice as blind as they were. 

Nothing is more difficult than teaching the unlearned who think they have learned how things ought to be done. Have you ever noticed those who type with two fingers? They will probably never unlearn the two finger method. This is true with every field of learning. What I know or think I know blinds me to what I could really know. This is especially true with things we deem sacred. We are afraid to look beyond what we think we know—we are afraid it will be a violation of the sacred—which is a mortal sin for religious minded people. 

Churches have become some of the most homogenous social groups in our society. All black. All white. All Hispanic—Korean—Vietnamese, etc. All who think alike on religious subjects? All who aspire to the same type of formal or informal worship service? All who aspire to the same type dress attire for attending worship. All who are from the same socio-economic groups as well. The list could be stretched to ad nauseam. 

It seems as though a church sign that says “Church Done Differently” may limit outreach. This approach has the tendency to create a homogenous group only interested in doing church differently. And as a matter of course, they would probably have to come to an agreement as to how they would do church differently. It seems this approach would forever be ruling out those who couldn’t agree on how to do church.  But how does the message of “Church done differently” touch the lives of the lost—the unchurched. 

I brought a new convert into a church. He heard a sermon about how the church has changed and needs to change its tradition. He came out and said, “I don’t know what they are talking about, I have never attended church before.” He didn’t understand it all. He actually laughed; he thought it was silly. The message was confusing to him. What is in store for this new convert to Christ? Will he be grounded in the gospel? Will he be assimilated into the body of Christ or a fellowship of people who are only interested in doing church differently? Or will he forever hear preachers spending their time seeking to promote church the way it has always been done?

What About A New Approach

I spoke to someone a few days ago (July 3, 2007) whose family has been closely associated with world missions. He told me that world missions have a specific target group to reach. Imagine humanity forming a pyramid with the very top vertex portion of the pyramid representing 20% of humanity who make the most money. This is the target group they have sought to reach for years. After all, this group of people would be the shakers and movers of any community—wouldn’t they? We have heard of trickle down economics, well this is trickle down gospel. Yet, there is a new awakening—the gospel preached didn’t seem to trickle down to the billions of lost as hoped. The efforts, with few exceptions weren’t successful in reaching beyond the targeted group of movers and shakers. The message hasn’t reached across humanity’s dividing lines. 

Walmart’s marketing approach makes more sense, and it works. They know that if you sell items that only appeal to those at the top of the social pyramid structure–you will make fewer sales. Walmart has targeted those at the bottom the pyramid with a real need to live economically. Yet, it is a strategy that appeals to everyone all the way to the top of the pyramid. Target the billions at the bottom of the pyramid and you will reach billions. Target those who really have a felt need for something better. 

Jesus’ gospel turns the world mission pyramid concept upside down. Jesus began at the bottom of the pyramid. Jesus came to tear down the dividing walls.

Luke 14:12-14
12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."  NIV

Jesus’ approach left the religious standing on their heads. Multitudes came to hear him. He always gave them exactly what they needed. He gave them compassion. He fed the hungry. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and restored the hearing of the deaf. He didn’t pretend to meet these needs while enriching his own bank account. It opened their hearts to hear the message of God. He left a message with them—treat others as I have treated you. He crossed societal barriers in one giant step. He was born in a despised place at the bottom of the pyramid for this specific purpose. 

His inverted method left the religious pyramid teetering on its vertex. They couldn’t imagine eating with sinners and outcasts—crossing those barriers was forbidden. There was no one standing on their heads in the synagogues when Jesus visited. But when he left they were standing on their heads as they tried to fit what Jesus taught into what they thought they already knew. I can only wonder if this would be Jesus’ method of reaching the churched today. It might be a new concept for a church. Imagine going into a church with everyone standing on their heads—even better—people leaving the worship with the desire to live so much like Jesus that it would turn the world upside down with the living message of Christ. 

Of course this concept is more radical than trying to fit people into a church profile of their own design—designed to make them feel comfortable. They may not feel as free as they would like. We love our liberties—even if enslaved to them unknowingly. We are willing to die for our freedom. We haven’t changed much from the days of Galileo—anything different from what we already believe or have chosen to believe is heresy—even if it is true.

Jesus Was A Radical Messiah

When the religious world refused to listen to the message of Christ, Jesus encouraged his disciples to do something radical. 

Matthews 22:1-14
22:1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 

4 "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' 

5 "But they paid no attention and went off — one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 

8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 

11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 

13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 

14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen."  NIV

God invited the religious folks in Jerusalem to come to the banquet his Son was preparing for them. They were the first to be invited. Somehow, in the midst of all the ceremonial practices in Jerusalem, the Messiah went unnoticed. Something blinded them to his presence. Were the religious folks too busy washing the cups and platters at the temple? They felt threatened by his message—and they should have? This parable became a reality when God sent the armies of Titus to destroy Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Why?  They refused to come to the feast on the LAMB from the tribe of Judah.

Is it time to do what Jesus encouraged his disciples to do—go out into the highways and byways to reach the lost? Jesus is speaking of the Jews who refused to accept him as the Messiah. They would not accept the righteousness he offers. They preferred to practice a religion they believed made them holy—a religion they felt comfortable with—they became self-righteous. By-the-way, don’t misunderstand the part about the man who was not wearing a wedding garment in this story. I wouldn’t want to go back and fall into a trap of trying dress or undress those coming to church. He simply represented those who refuse to be clothed with Christ’s righteousness. 

In our modern world should the church think it is beyond the same judgment from God? God has always judged his people. Peter writes, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17-18). Judgment begins at the house of God. The book of Revelation is about God’s judgment on a sinful world, but John’s vision begins with his judgment of the seven churches of Asia. God’s judgment of churches serves as an example of God’s judgment for a sinful world. 

We may overlook how and why the gospel spread to the uttermost part of the world in the first century. Was it because those who chose to believe were driven out of the synagogues? Were they driven into a world tired of the superficial—a world needing something more real than mere religious practices? Was it God’s way of spreading the gospel as he brought judgment upon his own? Is this what is happening with all the religious turmoil in our modern world? Is God judging his people for their divisiveness? Would we be foolish or naïve to believe otherwise? After all, isn’t this what God has always done? 

God had the temple in Israel destroyed at least twice in Israel’s history. The Ark of the Covenant was stolen at least once. God only knows where it ended up. He brought famine, earthquakes and pestilence upon Israel as a wake up call numerous times. Should we doubt that all the hoopla about how to do church differently or to do it the way it has always been done is meant as a wake up call? The religious uneasiness reveals how superficial the church has become?

Should we tell a modern world looking for the Messiah what Jesus told the Samaritan woman he met at the well? She had been married five times, and had seemingly given up on marriage. So she was just living with the sixth man of her life. Her story sounds so modern. Jesus revealed to her that he knew all about her five husbands and the other man in her life. She knew life wasn’t working that well for her, and she responds to Jesus. 

John 4:19-26
19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." 

21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."  

25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." 

26 Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." NIV

The woman knew about the ongoing religious controversies about where to worship, but apparently she was overlooking her personal need. This woman’s question isn’t much different from what people are asking today. She asks, do we worship on this mountain or on Mt. Moriah? Jesus made his answer very clear. He tells her, it is not about this mountain or Jerusalem. Jesus says, “. . . a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."  

Our questions are a little different but they are the same questions. Where do we do church? How do we do church? Which church should I join? We certainly have a lot of choices. Would Jesus’ tell us, it is not about this church or that church? Would he tell us that the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth?  

What Did Jesus Teach

Jesus began his preaching ministry immediately after his baptism. Matthew writes, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17 NIV). Immediately following the writing of this statement about what Jesus began to teach, Matthew tells us what Jesus taught. He taught about the kingdom of heaven reigning in the hearts of those who believe. Matthew records the heart of Jesus’ message in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. He reveals how Jesus challenged us to live differently. 

It must have been difficult for the religious Jews to hear this message. It had strong overtones that they needed to be reborn. Nicodemus crept up to Jesus in the darkness of the night and ask Jesus, how can this be? After all he had been circumcised at birth. It was a sign he was already chosen by God. Now Jesus tells him to be born again. Can you imagine John calling the religious of his day a bunch of religious snakes and vipers? He told them they needed to be baptized unto repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1: 4). I am sure they were thinking—“But! I have already been circumcised.” 
 
Jesus takes the world to task in the Sermon on the Mount. How about walking into a church that gives you a copy of the Sermon on the Mount as their statement of faith? The approach may be too revolutionary. But Jesus walked into the midst of a bunch of hypocrites and gave them this statement of faith in God. This is really the message he came to give this world. He preached the message through the words he spoke and by the deeds he lived. 

Of course, we are talking about convicting the world of sin. Personally, I can’t read through Jesus Sermon on the Mount without realizing my deepest failures. By the time I finish reading those three chapters of the Bible, I am mourning over my spiritual poverty. Yet, this is the very thing that qualifies me to enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is no accident Jesus begins his sermon by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven—blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4). He knew those searching for the real thing would mourn and need comforting before he finished speaking to them. 

Jesus’ message wasn’t a religious message. It was a message about how to live. It was a message about life and how to have it more abundantly. Jesus’ message wasn’t about this church or that church. It was about God ruling in the hearts and lives of men and women to reveal his glorious way of life through them to reach, serve and bless others. 

We can only ask, “Has the kingdom of God message gotten lost in all the messages about how to do church?” A person looking for a church to attend was essentially told on his first visit to one church, “We don’t believe in worshipping the way the church down the street worships?” He was overcome by his curiosity, and he just had to visit the church down the street. And the message was “Isn’t it wonderful to have the liberty to have this kind of worship service? The people down the street don’t have this liberty.” Both churches preached the same message. This message was—this is the way you do church. The fellow thought, “How superficial.” 

Conclusion:

Just take a few moments to read Jesus Sermon on the Mount. It really sums up all the Bible says in three chapters. If you feel convicted, simply do what Jesus says. Seek him and you find him. When you feel lost in your search, ask him to guide you in your search of God and you will receive the answer. The message of Jesus’ sermon is so simple that it is mind boggling. It will only take you from 8 to 15 minutes to read it, but it will challenge you for the rest of your life. There are no other chapters to which you can go and survey a thumb nail sketch of everything God has to say about how to live and seek him. It may help make what you are really searching for in a church a reality for you; I know it has for me. 

Matthew 5-7
5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
4 Blessed are those who mourn, 
for they will be comforted. 
5 Blessed are the meek, 
for they will inherit the earth. 
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
for they will be filled. 
7 Blessed are the merciful, 
for they will be shown mercy. 
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, 
for they will see God. 
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, 
for they will be called sons of God. 
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 

23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 

25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
   
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'   28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 

31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'   32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. 

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'   39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

Matthew 6

6:1 "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

9 "This, then, is how you should pray: 

"'Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
10 your kingdom come, 
your will be done 
on earth as it is in heaven. 
11 Give us today our daily bread. 
12 Forgive us our debts, 
as we also have forgiven our debtors. 
13 And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from the evil one.' 

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. 

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Matthew 7

7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 

3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 

6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 

7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 

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. 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."  

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. 
NIV