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You are built to build.

The foundation you build upon will define the longevity, the strength, and size of what you build.
What are you built upon? Whatever you build on needs to be unchanging.
So many of the things we build on a re completely changing… Ourselves, or family, our career, success.. all changeable.
The Word of God tells us to be built on the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ as our Chief Cornerstone.

Lego Church 2 – Built on from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

Lego Church 2 – Built on

Sermon notes by Chris Fluitt

Redemption Church Plano Tx

**Vid bumper
Hello & welcome. You are at Redemption Church or you are listening or watching this online. We are happy to be able to share a message of hope with you. My name is Chris Fluitt. I serve as Lead Pastor here at Redemption Church. I am a pastor but what really defines me is that I am loved and accepted by Jesus Christ.
We are in the 2^nd week of our Lego Church series…
Lego Church Title
Here are some random facts about the Lego

The Lego Company began in 1932. Located in Billund, Denmark.
They were originally called “Automatic Binding Bricks.”
The name Lego comes from the Danish phrase ”Leg Godt,” meaning “play well.”
During the Holiday season 28 Lego sets were sold per second.

Last week we told you…

Legos are better than Blocks. Blocks stack while Legos Connect.
You are built to build and created to connect.
- Although stacking is easier, you were created with a drive to go further. When blocks stack they are merely near each other, but Legos form a connection and a bond that strengthens the building effort.
- Connection happens through acceptance. The Lego pieces accept each other.

-Today I want to have a building contest. I need a volunteer to try to replicate this house…

In order to build something that will last you must build on SOMETHING solid, unmovable, & unchanging.
No one ever dreams about the foundation… When you are thinking about your dream home you are thinking about paint colors, room layouts, large screen tvs, and furniture. No one dreams about the slab of concrete under the dream home.
Construction projects spend a large amount of time, energy, & money on a foundation. It is the part of the house that is never celebrated in better homes & gardens magazine, but it is the part of the building process that ensures the longevity and strength of the home.
The foundation actually defines what you build… A sky scraper requires a foundation with a greater depth than a 2 story house requires.
It does not matter what materials you are built with.. or who you are built by.. if you are not Built on
As you start this year and try to build something, we need to ask… “What are we building on?
Everything has to be built on something.
There are a lot of things you could build your life upon, but when selecting a foundation you need something that is unchanging.
Jesus told us that the wise man built his house on the rock and the foolish man built his house on the sand. The storm came and the house built on the rock stood while the house built on the shifting sands fell. (Matthew 7:24-27)

In life you may be tempted to build your life on:

yourself
- self-improvement (not a bad thing)
- Ego – Caring only for yourself
- Greed
- You change
Family
- Caring for others (good!)
- Caring only for your own
- Greed
- Changeable
Work
- Goal oriented (Great for growth)
  - measurable
- Rewards – Money, better station in life
- Changeable!
- Regrets at the end of life… Almost always
success /accomplishments
- Something tangible to point to..
- public opinion/admiration
- Changeable
Charity for others
- Helps others/Makes a difference
- There will always be someone that needs your help (Mark 14:7)
- Can drain you and leave you with nothing in return
- Your ability to help is CHANGEABLE
- Your motives… You can do the right thing for the wrong reason

You need to build on something that is unchanging.
–Building contest – have them move the houses to the judging area.

Behold the power of the Lego! The blocks are not built on anything…
Legos are built on a foundation. What you build does not fall apart. What you build on is unchanging…

So what should choose as our foundation this year? Some people spend no time even thinking about that question… they are constantly trying…

The last piece of advice they heard
They are chasing the latest luxury item
They trying what someone else is doing

That is no way to live your life. You are built to build. What you build requires a foundation. The height that you want to build requires a great depth of foundation.

Here is what God built His House… His Church upon…

Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.(NIV)
Ephesians 2:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.(NIV)
Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.(NIV)

Can I brag on God’s building for a moment!?
The Church…
It started with 120 believers and is now measured in the billions.
It broke down racial barriers long before governments did.
It fed the hungry long before social government systems came along.
The first educational systems and centers of art were found in God’s Church.
His Church is fearless and willing to cross into boundaries that the military deems unsafe.
His church stands before kings… His church stands before lions in the coliseum… His church holds the hands of those dying of disease.. The purest form of His church is found with the orphan and the widow (those that have no large offerings or powerful position)
His church stands when governments fall. Caesar killed every Christian he could find… but he couldn’t stop the church. Hitler imprisoned every Christian who stood against him… the Church did not stop. Right now Christians are slaughtered at the hands of hate & anger… but His church has not stopped.
His Church increases… It is built on a foundation.

His Church is built on…
Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.(NIV)

Prophets – The prophets spoke the Word of God. They prophesied of the coming messiah. They gave words of correction to leave behind idolatry and build on a true foundation.

Apostles – The book of Acts Church. Redemption we need to be built on that Church. We need to look and act like that Church. We need to have the same spiritual experience as that church.
Our vision here at Redemption Church is to be a 1^st Century Church that connects to a 21^st Century world. There are 6 values we find in the Apostolic church of Acts and we live those qualities..

Jesus centered
Spiritual transformation
Community
Mission
Connects to Culture
Willingness

As good as the apostles & prophets were… they were not enough.
Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone
A cornerstone is also called a foundation stone. It is to be the 1^st stone that is laid in the building process. The rest of the building revolves around the cornerstone. It is usually the largest most solid rock in the entire construction.
If the builder will keep an eye on the cornerstone it will give him a reference point to keep the walls in alignment.
You don’t just need a foundation… you need a cornerstone
In life when you have questions on what to do or how to do it… You need to look to the foundation stone.
Ephesians 2:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.(NIV)

Can anyone testify that they use to have a different cornerstone…?
Life is better… easier… stronger… with Jesus as your cornerstone…

Here is what you need to know…. You need a true & unchanging foundation

You need it to build the life you desire
- All the other foundations you are tempted to build upon are actually fulfilled in Christ.

Matthew 6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.(NIV)You need it to keep you on track
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.(NIV)
As I draw to a close, you need to know…

Others will build upon you

1 Corinthians 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.(NIV)
Legos build on these foundations called baseplates. But Legos also build upon each other.
The Apostle Paul says – “Be careful how you build” not just because it is your life and you want to build something strong… but because you need to build something strong enough to support those who come behind you…
There is a foundational moment for you today. Something can happen to you in these next moments that completely change the course of your life…

ALTAR

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,(NIV)
Hebrews 6:2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.(NIV)