00:00:00.000 - 00:00:30.600

[ Silence ] [ Music ] ♪ Oh, watch it ♪ ♪ Watch it ♪

00:00:30.600 - 00:00:34.240

♪ The world ♪ ♪ The world ♪ ♪ You know ♪ ♪ He don't have to wait ♪

00:00:34.240 - 00:00:42.380

♪ So when the Lord ♪ ♪ Calls you ♪ ♪ Calls you ♪ ♪ Oh, now if you labor ♪

00:00:42.380 - 00:00:52.220

♪ Labor ♪ ♪ Keep striving for the right thing you shall ♪ ♪ You shall find a home ♪ ♪ Oh, watch it ♪

00:00:52.220 - 00:01:01.660

♪ Watch it ♪ ♪ The world ♪ ♪ He don't have to wait ♪ ♪ Say, win the Lord ♪

00:01:01.660 - 00:01:25.100

♪ Now if your labor keeps driving ♪ ♪ Then you shall wear a golden crown ♪ ♪ Say, be not like the foolish virgins ♪ ♪ For he's coming and you know not when ♪

00:01:25.220 - 00:01:36.620

♪ Say keep your lamps on ♪ ♪ A chimney burning bright ♪ ♪ Oh, so you say we're golden ♪ ♪ Oh, watch it ♪

00:01:36.620 - 00:01:44.440

♪ Watch it ♪ ♪ Say you know ♪ ♪ Say when the Lord ♪ ♪ Lord says ♪

00:01:44.440 - 00:01:53.580

♪ Oh, now if your labor ♪ ♪ Labor ♪ ♪ Keeps driving ♪ ♪ Then we shall ♪

00:01:53.580 - 00:02:01.580

♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ Oh, I shall wear ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪

00:02:01.580 - 00:02:07.580

♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪

00:02:07.580 - 00:02:12.580

♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ Oh, I shall wear ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ In glory ♪

00:02:12.580 - 00:02:22.580

♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a gold crown ♪ ♪ Oh, I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪

00:02:22.580 - 00:02:33.160

♪ I'll wear a crown ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ Oh, I shall wear ♪

00:02:33.160 - 00:02:47.340

♪ In glory ♪ ♪ I shall wear a golden crown ♪ ♪ Oh, just as soon as ♪ ♪ That I lay down ♪

00:02:47.340 - 00:02:58.980

♪ And put on my robe ♪ ♪ Not too shocked to tell the story ♪ ♪ Come over hill and mountain ♪ ♪ Come up to crystal mountain ♪

00:02:58.980 - 00:03:11.580

♪ All about something glorious ♪ ♪ Dream of the evening, wildness ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ Just as soon as I shall wear a crown ♪

00:03:11.580 - 00:03:22.320

♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With the trumpet sound ♪ ♪ Oh, I sure will ♪

00:03:22.320 - 00:03:36.980

♪ In glory ♪ ♪ I sure will go to crown ♪ ♪ Soon I will be so glorious ♪ ♪ Lay down my heavy burdens ♪

00:03:36.980 - 00:03:44.040

♪ Put on my robe of glory ♪ ♪ Shout to heaven ♪ ♪ Sorry ♪ ♪ Come over here then ♪

00:03:44.040 - 00:03:52.180

♪ Mountains ♪ ♪ Up to the crystal ♪ ♪ Mountain, all the gods down there ♪ ♪ Goddess, come on over here then ♪

00:03:52.180 - 00:04:02.920

♪ Goddess, soon as my feet start ♪ ♪ Flying, then I'm a heavy burden ♪ ♪ When I'm on my road then ♪ ♪ Glory, I'm shocked to tell that ♪

00:04:02.920 - 00:04:13.800

♪ Sorry, I come over here then ♪ ♪ Mountain, I'm up to the crystal ♪ ♪ Mountain, all the gods down there ♪ ♪ Goddess, come on over here then ♪

00:04:13.800 - 00:04:23.800

♪ I shall wear a golden crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪

00:04:23.800 - 00:04:28.800

♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪ ♪ With a trumpet sound ♪

00:04:28.800 - 00:04:35.800

♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪ ♪ In glory ♪ ♪ I shall wear a crown ♪

00:04:35.800 - 00:05:06.800

♪ I shall wear a golden crown ♪ [MUSIC] [MUSIC] ♪ Oh Lord, if they were ill-bred ♪

00:05:06.800 - 00:05:22.660

♪ In His acts of love were ♪ ♪ Oh Lord, in His days ♪ ♪ Then to you He has said ♪ ♪ To you who forgive ♪

00:05:22.660 - 00:05:40.160

♪ Him should Jesus have fed ♪ ♪ Into pirate land ♪ ♪ I'll sail with you ♪ ♪ I'm a great old man ♪

00:05:40.160 - 00:05:56.220

♪ Just a piece of silver ♪ ♪ For a great young man ♪ ♪ He's my only friend ♪ ♪ I'm going to be safe ♪

00:05:56.220 - 00:06:06.820

♪ As I go to be found ♪ - Now, will the audience be seated, and I'd like for the men and the group here and the choir to sing that last stanza.

00:06:06.820 - 00:07:12.400

♪ The soul that was healed of that victory's blood ♪ ♪ How will not, how will not be heard ♪ [music] Amen. Oh God, our gracious Heavenly Father, speak to our hearts and grant that we may have listening ears in Jesus' name. Amen.

00:07:12.400 - 00:07:53.400

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, And the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on rock.

00:07:53.400 - 00:08:50.400

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a man that is foolish, who built his house on sand. The rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell and great was its fall. The parable of the wise and foolish builders. Among the architectural wonders of this world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

00:08:50.400 - 00:09:45.120

It is a place that has attracted many tourists. This leaning tower was started in 1174 and completed in the 14th century, requiring more than 200 years to build. And it's 180 feet high and 52 feet in diameter and 14 feet

00:09:45.120 - 00:10:05.760

out of the perpendicular. So when one sees this tower, you see something like this, and you wonder how it means and remains through the years and has not fallen.

00:10:05.760 - 00:10:35.840

But it is that way, so they say, because of the fact that the foundation gave away on one side. So it leans, but it still stands. And in a sense, this is a parable, I think,

00:10:35.840 - 00:10:59.780

of the human situation. Many of us lean, but we still stand. >> Painstaking efforts are necessary in order to construct a building with an attractive design and function.

00:10:59.780 - 00:11:26.920

It takes not only painstaking efforts, but considerable time to build a structure that will last for years to come. It is said that the World Trade Center took seven more years to build, but it was destroyed in a matter of minutes.

00:11:26.920 - 00:11:57.200

>> That's right. >> The Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in the fifth, 6th and 7th chapters of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, concludes with this word, which is the basis of our message, "Whosoever hears these words of mine and acts on them

00:11:57.200 - 00:12:29.980

like a wise man who built his house on rock. Let me suggest to you that the one who is speaking is an authority in this area. Jesus is a carpenter. He was known by his contemporaries as Joseph the son

00:12:29.980 - 00:12:50.240

who was a carpenter. So I would like to suggest that he is the carpenter of souls. If you really want to know how to build your life, >> Consult him, the master carpenter.

00:12:50.240 - 00:13:24.780

Austin has focused for some time on what we call affordable housing. Some of us wonder what that is, but we focus on affordable housing, houses we can afford to pay the note on. So here we have a word from the master carpenter.

00:13:24.780 - 00:13:56.960

Everyone, he says, who hears these words of mine and acts on them who be like a wise man who built house, his house on rock. In other words, this man had to dig in the earth. He had to do some digging to provide the foundation,

00:13:56.960 - 00:14:27.260

the proper foundation for his house. And if one would live meaningfully, one needs to dig into the word of God. And to dig, not only just dig, but to dig deeply into the word of God. It is said of Hugh Roy Cullen that he made his fortune

00:14:27.260 - 00:14:46.820

because he was willing to dig deeper. There were those who were digging for oil, and he went to the same places where people had dug and said there was no oil.

00:14:46.820 - 00:15:12.420

And he dug in those places and found oil just because he was willing to dig deeper. And so many people never discover the power and the grace of God because they are not willing to dig deeper into His Word.

00:15:12.420 - 00:15:44.920

So the Master Carpenter is giving us a lesson here in this parable that if you hear His Word, hear His Word. You know, so often we don't hear it. Some people come to church and they don't hear it. They talk all during the church. Oh, while the sermon is going on, they are talking, you know. And they don't know what the minister is saying. I was delivering

00:15:44.920 - 00:16:00.040

a sermon some years ago in the rural area, and the ladies were just talking all the time. I was in my introduction and finally I moved from my introduction. And the lady said to the other one, "So wait a minute, I think he knows what he's talking about."

00:16:00.040 - 00:16:24.280

But one needs to dig deeper into the Word of God. So first of all in making our choices, we need to decide what kind of house we want to live in. What kind of house?

00:16:24.280 - 00:16:50.920

Whether you want to live in a rock house, a house that is a rock foundation, or whether you want to live in a house that is made of sand. You have to make that choice. And Jesus tells us in this story the results of the choice, whether it's the house built

00:16:50.920 - 00:17:30.740

on rock or whether it's the house built on sand. So hearers, just like these two persons, everyone who hears and acts on them is wise, and everyone who hears and fails to act is foolish. And sometimes we have certain standards by which we measure the word of God, you know.

00:17:30.740 - 00:17:46.740

It must come a certain way and I think that we ought to do our best in education and the like. But I remember an old man a number of years ago, he couldn't put the English language right.

00:17:46.740 - 00:18:09.900

He couldn't get it arranged. In fact, he created his own language. And instead of saying, "think," he would say, "I thunk." But he was very limited, but anyone who sat and listened to him could tell that the man

00:18:09.900 - 00:18:50.660

had been with the Lord. So we cannot always judge whether one's giving the word of the Lord because it's in polished English and someone else may be delivering it who has it in broken English. He who hears my word and acts on it is like a man who built his house upon a rock.

00:18:50.660 - 00:19:27.300

So listen to what Jesus has to say regarding this man who built his house upon the rock. You know, we want God's blessings, but we often don't want to listen to him. And then I see some young person, the parent has brought them into the world, nourished them all along the way, and they get ready to get married.

00:19:27.300 - 00:19:49.540

They don't even want to tell their parents. You know, they don't want to honor their parents even with a discussion. But God wants us to listen to Him. "Hear, O Israel," the Shema. "Hear," that's the first word. "Hear, O Israel, hear." God

00:19:49.540 - 00:20:19.820

is calling our attention to hear what He has to say. And what He has to say has to do with our well-being. "Hear, O Israel, hear, hear. Hearers and doers of the divine word are like wise and foolish builders. They're like two builders, one wise and the other foolish.

00:20:19.820 - 00:20:42.920

As we celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday, we recall many incidents related to his life. But it's interesting to note that in the crisis of the movement and the adults were getting fewer in number

00:20:42.920 - 00:20:57.580

who would join in the march and they didn't know what to do. And they had children, little children to join the march and they led the way. They went to jail for our freedom.

00:20:57.580 - 00:21:11.960

Little children did that. Not only little children but there were older people retired like one lady that Dr. King called mother, asked her how was she doing.

00:21:11.960 - 00:21:35.280

They'd been marching for many days, and she said, "My feet is tired, but my soul is resting." She was willing to go into the struggle. And as you know, I just left Birmingham.

00:21:35.280 - 00:21:54.780

In fact, they called it "Bummingham" back in those days. There was so much bubbing taking place in Birmingham that they called it "Bummingham." And Dr. King was convinced that the kind of order he was seeking

00:21:54.780 - 00:22:14.680

to build was one that would be lasting. He was building on a rock. And when you build on a rock, there are certain testing experiences. The first test is what I call the rain test.

00:22:14.680 - 00:22:30.980

The rain falls. >> Yes, yes. >> Rain. Rain of criticism falls on you. And no matter how dedicated you may be, don't think you're going to escape the rain.

00:22:30.980 - 00:22:42.800

The rain falls. These are the elements over which we have no control. They come. They fall on us.

00:22:42.800 - 00:22:57.140

Rain of criticism. Montgomery ministers criticized him, said he was an agitator, disturbing the peace. The rain will come.

00:22:57.140 - 00:23:16.700

But he had a house that was built on rock. Rains came. Little girls in the 16th Street in Birmingham lost their lives. They'd just come into Sunday school.

00:23:16.700 - 00:23:31.980

Somebody bombed the church. You know the story. Rain fail, rain of criticism will fall whatever you're seeking to do. Be prepared for the rain.

00:23:31.980 - 00:23:40.160

>> That's right. >> Rain will come. Rain fail. That's a rain test.

00:23:40.160 - 00:23:47.640

You know, so many people, you know, cannot stand to be criticized. >> That's right. >> And so you'll never do anything. >> That's right.

00:23:47.640 - 00:23:57.920

>> That's significant. >> That's right. Because every time you get ready to do something that's significant, the rain is going to fall. It will fall.

00:23:57.920 - 00:24:17.560

So the rain test, you got to be prepared for the rain test. And then there is another test, the floods. The flood test. know, you have difficulties, disappointments, and all of

00:24:17.560 - 00:24:38.840

these things seem to crowd in upon you one after the other. Flood! Look at the life of Job. It's the flood test. Children, all 10 of them, he receives an announcement that they're dead, and even his wife tells him to curse God and die. That's the

00:24:38.840 - 00:25:03.840

floods will come. Don't think that you will not have floods. Wherever there's rain, there's also a chance of floods coming. And then the winds. I mean, wind test. All kinds of rumors in the in the wind.

00:25:03.840 - 00:25:16.680

That's right. And if you're going to build a house, that's going to last. If you're going to invest your life in something that's meaningful, you've got to be prepared for the flood test.

00:25:16.680 - 00:25:34.560

Yes. The wind test comes after the flood test, winds, however. And I think that somehow the elements had a conference. And they said, "We're going to get this fellow."

00:25:34.560 - 00:25:50.560

And they all met together and the rain said, "I'll fall hard upon him." And the flood said, "Well, I'll push him in every direction and he'll not know where he is. I'll have him going around and around."

00:25:50.560 - 00:26:21.180

And the winds came howling and they said, "We will spread rumors all around him." and howling and skipping around, the winds came. But the house stood fair. Rain, floods, winds all together beat up on him and his house stayed. Now, I can see the fellow sitting down in his

00:26:21.180 - 00:26:48.200

living room. Not disturbed once in a while because he has been built on a rock. Built on a rock. "But, ah, this fellow who had built on sand, when those same rains--" See, the rain is no respect of persons. "--same rain, same flood, same wind,

00:26:48.200 - 00:27:10.620

beat about it, and the house fell down flat." That's what Jesus wants us to remember. After delivering this sermon, this is the clincher. If you hear what I say and do what I say, you're going to have it all right in your life, no matter

00:27:10.620 - 00:27:34.960

how the vicissitudes of life may crowd in upon you, if you rest Secure that on my word. Your life will be strong in the midst... Have you seen people who've gone through so much in this, they seem to be stronger?

00:27:34.960 - 00:27:58.880

I had the privilege of meeting Martin Luther King before he passed on. on, he was at a convention, and he was standing outside, like many of us do, talking with some of the brethren. And a mutual friend brought me to him and said,

00:27:58.880 - 00:28:06.700

"Have you met Martin Luther King?" I said, "No." And he was just out there talking with the fellows. He was open.

00:28:06.700 - 00:28:15.120

It wasn't hard to get to. We just walked up. I shook hands with him. He told him, he had to introduce me.

00:28:15.120 - 00:28:31.500

Any time you are open like that, you are vulnerable. You are vulnerable. So, to have this openness, to reach out to people, some people would misunderstand and some people would not

00:28:31.500 - 00:28:47.920

like you just for being that way. But he had that kind of openness. And so today, we pause to thank God. for this man who was an apostle of peace.

00:28:47.920 - 00:29:06.840

>> Yes. >> And now as we look at his life, we can see how we were blessed over and over again by what he did. >> Yes, Lord.

00:29:06.840 - 00:29:23.640

So I would urge you as you look at your life, as you seek to build a new life, new couples need to be aware of the fact that the rain will come. >> Yes.

00:29:23.640 - 00:29:46.040

>> The floods will beat upon you. The winds and all of those things will crowd in upon you, but the house will stand if it is established on Jesus Christ. Now you see, the real difference, the real difference here is not how the houses look on the outside.

00:29:46.040 - 00:30:02.580

[laughter] They probably may have had a similar design on the outside, you know. That's not the real difference. The real difference is the foundation. The real difference is what's underneath.

00:30:02.580 - 00:30:18.140

And whether that which is underneath has the strength to hold you, to sustain you, to give you that steadfastness that you need in the midst of the storms of life. That's what really matters.

00:30:18.140 - 00:30:36.780

And so that's the story Jesus wants us to remember. And you see, the foundation is in Him. Jesus Christ is the ground. That means He's the foundation.

00:30:36.780 - 00:30:58.760

And He is the goal of all of our striving if our life is in Him. So trust in Him. Build your life on Jesus Christ. build your hope on things eternal and hold to God's

00:30:58.760 - 00:31:21.220

unchanging hand. Hold on when the rains are falling, when the floods are besieging you, when the winds are beating against you, hold on to the Lord Christ. Hold Christ. And in fact, that's what has made the difference in my life. I didn't see how I was

00:31:21.220 - 00:31:42.340

make it I didn't see how I was gonna go from high school to college I didn't see that there was no way as far as I was concerned possible but mother said just trust in the Lord she said if you trust in the Lord he'll make a way and I came to understand what the old folk were talking about he'll make a way out of no way

00:31:42.340 - 00:32:15.020

if you trusted Christ on Christ no no no matter how how the storms rage on On Christ, on Christ the solid rock I stand, all of the ground is sinking sand. So as we come to the hymn of invitation, we extend the privilege to accept Jesus Christ, To make him the authority in your life.

00:32:15.020 - 00:32:35.020

Not the scribes, but Jesus Christ. We invite you to come. By letter, by Christian experience, on profession of faith. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness.

00:32:35.020 - 00:32:58.020

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but hold and lean on Jesus' name, on Christ, on Christ. Come, my letter, come. Come. [music] Come.

00:32:58.020 - 00:33:33.020

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ, my righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest praise, for the living one he will save. [Choral singing] ♪ From his fence in lovely May ♪

00:33:33.020 - 00:33:57.220

♪ I rest on his unchanging grace ♪ ♪ When every life and storm he is ♪ ♪ I ain't the home here in the hills ♪ ♪ Oh, Christ the Son ♪

00:33:57.220 - 00:34:19.120

♪ In rock I stand ♪ ♪ All other ground is sinking sand ♪ ♪ All other ground is sinking sand ♪ ♪ Here on this earth ♪

00:34:19.120 - 00:34:40.600

♪ I'm left in dust ♪ ♪ The Lord be in the world, in the ♪ ♪ With all the world, I hope you'll pray ♪ ♪ He is all, I hope and say ♪

00:34:40.600 - 00:35:07.720

♪ When he shall come, with the good sound ♪ ♪ Oh, may I live in him be found ♪ ♪ Where in his righteousness alone ♪ ♪ One has to stand before his cross ♪

00:35:07.720 - 00:35:40.480

♪ On Christ the solid rock I stand ♪ All around is sinking sand. All around is sinking sand. Oh, there's a song in rock and sand.

00:35:40.480 - 00:36:12.380

All around is sinking sand. All around is sinking sand. As you play that softly, continue to play that softly, for those persons who stood earlier celebrating birthdays this week would you go now to the

00:36:12.380 - 00:36:33.780

rear of the sanctuary all of those who stood celebrating birthdays this week follow me here to the rear of the sanctuary. [music] The church newsletter is available.

00:36:33.780 - 00:36:48.780

The church newsletter is available. [music] I love you very much. Thank you.

00:36:48.780 - 00:37:11.400

Thank you so much. Thank you. [ Music ] >> Here in the foyer as you leave, would you bow your heads?

00:37:16.940 - 00:37:56.260

Lord God, our Father, we thank you for that wisdom that comes to us through the Master Teacher. As his pupils, help us that we may be wise and that we may be sustained in the midst of life's storms. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace, now and forevermore. Amen.

00:37:56.260 - 00:38:06.260

[BLANK_AUDIO]