Latest News
Last updated 5.15pm Sunday 31 May 2026 (BAF).
Sunday 31 May 2026
Jim Harries - End of May News
In Jim's latest news he reflects on respect vs love (and fear) and on sacrifice. He puts out a fleece on whether to attend a conference in the US; and is preparing to come to the UK next month.
Weekly Sheet
Please download the weekly sheet to access the links.
5.15pm Audio recordings available.
Zoom
Join the service on Zoom after 10.15am for a service start at 10.30am. Please identify yourself in your joining screen so we can welcome you personally.
Sermon Notes [Download]
The Parables of Jesus
The Parables of Wisdom and Folly
The Parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man
Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus’ audience = the crowd and his disciples to whom he addressed the Sermon on the Mount in which he described the life that is to be lived in the kingdom:
· The beatitudes
· Being salt and light
· The requirements of the law fulfilled in Christ
· The intensifying of the commandments – 6 and 7!
· How to treat others and respond to need
· Prayer
· Priorities – this world or the kingdom
· Motivations – ‘seek first …’
· Choosing which path to follow
· Healthy trees and good fruit, diseased trees and bad fruit
· Fals confessions of faith
Jesus confronts his audience – you must choose how you will build your ‘house’ – your life of faith:
· Follow the example of the wise man
· Follow the example of the foolish man (Gk. ‘moro’ – ‘moron’)
The choice is stark:
· Obedience to all Jesus’ teaching – ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock’ (7:24)
· Disobedience to all Jesus’ teaching – ‘everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand’ (7:26)
The choice is vital – it is life and death! It is a choice between this life and eternal life!
Two important observations concerning this parable:
1. Both the men in the parable hear the words of Jesus – his teaching
2. Both the men confess a faith in Jesus and an agreement with his teaching!
Note: the parable does not contrast a believer with a non- believer. The parable follows on from Jesus’s disturbing words in 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – a tragic situation! It is a contrast between genuine Christianity and nominal Christianity!
When life is simply sailing along it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the two ‘houses. Only once the storms come along, when the rain falls in torrents and the wind beats against the house can you tell the difference.
Storms = everyday challenges and difficulties and the final judgement
The difference is clearly indicated by Jesus:
· The wise man heard the words of Jesus said and did them. He loves the reality of Jesus and surrenders to all his terms.
· The foolish man heard all the words of Jesus, and was even impressed with them, but he does not do it. He likes the idea of Jesus, but only under his terms!
The difference arises from recognising who Jesus really is, or not!
In response to Peter’s confession: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ Jesus says: ‘I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’ (16:18)
The church is built on the confession that Jesus is, ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ By this confession alone can someone enter the kingdom – ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3)
Jesus is to be acknowledged as Lord and Saviour – ‘bear fruit in keeping with repentance’ (3:8) a life in which the lordship of Jesus is increasingly evident in all aspects.
The wise man founded his life on Jesus and his word – and stands firm in the face of the storm. He continues to trust and obey.
The foolish man founded his life ultimately on the things of this world and when the storms came, he fell with a crash! He does anything but trust and obey.
The parable issues us with a challenge: genuine Christianity is founded on the Lordship of Christ the rock – often slowly, but surely!
We are left with a simple but important set of questions in response to the gospel and Jesus’ teachings:
· Do we genuinely repent of sin or just talk about repenting?
· Do we genuinely believe that Jesus is the Christ or say ‘I believe’ without believing?
· Do we genuinely love or just talk about love without loving?
· Do we genuinely come to Christ or just talk about coming?
· Do we confess Jesus as Lord with our lips but express something very different with our actions?
As we examine our hearts we must do so ‘by the standards of Jesus set down and not by our culture or anything else in the world’ ((O’Donnell)
Mark and Andrea Hotchkins May prayer letter
Sunday 12 April 2026
The Marriage of Tom Ibbott and Poppy McCarthy
Yesterday, Saturday 11 April 2026 1pm
