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He only is my rock and my salvation...
The rock of my strength...
(Psalm 62:1, 6-7)
What is meant by the rock? In the Old and New Testaments, a rock symbolizes Divine truth from the Lord. When the Lord gave the Sermon on the Mount, He told a parable about a house being built on a rock (Matthew 7:24-27). It stood firm against rain, floods, and winds that beat on it. But another house was built on sand, and it fell when faced with stormy weather.
We must choose whether to build our lives on a rock or the sand. Here the rock symbolizes Divine truth when it is received by our minds and our hearts. We build our lives on a rock when we hear the truths of the Word and do them.
FAMILY WORSHIP: Building on a Rock
Before reading the parable of the house on a rock, look at a flat rock and some sand. Which would give a better foundation for a house? Now read the Lord's words in Matthew 7:24-27.
Discussion Ideas:
- Where is the Lord when He tells this parable? He was in Galilee, teaching a great multitude of people who had come to hear His words.
- Who does the Lord compare to a wise man who builds his house on a rock? (Those who hear the Lord's words and do them.)
- Who does the Lord compare to a foolish man who builds his house on the sand? (Those who hear the Lord's words but don't do them.)
- The house symbolizes our minds -- not just the thinking part of our minds, but also the loving part. The Lord is telling us that we need to learn the truths from the Word and love to do them.
ACTIVITY: Build a House (ages 3-8)
Use blocks or small cardboard boxes to build a house on a mound of sand and then sprinkle with water to simulate a rain storm. What happens to the house? Then build a house on the foundation of a flat rock. When you sprinkle the water, what happens to the house?
ACTIVITY: House Built on a Rock Rebus (ages 4-8)
Younger children will enjoy "reading" the pictures with help from an older child or adult.
ACTIVITY: Dramatize the Parable (ages 3-8)
Use movement and sound effects to dramatize the parable of the house built on the rock. Read the parable aloud, showing your children how to dramatize each part.
READ: Build on the Rock by the Rev. Daniel W. Heinrichs
This sermon explains the connections among the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the house built on rock, and the Lord's statement to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build my church."
READ: Building the House a family talk by the Rt. Rev. Peter Buss
Learn how the Lord builds a house in our minds and how we can work with Him.
PROJECT: House Built on a Rock Diorama (ages 8-14)
Color the pieces of the diorama, then cut them out and assemble it.
SING: The House on the Rock
COLORING PAGE: Founded on a Rock by Robert G. Glenn
PROJECT: Picture the Two Houses (ages 5-8)
Illustrate the parable by picturing both the house built on the rock and the house built on the sand.
ACTIVITY: Find the Foundation of Your House (ages 8-12)
Look for the foundation of your home and observe what it made of. Builders know that it is important to have a strong foundation under a house. Compare this to the need for a strong foundation for our spiritual - character. You might want to use chalk to write a quote from the Word on the side of your home's foundation.
JOURNAL PAGE: Foundations for My Life (teens and adults)
Reflect on beliefs or attitudes that are like "foundations" for your life. These are the constants that help you weather the storms of life. If you want a tangible reminder of these, you could write them on pieces of beautiful paper and attach them to a large rock. Note: This activity could also be adapted for a family discussion as seen below.
FAMILY DISCUSSION: Foundations for Our Family (all ages)
Compare your family to a house and discuss beliefs and attitudes that are like "foundations" for your family. These are constants that help you weather the storms of life. Two examples: "We will trust in the Lord" and "We will love each other." If you want a tangible reminder of these, you could write them on beautiful pieces of paper and attach them to a large rock. Some aspects of your family life might change such as jobs, where you live, health, etc. Talk about ways your foundations have helped you through difficult times.
JOURNAL PAGE: Stormy Weather (for teens and adults)
In the parable of the house built on the rock, what threatened the house? The rain, floods, and winds that beat on the house. Together, these symbolize spiritual storms that threaten our commitment to the Lord. The rain and floods are the false ideas that want to shake us from the foundation rock of truth from the Lord. The winds are the way these false ideas affect our thinking. Identify and write about some of the false ideas that may distort our thinking.
READ: Hear and Do by the Rev. Grant R. Schnarr
This sermon explores this parable and its particular relevance to Christianity and the New Church.
The church, like heaven, is in a person.
(New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 246)
What is a church? Is it a building in which we worship? A group of people with similar beliefs who come together to worship the Lord and serve the neighbor? These are ways of defining a church. But the church is also defined as everyone who is a church - who has the church within. How is it possible to have the church within us?
READ: What Is the Church? excerpts from a sermon by Rev. Patrick A. Rose
This gives an introduction to the idea that the church is within us and how we can work toward it. You might also wish to read the full text of this sermon, entitled: The Earth Is the Lord's.
FLASH ANIMATION: What Is the Church? (ages 10 and up)
ACTIVITY: Building a Beautiful Home Stone by Stone (ages 5-9)
The church grows within us as we do what is true and good, and as we purposely turn away from doing what is evil. When discussing this with children, we compare it to adding a beautiful stone to the walls of your church or heavenly home every time you do something good. (You could also suggest that when they do something wrong it is like taking one stone out of the wall.) To focus on the positive steps we can take, let each of your children "build" a beautiful home. Cut shiny squares of gold or silver foil paper and let the children glue one square on blue construction paper every time they do something good. Continue this for a week or so until they have a magnificent house.
PROJECT: The Lord's Church with Everyone (ages 5-12)
The Lord's church is with all people in the world who live in good according to their religious principles. Illustrate this idea by making beautiful glass globes to represent the earth.
PROJECT: A Global Perspective on the Church (ages 8-teens)
Make a collage to illustrate the teaching that the church is with all who live in good according to their religious principles. Cut out pictures of people from around the world. Or make your own drawings of people and show them doing good things. Add a quote such as: "The Lord's church is with all in the whole world who live in good" (New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine 246).
The church is the foundation of heaven...
(New Jerusalem and the Heavenly Doctrines 246)
There is an interdependence of heaven and the Lord's church on earth. When we think about a "church" as everyone who loves what is good, it is easier to understand how the church is the foundation of heaven.
PROJECT: Heaven and the Church as a House
Draw a house showing the basement (foundation and substructure) as the people of the church on
earth and the house itself (superstructure and roof) as heaven and the angels. As you
draw your house, think about some of the heavenly things we can experience on earth (such as the innocence of babies, the special love between a husband and wife, the holiness of the Lord's Word, etc.)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Comparing Foundations and the Church (teens)
In the Heavenly Doctrine, the church is compared to the foundation and substructure of a house.
Heaven is compared to the superstructure and roof of a building. Think about the purpose of the superstructure and roof of a building. This activity will help you reflect on how the church on earth and heaven are interdependent.
ACTIVITY: Passing the Rock (ages 9-teens)
When we use the truths of the Word in our daily lives, we are taking small steps toward building the Lord's church in ourselves and making the earth a little bit more like heaven. Pass a beautiful rock around from one person to another as a group activity or family worship. When it is your turn to hold the rock, say one true idea or quotation from the Word. You might also give one example of ways to bring this truth into our lives. The church grows within you as you do what is true!
FOR REFLECTION: The Analogy of a House (for teens and adults)
The Heavenly Doctrines compare a house to the relationship of heaven and the church, the way that the inner meaning of the Word rests on the foundation of its literal sense or text, and to a person. To help you reflect on this analogy, read more about this. Diagram a house to help you understand the church, the Word, and aspects of a person. Or design a room you would like to have in your spiritual home.
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my redeemer.
(Psalm 19:14)
As we look to the Lord in our lives, He can help us build our lives on the firm foundation of truth.
PROJECT: Let My Words and Meditation Be Acceptable in Your Sight (teens and adults)
Think about the kinds of words and meditations that would be acceptable in the Lord's sight. Find or purchase a beautiful rock . Then write your kind thoughts or good deeds that you hope are acceptable to the Lord. Place these near the rock -- perhaps in a beautiful basket beside it. (Note: This could be done by an individual or as a group activity, with everyone taking a turn.)
PROJECT: BANNER - Unless the Lord Builds the House (all ages)
Make a banner with felt or by painting poster board. Include this quote: "Unless the Lord builds the house...(Psalm 127:1) and show the Lord and a beautiful house.
PROJECT: Calligraphy of "Unless the Lord builds the house..." (Psalm 127:1)
Make a beautiful border for this quote from the Word.
FOR REFLECTION: Lead Me to the Rock that Is Higher than I (teens and adults)
How can we find the Lord's truths -- higher rocks -- to guide our lives? Reflect on what Psalm 61 suggests, including: praying, reading the Word, identifying "the enemy," trusting in the Lord, and taking shelter in His wings or truths.
SING: "If Thou but Ask the Lord to Guide Thee"