Building What Matters
Sermon Summary: Drawing from Psalm 127 and the broader series on discipleship titled "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction," this sermon challenges believers to examine what they are building with their lives and why. The central message is that any life built apart from God is built in vain. Using the contrast between the ancient temptation at Babel and the self-emptying example of Jesus Christ, the pastor calls the congregation to shift from pursuing worldly success, reputation, and influence to investing in eternal things, primarily people. True fruitfulness comes not from productivity or achievement but from remaining in Christ, serving others, and walking in humble obedience. The way of Jesus is kenosis, self-emptying, and it stands in direct opposition to the world's call to make a great name for oneself. God builds his family through those who surrender their ambitions to him and pour their lives into others.
Key Points:
- Faith is not merely intellectual agreement with correct doctrine but active trust in Jesus that shapes every decision and response in daily life
- The Christian life is a journey of discipleship, a long obedience in the same direction, not a one-time transaction
- Psalm 127 teaches that any work, building, or striving done apart from God is ultimately done in vain
- The ancient temptation, rooted in Genesis 3 and illustrated at Babel, is the desire to be like God apart from God, to gain power, importance, and influence independently of him
- Productivity and busyness are not the same as fruitfulness; one can accomplish much and produce little of eternal value
- God is interested in people, not monuments; believers are called to invest their lives in others, not in building a name for themselves
- Jesus modeled kenosis, self-emptying, by taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient unto death, which stands as the direct opposite of Babel's ambition
- The fruits of the Spirit, including love, joy, and peace, cannot be produced apart from remaining in Christ
- The goal of the Christian life is not personal greatness but faithful participation in what God is building, which is his family
Scripture Reference:
- Psalm 127 (primary text), a Psalm of Ascent addressing the vanity of building without God and the gift of children as a heritage from the Lord
- John 14:6, in which Jesus declares himself to be the way
- John 15:4-5, in which Jesus teaches that apart from him his followers can bear no fruit
- Romans 8:28, which affirms that all things work together for the good of those who love God
- Philippians 2:3-11, describing the self-emptying humility of Christ as the model for how believers are to relate to one another
- Hebrews 2:9-11, describing Jesus being made lower than the angels, tasting death for all, and bringing many sons and daughters into the family of God
- Genesis 3, the account of the fall and the temptation to be like God apart from God
- Genesis 11:1-9, the account of the Tower of Babel and humanity's attempt to make a name for itself
Stories:
- The Garden of Eden (Genesis 3): The enemy tempted Eve by suggesting that eating the forbidden fruit would make humanity like God, without need of God. This is identified as the root of all pride and self-centered ambition.
- The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11): The people of Shinar labored to build a city and tower reaching to the heavens so that they might make a name for themselves. God scattered them across the earth, illustrating that pride-driven building apart from God ends in ruin.
- The Last Supper discourse (John 13-17): Jesus told his disciples he was going away and that they already knew the way. When Philip asked for clarification, Jesus declared himself to be the way. This passage frames the entire discussion of following Jesus as the one true path.
- The Vine and the Branches (John 15): Jesus used the image of a vine and its branches to illustrate that apart from him, his followers can produce nothing of lasting spiritual value.
- The self-emptying of Christ (Philippians 2): Jesus, though equal with God, did not grasp at privilege but emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death on the cross. God therefore exalted him above every name. This is presented as the direct counter-narrative to Babel.