Build on the Rock^(A)

²⁴ “Therefore ^(B)whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

²⁸ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that ^(C)the people were astonished at His teaching,

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God^(A)

¹⁸ For the ^[a]message of the cross is ^(B)foolishness to ^(C)those who are perishing, but to us ^(D)who are being saved it is the ^(E)power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

^20 (G)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the ^[b]disputer of this age? ^(H)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the ^(I)wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For ^(J)Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, ^(K)to the Jews a ^[c]stumbling block and to the ^[d]Greeks ^(L)foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ ^(M)the power of God and ^(N)the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Avoid Worldly Wisdom

^18 (A)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ^(B)“He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, ^(C)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For ^(D)all things are yours: ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. ²³ And ^(E)you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

^6 (A)As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ^7 (B)rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding ^[a]in it with thanksgiving.

⁸ Beware lest anyone ^[b]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to ^(C)the tradition of men, according to the ^(D)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For ^(E)in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead ^[c]bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the ^(F)head of all ^[d]principality and power.