Celebrating Our Sure Foundation

Sundays Readings: Second Chronicles 6:12-14, 18-20, 40-7:1, Luke 6:47-49

If you ask Google or AI for a story about building a strong foundation there’s two stories at the top of every list.  There’s this one about the wise and foolish builders we just heard that Jesus told.  And the other one is the folktale known as the three little pigs.  I’m sure you know that story.  The first little pig builds its house out of straw and the big bad wolf huffs and puffs and blows his house down.  The second pig builds a house from sticks, but the big bad wolf huffs and puffs and blows that house down too.  But the third little pig built a house made of brick.  And no matter how hard the wolf tries he can’t blow the house down.  It’s a children’s story that’s full of symbolism.  Presumably the first two pigs took the easy way out, built with a light material, but then they paid the price when trouble came.  The third pig needed to lift heavy bricks and do a lot more hard work to build his house, but that hard work paid off when trouble came knocking at the door. 

This same motif of building on a strong foundation able to withstand the troubles of life, is the central theme of today’s Gospel reading.  Jesus describes what it’s like to build our lives on a sure foundation.  Jesus says that one who hears his words and acts on them is like a builder who builds on a deep and secure foundation.  Jesus Christ himself is that strong foundation.  Dedicating our lives to growing closer to Christ and to deepening our relationship with God is the sturdiest way to build our life.  That foundation grounds us in the midst of chaos.  Digging deep on the spiritual journey and getting in touch with that foundation gives us inner depth and wisdom and peace.  And when we go through the inevitable trials and difficulties of this life, we know that nothing can separate us from the foundation that is God’s love.  When we are firmly grounded in Christ and our relationship with God is the foundation of our life, then no matter what troubles may come, no matter what trials threaten to overwhelm us, no matter what pain or grief or anxiety comes our way, we know that ultimately there is nothing that can shake our foundation.  

The point here is not about working hard to build our own foundation, it’s about trusting the solid foundation that is already established by Jesus Christ.  Our eternal salvation is already won by the cross of Christ and nothing can take that away.  The Christian life is about living into that promise, being firmly grounded in the divine way as we walk through this life.  We trust in the reality of eternal life, but we also know life is about more than just enduring earthly existence until we can cross over and meet God; rather, life is about being consciously aware of God in this life now.  Feeling deeply connected to the divine foundation of reality.  Being spiritually grounded in the good news Jesus proclaimed. 

The point of this life is to live in relationship with God now.  Life’s not about earning our salvation, that’s already accounted for.  What life is about is growing in relationship with God, aligning our wills with the divine way, grounding ourselves in the divine foundation of reality.  Learning to experience God’s presence now, being the Body of the Christ in the world today, and manifesting God’s goodness and love in concrete, personal ways.  That is our call as Christians.  Deepening our connection with the Ground of Being and living into the unique expression of the divine image that each of us is.  The Christian life is about living securely in God as our sure foundation and following the Spirit’s lead on where to go and what to do next.  Doing that in our personal lives and in the communal spiritual life of the church is something every one of us is called to make our highest priority.

St. Matthew Lutheran Church is a community that understands this.  We know that, when we gather, we experience the gift of God’s presence in Word and Sacrament.  We experience the joy of fellowship we have with each other.  And together we live out God’s mission to love and serve others.  This congregation understands the importance of having a sacred space that nourishes our relationship with God.  God’s presence is everywhere, but setting aside a physical place where we intentionally encounter the divine presence is something humans have done since time immemorial.  We know that the church is a people, not a building, but when a church has a sacred place of its own—a sanctuary—then the community has a focal point, a physical place that’s our spiritual home.  When such a sacred place exists, a community can gather freely to worship God together, to pray together, and to be there for each other when times are tough.  And from this spiritual center, we reach out to love and serve a world in need beyond these walls.  So that this spiritual home base becomes a springboard from which we go out into the world to live out God’s call.  Then, when there are times we feel beaten and depleted and broken, we have a sacred space to help us navigate the storms of life, and we have spiritual community to walk with us through it all.  In this physical place, and through this spiritual community, we see Christ, the sure foundation of our lives.

Throughout my time at St. Matthew, I’ve been interested in learning the history of the congregation.  And, especially during the past year’s sanctuary project, I’ve explored what the building has looked like over the decades.  St. Matthew was founded in 1885 in Collinsville and moved to this location in the 1963.  The dedication service of this sanctuary was held Sunday September 15, 1963.  Almost exactly 63 years ago.  At that service the opening hymn was the same one we sang today “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” and the hymn of the day was the same one we’ll sing a in a few moments “The Church’s One Foundation”.   

This project of “refreshing our sacred space” as we’ve called it, arose for several reasons.  First, the obvious need for fixing some problems.  That led to the opportunity to enhance the already spiritual aesthetics, while also maintaining the sacred feel of the space.  And beyond that, a major motivation was setting up St. Matthew for the future.  Providing a well-equipped sacred space for future generations to come.  This sanctuary refresh project has honored our church’s past, given us a beautiful sacred space for the present, and sets up St. Matthew for generations to come with a solid foundation.  Generations not yet born will find a spiritual home here, encounter the divine here, hear the call to be light to the world here.

Today is also Rally Day, the day we kickoff the Sunday School year with a celebration.  And even though it’s raining today, we’ll still have a good time in the Hall after worship.  And throughout this year and throughout their lives, our Sunday Schoolers will learn and experience the love of God which is their sure foundation. 

And so today we celebrate many things.  We celebrate the reopening of the sanctuary.  We celebrate the baptism of a beloved child of God.  We celebrate the start of the Sunday School year.  And, like we do every Sunday, we celebrate the good news of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ.  The gospel message of God’s love and grace, healing and forgiveness, transformation and new life.  It is in this gospel, and in this God who is Creator of heaven and earth, that we have our sure foundation. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.    

Pastor Brian | Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026 | Rally Day and Grand Reopening of the Sanctuary