Wesley's 13th Discourse
- Pastor Gary
- Apr 15
- 16 min read
We are in a sermon series based on the Sermon on the Mount. As part of this we will also be studying Wesley's original sermons. These sermons are a part of the rich history and doctrinal teachings of Methodism.
Below you will find a study guide our small groups and Bible study groups will be using during this series. Also there is an AI translated version of Wesley's original sermon to aid in your reading (Wesley's Quotes and key ideas are in bold). Also there is a preached sermon video from youtube if you are like me and find listening as a better avenue for the content.
Keep growing!
Sermon 33
Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount
Discourse 13
1. Our Divine Teacher, having declared the whole counsel of God regarding the way of salvation, and having pointed out the main obstacles for those who desire to walk in it, now brings everything to a close with these weighty words. In doing so, He sets His seal upon what He has spoken, placing His full authority behind it, so that it may stand firm for all generations.
2. For thus says the Lord, so that no one may ever imagine there is any other way than this: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? and in your name cast out demons? and in your name do many mighty works?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Therefore, 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. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house—and it fell, and great was its fall.”
3. In what follows, I intend, first, to consider the case of the one who builds his house upon the sand; second, to show the wisdom of the one who builds upon the rock; and third, to conclude with a practical application.
Part I
1. First, I will consider the case of the one who builds his house upon the sand. It is about him that our Lord says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” This is a decree that cannot be changed; it stands firm forever. Therefore, it is of the highest importance that we clearly understand what these words mean. What, then, are we to understand by the expression, “that says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’”? It certainly refers to anyone who thinks they can go to heaven by any way other than the one Christ has just described. At the most basic level, it includes all good words, all verbal religion. It includes whatever creeds we repeat, whatever professions of faith we make, whatever number of prayers we offer, whatever thanksgivings we give to God. We may speak well of His name and declare His lovingkindness to others. We may talk about all His mighty works and tell of His salvation day by day. By comparing spiritual truths, we may explain the meaning of Scripture. We may unfold the mysteries of His kingdom, hidden from the beginning of the world. We may even speak with the eloquence of angels about the deep things of God. We may proclaim to sinners, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” And we may do all this with such power and such a demonstration of the Spirit that many souls are saved from death. And yet, all of this may still be nothing more than saying, “Lord, Lord.” After preaching successfully to others, I myself may still be lost. I may be used by God to rescue many souls from hell and yet fall into it myself when all is done. I may lead many into the kingdom of heaven and yet never enter it myself. Reader, if God has ever used my words to bless your soul, pray that He may also have mercy on me!
2. Saying, “Lord, Lord,” may also include doing no harm. A person may avoid every obvious sin and every outward act of wickedness. He may refrain from all speech and behavior forbidden in Scripture. He may be able to say to those around him, “Which of you can accuse me of sin?” He may live with a clear conscience in outward matters toward both God and others. He may be free from outward acts of uncleanness, ungodliness, and injustice. As the Apostle said of himself, he may be “blameless” in outward righteousness. And yet, he is not justified by this. This still amounts to no more than saying, “Lord, Lord.” If a person goes no further than this, he will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
3. Saying, “Lord, Lord,” may also include many things commonly called good works. A person may regularly participate in the Lord’s Supper, listen to many excellent sermons, and take every opportunity to engage in the ordinances of God. He may do good to his neighbor, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked. He may even be so devoted to good works that he gives everything he owns to help the poor. He may do all of this with a sincere desire to please God and even believe that he does please Him. (This is clearly the case of those Jesus describes as saying, “Lord, Lord.”) And yet, even then, he may have no share in the glory that is to come.
4. If anyone is surprised by this, it only shows that he does not understand the true nature of the religion of Jesus Christ, especially as it is described in this sermon. How far all of this falls short of the righteousness and true holiness Jesus has described! How distant it is from the inward kingdom of God that begins in the heart like a small seed and grows into a life that produces every good disposition, word, and work.
5. Even though Jesus had made this clear and had often repeated that no one without this inward kingdom would enter heaven, He knew that many would still not accept it. So He confirms it again: “Many”—not just one or a few, but many—“will say to me on that day,” not only, “We prayed, we praised, we avoided evil, and we did good,” but even more: “We prophesied in your name; in your name we cast out demons; in your name we did many mighty works.” That is, we declared your will to others and showed sinners the way to peace and glory. And we did this in your name—according to the truth of your gospel and by your authority, confirmed by the Holy Spirit. By your power we cast out demons from those long held under their control. By your power we performed many mighty works, so that even the dead were raised. And yet, Jesus says, “Then I will declare to them, I never knew you.” Not even when they were doing these works did He know them as His own, because their hearts were not right before God. They were not meek and humble. They did not truly love God or others. They were not renewed in God’s image. They were not holy as He is holy. So He will say, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity”—those who have broken His law, the law of holy love.
6. To make this completely undeniable, our Lord adds this comparison: “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. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house”—as they surely will come upon every person, whether through outward trials or inward temptations, through pride, anger, fear, or desire—“and it fell, and great was its fall.” It was destroyed completely and forever. This will be the fate of all who rest in anything less than the true religion described here. And their fall will be even greater because they heard these words and yet did not act on them.
Part II.
1. Next, I will show the wisdom of the one who does these things—who builds his house upon a rock. He is truly wise who does the will of the Father in heaven. He is wise whose righteousness goes beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees. He is poor in spirit, knowing himself as he truly is. He sees and feels his sin and guilt until it is washed away by the atoning blood. He is aware of his lost condition, of God’s wrath resting on him, and of his complete inability to save himself, until he is filled with peace and joy through the Holy Spirit. He is meek and gentle, patient with all people, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead blessing others, overcoming evil with good. His soul longs for nothing on earth except God, the living God. He has deep compassion for all people and would even give his life for his enemies. He loves the Lord his God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. Only this kind of person will enter the kingdom of heaven—the one who, in this spirit, does good to all, and who, even when despised, rejected, and persecuted, rejoices and is exceedingly glad, knowing whom he has believed and trusting that these present sufferings are producing an eternal weight of glory.
2. How truly wise this person is! He knows himself—an eternal spirit who came from God and has been placed in a body of dust, not to do his own will, but the will of the One who sent him. He understands the world as well—the place where he spends only a few days or years, not as a permanent resident, but as a traveler on his way to eternal life. Therefore, he uses the world without becoming attached to it, knowing that everything in it is passing away. He knows God—his Father and his Friend, the source of all good, the center of all life, the only true happiness of every thinking being. He sees clearly that the purpose of life is to glorify God and to love and enjoy Him forever. And just as clearly, he sees the way to that end: to know God now, to love Him, to become like Him, and to believe in Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
3. He is wise in God’s sight because he builds his house upon a rock—upon the unchanging Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. This name fits Him well, for He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Both the prophets and the apostles bear witness to this: “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will fold them up, and they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end” (Hebrews 1:10–12). Therefore, the person who builds on Him is wise—who makes Him his only foundation, who rests entirely on what Christ has done and suffered for us. On this cornerstone he places his faith and rests the full weight of his soul. He is taught by God to say, “Lord, I have sinned and deserve the lowest hell, but I am freely justified by your grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. The life I now live, I live by faith in Him who loved me and gave Himself for me.” And this life is a heavenly life—a life hidden with Christ in God, a life of love for both God and others, a life of holiness and joy, living to praise God and to do everything for His glory.
4. Yet let no one think that he will no longer face conflict, or that he is beyond temptation. God still allows his grace to be tested. He will be tried like gold in the fire. He may even face greater temptations than those who do not know God, because the enemy will do everything possible to shake those he cannot destroy. So the rain will fall, and it will fall hard—but only at the time and in the way God allows. The floods will come, rising and raging. But the Lord, who rules over all, will say to them, “This far you may come, and no farther.” The winds will blow and beat against the house, as if trying to tear it from its foundation. But they will not succeed. The house will not fall, because it is built on the rock. The one who builds on Christ through faith and love will not be shaken. He will not fear even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea. Though everything around him is shaken, he remains secure, dwelling under the protection of the Most High and resting in the shadow of the Almighty.
Part III
1. How important it is, then, for every person to apply these things personally! How carefully we should examine the foundation we are building on—whether it is rock or sand. You must ask yourself: What is the foundation of my hope? What am I trusting in for entrance into the kingdom of heaven? Is it not built on sand—on correct opinions, which, by a misuse of words, you have called faith? On having a set of ideas, perhaps more reasonable or more scriptural than others? What foolishness this is! This is building on sand—no, even worse, on the foam of the sea. And even if you admit this, are you not still in danger of building on something just as unstable? Perhaps on belonging to a “good church,” one that is well-ordered, biblically faithful, and rich in tradition. These are good reasons to thank God, and they may help you grow in holiness—but they are not holiness themselves. If they are separated from true holiness, they will not benefit you at all. In fact, they will leave you more accountable and exposed to greater judgment. If your hope is built on this, you are still building on sand.
2. You cannot stop there. On what, then, will you build your hope of salvation? On your innocence? On doing no harm—on not hurting or wronging anyone? Suppose this is true. You are honest, fair, and just. You pay what you owe. You do not cheat or take advantage of others. You deal fairly with everyone and try to keep a clear conscience before God. This is good—but it is not enough. You may live this way and still never enter heaven. Even when such harmlessness comes from the right motive, it is only the smallest part of true religion. But if it does not come from the right heart, it is no part of true religion at all. So if your hope is based on this, you are still building on sand.
3. Do you go further? Do you add to doing no harm the practice of religious duties? Do you take every opportunity to receive communion? Do you pray regularly, both in public and private? Do you fast, hear Scripture, read it, and meditate on it? These are things you should do. But even these are nothing if they stand alone. They are nothing without what Scripture calls the “weightier matters of the law”—faith, mercy, and love for God; holiness of heart; the reality of heaven within the soul. If these are missing—and for many they are—then you are still building on sand.
4. Do you go even further? Are you zealous in doing good? Do you help others whenever you have the opportunity? Do you feed the hungry, clothe the poor, care for widows and orphans, visit the sick, and help those in prison? Do you welcome strangers? Then go further still. Do you proclaim the truth of Christ? Do you speak His Word faithfully? Does God use your words to bring others from darkness into light? If so, then learn what you may have taught others many times: “By grace you have been saved through faith… not by works.” Learn to depend entirely on Christ. Count everything you have done as nothing compared to Him. Come to Him like the thief on the cross, or like the woman who had been possessed—completely needy and dependent. Otherwise, even after helping others, you may lose your own soul. You are still building on sand.
5. “Lord, increase my faith, if I have any at all! Or give me faith, even if it is as small as a mustard seed!” But what good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that kind of faith save him? No. Faith that does not produce both inward and outward holiness—that does not shape the whole heart into the image of God—is not true Christian faith. It is not the faith of the gospel. It will not lead to glory. Beware of this above all else: the danger of resting in a false, lifeless faith. If you depend on that, you are lost. You are still building on sand. And when the storms come, your house will fall—and the fall will be great.
6. Therefore, build your life on the rock. By God’s grace, come to know yourself. Recognize and feel that you were born in sin, and that you have added sin upon sin throughout your life. Acknowledge that you deserve eternal separation from God and that you cannot save yourself. Let your only hope be in being washed by Christ’s blood and made new by His Spirit—He who carried your sins on the cross. And if you know that He has taken away your sins, then humble yourself even more. Live in constant awareness that you depend entirely on Him for every good thought, word, and action, and that without Him you can do nothing.
7. Now grieve over your sins and seek after God until He turns your sorrow into joy. And even then, continue to weep with those who weep, especially for those who do not yet grieve over their own sin. Mourn over the brokenness and suffering of the world. Keep in view the reality of eternity—an endless future that has already received countless souls and still stands before us. See before you both the eternal home of God and the reality of judgment. Let this shape how you view every moment, knowing that each one passes quickly and never returns.
8. Now add to your seriousness a gentle and wise spirit. Keep your emotions balanced—especially anger, sorrow, and fear. Accept God’s will in every situation. Learn to be content in whatever circumstances you are in. Be kind to the good and gentle toward all, especially toward those who are difficult or ungrateful. Guard not only against outward expressions of anger, but also against inward attitudes that go against love. Be angry at sin, but continue to love the sinner, just as Christ did—grieved at hard hearts, yet full of compassion. In this way, be angry without sin.
9. Now hunger and thirst, not for what fades away, but for what leads to eternal life. Let go of the world—its wealth, its honor, its pleasures. What are these to you? Let others chase after them, but you pursue the image of God. And beware of settling for a shallow religion—one that is only outward and leaves the heart unchanged. Do not be satisfied with appearances. Seek the real power of godliness—a life where you live in God and God lives in you, where your life is anchored in eternity even now.
10. Now, because Christ strengthens you, be merciful as your Father is merciful. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love both your friends and your enemies. Let your love be patient, kind, and steady. Let it reflect gentleness and deep affection. Rejoice in truth wherever you find it. Delight in what honors God and brings peace to others. In love, speak well of others—especially those who are absent. Believe the best about them. Hope for their good. Endure hardship for their sake. For true love never fails—now or forever.
11. Now be pure in heart. Through faith, be cleansed from every sinful desire. Turn away from everything that corrupts both body and spirit, and grow in holiness with reverence for God. As God purifies you from pride, anger, and every selfish desire, let your heart become fully devoted to Him. Love the Lord your God with all that you are—with your whole heart, your whole soul, and all your strength.
12. In a word, let your religion be deeply rooted in your heart. Let it reach the very core of who you are. Be humble in your own eyes—deeply aware of your need and overwhelmed by God’s love for you in Christ. Live seriously, knowing that you stand on the edge of eternity. Let everything you think, say, and do be shaped by that awareness. Be gentle, patient, and full of love toward others, while your soul longs for God above all else. Desire to be like Him and to be satisfied in Him. Love God and love others. In this spirit, both live and endure whatever comes. In this way, show your faith through your actions. In this way, do the will of your Father in heaven. And as surely as you walk with God now, you will reign with Him in glory forever.
Week 13 - Building on the Rock
Scripture: Matthew 7:21–27
Introduction
As Jesus brings the Sermon on the Mount to a close, He does something both loving and unsettling—He forces us to ask whether our faith is real or merely familiar. These are not words aimed at outsiders, but at people who sound religious, act religious, and even serve in religious ways. Yet Jesus warns that it is possible to do many things for Him without ever truly living with Him.
John Wesley presses this warning home. Right beliefs, good intentions, religious habits, and even impressive ministry activity are not the same as obedience flowing from a transformed heart. The question is not simply what we say or even what we do, but what we are building our lives upon.
GATHER
Purpose
To examine the foundations we are trusting for our spiritual lives and begin honestly reflecting on whether our faith is rooted in obedience or appearance.
Personal Discovery
When you think about your relationship with God, what gives you the most confidence—your beliefs, your church involvement, your behavior, or your daily obedience?
In what ways might it be easier to say the right things about faith than to live them consistently?
Where do you see the temptation to confuse religious activity with spiritual maturity?
Group Discussion
Why do you think Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with such a strong warning?
Which part of Jesus’ teaching here feels most challenging or uncomfortable—and why?
How have you seen storms (hard seasons) reveal what someone was really building their life on?
GROW
Purpose
To understand Wesley’s teaching that genuine faith must be built on Christ alone and expressed through obedient love.
Summary
Wesley explains that many people build their spiritual lives on “sand”—good words, moral behavior, church involvement, or even ministry success. None of these are bad, but none of them are a foundation. Without inward holiness and obedience flowing from faith, they cannot hold the weight of life’s storms or eternity itself.
The wise builder is not perfect, but grounded. He builds on the unchanging Rock—Jesus Christ—trusting not in his own goodness but in Christ’s grace, and allowing that grace to shape his heart, character, and actions. Storms still come, but they do not destroy what is anchored in Christ.
Personal Discovery
Which “sand foundations” does Wesley warn about that feel most familiar to you?
How does Wesley describe the kind of faith that will endure hardship and testing?
What does it look like, practically, to build on Christ rather than on your own effort?
Group Discussion
Why do you think storms are necessary for revealing the strength of a foundation?
How does Wesley balance grace and obedience without turning faith into performance?
What helps a person move from religious habits to a deeply rooted faith?
GO
Purpose
To respond to Jesus’ teaching by intentionally building a life of obedient love rooted in grace.
Take It Home – Mark of Holiness
Obedient Faith
A holy life is not built on appearances, but on trust in Christ that produces loving obedience—even when no one else sees.
Scripture Readings for the Week
Matthew 7:21–27
James 1:22–25
Luke 6:46–49
Romans 12:1–2
Psalm 127:1
Memory Verse
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”— Matthew 7:24
Prayer Prompt
Lord, show me what I am really building my life on.Where I have trusted in words, habits, or appearances, lead me back to You.Give me a faith that listens, trusts, and obeys—so that when storms come, my life stands firm in You. Amen.
