Introduction

Matthew 7:24—25

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

Principle 1: Simplify for God

Mark 12:30-31

“. . . you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 7:12

“In everything do unto others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

Principle 2: Thanking God

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8—9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Principle 3: Trust God

1 Corinthians 10:13

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common in everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

Romans 8:38—39

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Principle 4: Listen to God

John 10:27

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

Mark 9:7

“Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice. ‘This is my Son the Beloved, listen to him!’”

Principle 5: Act for God

John 14:12—13

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Matthew 25:22—23

“And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents, see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”