Here is a handout to use with your youth ministry to focus in on your foundation. The tallest buildings in the world have impressively large and strong foundations, but nothing that can compare to the foundation that we have as Christians!
At over 828 meters (2,716.5 feet, that’s more than a half mile high) and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa holds the following records:
- Tallest building in the world
- Tallest free-standing structure in the world
- Highest number of stories in the world
- Highest occupied floor in the world
- Highest outdoor observation deck in the world
- Highest swimming pool in the world
- Highest restaurant in the world
- Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
- Tallest service elevator in the world
Interesting facts:
The elevator, it travels at about 40 miles per hour and reaches the observation deck in about 2 minutes.
On the observation deck near the top, it is nearly 15 degrees cooler than at the building’s base.
Dubai is built in the middle of the desert, so to withstand the UAE’s 120-degree blistering summer heat the tower is covered with 24,348 cladding panels.
The Burj Khalifa weights 500,000 tons.
The foundation slab of the Burj Khalifa is 80,000 sq ft in size and is supported by massive 1.5m in diameter steel piles which dig into the earth at 50 meters deep.
This massive foundation is needed to support a structure of this magnitude. Without a foundation to support the massive building, the Burj Khalifa would simply fall in on itself under the strain of its weight of 500,000 tons.
The foundation is important to the building, so that it can stand tall through the harsh 120 degree weather, and the violent wind storms that are common in Dubai. In your life you need a foundation to support you. Your foundation allows you to stand tall through rough and trying times that you will endure.
So who/what makes up your foundation? What do you stand for? What are your principles? Who do you look to for help?
Group Discussion
Matthew 7:24
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Jesus clearly states that His Word is our foundation. Jesus Christ is our foundation along with his teachings.
1.Knowing that we are built on perfect foundations of Jesus, how can you help others who may not have Jesus as their foundation in life?
2.When has your foundation and belief helped you through a difficult time?
3.The Burj Khalifa is a testament to how strong it’s foundation is. How can we be a testament to how strong our foundation (Jesus Christ) is through how we conduct ourselves?
Download the Handout directly from the link below:
