1 Corinthians 3:9b-23

Building the Church

Open your Bible to…

1Cor. 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Pray

Intro

√ Framing

In chapter 3 Paul uses three different illustrations to demonstrate how God’s work is accomplished through the lives of His workers…

Families

Farming

Framing

We tackled the first two last week and this morning we’ll finish the chapter as we look at the last illustration…

…framing, that is how God built the church at Corinth.

√ Building a local church

This is an exciting section of scripture to me because we have here Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired instructions regarding “how to” build a church!

I don’t mean the facility rather Paul uses the illustration of framing up and finishing a building to illustrate how God’s workers are to build the local church.

In view is the church at Corinth, however, Paul’s illustrations apply to the building of any local body of believers.

As such it’s great insight into God’s heart and His methodology for successful ministry!

Ex. Man’s wisdom

You’ll recall that all through Paul’s letter so far he has been contrasting Man’s wisdom…

…with God’s wisdom and encouraging the Corinthians to return to God’s way of doing things.

The same is true here regarding the “how to” build a local church!

That’s why this section of scripture is so important to me be cause the present church environment in the United States is inundated with “Church-growth” models, methods, and systems all of which are marketed as the way to build a successful church!

Added to the confusion is that there are examples from each model of large, fast-growing, mega-churches that seem to validate the model.

But, while the numbers of people in a church can certainly be one way to measure it’s success we’ll discover here Paul’s instructions that God is more interested in the quality of the saints than the quantity of the saints.

Interestingly the pioneers of one of the most popular church growth program in the nation just last year concluded that despite the large and growing number of people in their churches…

…they had failed to accomplish their main goal of making disciples for Jesus!

Ap. Let’s follow God’s plan!

So let’s look at how God calls us to build the church.

The Right Foundation (vs. 9-11)

1Cor. 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

1Cor. 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

1Cor. 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

√ The right foundation

Many of you know that my family and I are selling our home in Springdale and looking for a home closer to the church building.

We’ve been looking at homes for almost two years and we’ve seen some stunning homes but we’ve also seen some real bombs!

From substandard finish work to poor floor plans but the worst problem we’ve found are homes built on poor foundations!

Ex. House in Bentonville

A home popped up on our search criteria that looked like the deal of a life time!

it was a large brand new home with great curb appeal and an incredible price!

One of those “too good to be true” deals.

Sure enough when we walked through it we found that the foundation had sunk on one side of the home causing a 2-inch crack to run from the ground to the top of the second story.

We realized that no matter how good the price was that to correct the foundation would be so expensive that it made the house a bad idea.

The point is that a building is only as good as it’s foundation!

√ The foundation is Christ

Well that’s Paul’s point here! Notice in verses 10 & 11 that Paul reminds his friends at Corinth that his initial work there was to lay the right foundation, which he tells us is…

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” ~ vs. 11

That is, the foundation of our faith, the Church universal, and the local church must be Jesus Christ!

Notice too that Paul is emphatic that there is “no other foundation”!

If you’ll go back and look at what Paul did in Corinth, and what he later describes as his ministry in chapter 15 you’ll discover that what Paul means here is that the foundation of the church is the Gospel of Christ!

That Jesus is the only begotten Son of God.

That He died for our sins and rose again after 3 days buried in a tomb.

That by placing our trust in Him and His work that we are set free from sin and granted eternal life!

That’s the only foundation of our faith and the only foundation of the church!

√ Why’s that important?

Just like the foundation of a home the spiritual foundation of a church determines the size, shape and strength of the building.

A poor or weak spiritual foundation can’t support a healthy church!

The problem at Corinth was that they had undermined the good foundation that Paul laid by rejecting the wisdom of God and substituting the wisdom of men.

Ex. The church in San Jose

Built on a poor foundation. They initially experienced explosive growth and were the talk of the city.

But, because the pastor built the church on entertainment rather than on the sure foundation of Christ the church collapsed.

The pastor that came in to rescue the church had to rebuild the foundation and 18 years later they have a strong healthy church again because it’s built on the right foundation.

The Right Materials (vs. 12-17)

1Cor. 3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1Cor. 3:13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

1Cor. 3:14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

1Cor. 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

√ The right materials

Once you’ve got the right foundation you need to chose the right materials to build with.

You’ll notice that Paul lists two types of building materials in vs. 12 where he contrasts the right building material vs. the wrong building material.

I really appreciate Paul’s illustration as we’ve walked through some homes in the last two years that were built with great materials…

…while other builders tried to slip in some shoddy material to save a buck and increase profit margin.

Ex. Homes in RC

Beautiful floor plan, nice granite counters and paint…

…but they skimped on the siding and soffet material!

We would have never noticed it because it was covered in a thick coat of paint but our realtor pointed out that in just a few years we’d be tearing it all out and spending a bunch of money to replace it.

The same principle is true regarding the spiritual materials that the church is built with…

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw.” ~ vs. 12

Don’t lose the point of his illustration by thinking that he is suggesting that someone might actually construct a building out of gold, silver and diamonds!

Rather, his list is meant to contrast right vs. wrong building materials.

So, Gold, silver and precious gems represent that which is…

Permanent

Beautiful

Valuable

Rare (hard to obtain)

Whereas, wood, hay and stubble represent that which is…

Temporary

Ordinary

Ugly

Cheap

Common (easy to obtain)

Paul’s point is that when it comes to building God’s church we have to use the right spiritual materials or the work won’t last!

√ Spiritual building material

So, what are the right materials for building God’s church?

Think about the context of Paul’s illustration!

That is…

In his first illustration he told us that God gives food to feed the family…

…what is the food ~ the Word of God!

In his second illustration he told us that God gives seed to sow in the field…

…what is the seed ~ the Word of God!

You see where we’re heading!

So, in this third illustration in which he tells us that we need to chose the building materials of the church wisely…

…the right materials are the Word of God!

That’s not surprising because the Proverbs are filled with illustrations that compare God’s word and His wisdom to earthly treasures like gold, silver, and precious stones!

Ex. Build with the best!

Following Paul’s thought process here if the Gospel message is the foundation of the church…

…then the deeper truths of the Bible are the materials we use to build the structure of the Church.

That fits perfectly with the pattern of Paul’s rebuke and instructions here in chapter 3.

You’ll recall that he began by rebuking them for their failure to grow up in Christ.

They liked the milk of God’s word (the Gospel) but rejected the meat of God’s word (the deeper truths that led to sanctification).

Here in this illustration then the right materials for building the church is the wisdom of God found in the Bible while the wrong materials of those teachings that rely on the wisdom of Men.

Ex. Resurrection

One of the many problems at Corinth was that Greek philosophy had invaded the church and undermined the teaching of the Bible.

One example is that some began teaching that there is no actual literal resurrection of the dead.

That’s because the resurrection of the physical body was contrary to the human wisdom of Greek philosophy.

So Paul had to correct that false teaching and in fact devotes an entire chapter to God’s promise of a bodily resurrection (ref. 1 Cor. 15).

Paul’s point to the Corinthians is that if they continued to build the church with human wisdom rather than God’s truth then their work would not last nor would they receive a reward in eternity!

“If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” ~ vs. 14-15

That serious motivation to use the right materials to build God’s church.

Ap. Dig deep!

Whether you’re called to teach from a pulpit, a Sunday school classroom or lead a Bible study, make sure you’re building with the right materials!

The use of gold, silver and gemstones to represent the word of God remind us that the good stuff in the Bible isn’t laying around on the surface…

…you’ve got to get into the Bible and put some work into digging out the deep truths that will build a strong spiritual building.

Don’t show up unprepared, or try and wing it, rather invest your time and effort in the preparation of your teaching so that the work you do will survive the testing of God’s fire!

The Right Foreman (vs. 18-20)

1Cor. 3:18 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.

1Cor. 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;

1Cor. 3:20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

√ The right foreman

Once you’ve got the right foundation and materials you’re ready to build but you still need someone to oversee the project to make sure that it all comes together correctly!

If you don’t have a good foreman you could end up with a really inferior home because even though you’ve got the right materials if they aren’t put together correctly the building isn’t going to stand up.

By way of example, in our search for a new home we visited a home with a beautiful craftsman style solid wood door that probably cost $1,000…

…but it wasn’t hung straight so that every time you opened or closed it the door banged into the door frame!

No good foreman would ever let a house be shown for sale that had front door that wasn’t hung straight!

Well, when it comes to building the church Paul reminds his friends at Corinth that they need to look to God for wisdom to build the church rather than the world.

“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.” ~ vs. 18

Once again the problem at Corinth was that they were trying to apply human wisdom to the work of faith!

The reality is that the church can’t be run like a business!

The world builds businesses with slick promotions, celebrity endorsements and the infusion of large sums of money.

The church relies on God, the power of His Spirit, and the prayers of the saints to build a church.

You see the reality is that often times, maybe all the time, the material resources may not be in place to do the work that God has called you to do by faith!

Ex. Kent’s experience vs. Jon’s experience

Ap. This church

This church would not exist if my family and I waited until God we had all the resources needed to make the move to Rogers!

We went on faith believing that where God guides, God provides.

It hasn’t always been easy, there have even been very slim times financially but we’ve never had to shut the doors of the church or cease to teach His word.

So, in the work of God to build His church we must have the right foreman overseeing the project…

…Jesus Christ!

The Right Motive (vs. 21-23)

1Cor. 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:

1Cor. 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

1Cor. 3:23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

√ The right motive

The final element for building the local church is that the workers must have the right motive, note Paul’s exhortation in vs. 21…

“Therefore let no one boast in men.”

Remember that the divisions in the church were based on the personal preferences of the believers for different apostles and teachers.

The saints at Corinth had split and aligned themselves with one apostle over another.

But Paul’s exhortation here is a reminder that he, Peter and Apollos had not come to Corinth to build a following for themselves…

…they had come to preach and teach so that God would be glorified!

God’s glory was their motive.

Paul’s point is that a church cannot be built to bring glory to man because God can’t bless that work!

Ap. Check your motives

Paul’s commentary here cuts to my heart because while I once thought my motives for ministry were pure I’ve come to see that my own desire for recognition is mixed in with my desire to bring glory to God.

I could, and often do, become distraught by that fact but am reminded that the apostle struggled with his pride too.

My personal opinion is that after the Holy Spirit has removed the obvious outward sins from our life that He then turns His attention to the hidden motives of our heart.

May I encourage you to let the Holy Spirit test your motives so that He can remove any wood, hay or stubble that would hinder your work.

Ex. Do you serve to be noticed or to please the Lord?

Is your chief desire to have your name listed in the bulletin, or for the pastor to recognize you?

Those are indications that your motives aren’t as pure as you might like to believe.

Remember the counsel of Jesus…

Matt. 6:1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matt. 6:2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

Matt. 6:3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Matt. 6:4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

So, we the church that God blesses is the one that is built with the right motive.

Close

√ Building the church

What great and timely instruction from the Holy Spirit on “how to” build the local church! The workers of God need…

The right foundation

The right materials

The right foreman

The right motive

If we’ll build according to God’s wisdom then one day we’ll be rewarded by our Lord and King for our work here on earth.