SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
Sunday, April 16, 2023
  • Death Was Arrested
  • I Want To Know You
  • King Of Kings
  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin
  • 1 Corinthians 3:10–23 CSB
    According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire. Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are futile. So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours— whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come—everything is yours, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
    British Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan had four sons; all became ministers. Someone asked one of the grandsons if he also would become a minister, and he replied, “No, I plan to work for a living.”
    Caylie was in my office when she was little; she looked around at all the books, and my desk, and asked, “Dad, what do you do up here?”
    What is the work of the ministry? What are preachers/pastors supposed to do? If we do not know what he is supposed to be doing, then how do we know whether or not a pastor is doing his job?”
    The issue is further compounded when you consider what we learned last week that it is God who makes the church grow!
    (3:7) – Provides the first PICTURE of the role of the preacher/pastor: “…the one who PLANTS, nor the one who WATERS…”
    It is a FARMER sowing seed (the WORD) and watering that same seed in the lives of the congregation (v.9b) – “…you are God’s field”
    This morning we are going to pick up Paul’s second picture found in the last part of (v.9) – “…God’s building.”
    1 Corinthians 3:9 CSB
    For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
    Specifically, God’s building is “…the temple of God” – (vv.16-17)
    NOTICE that it is GOD’S church. It is not my church, nor is it your church. You need to be clear on that, or you’ll miss the point!
    (v.10) – “According to God’s grace that was given to me…”
    ‘Grace’ – is an unmerited favor or gift that was “given to me.” Folks, when God repeats something, we need to pay attention!
    If we are going to build the local church the way God wants it built, we must meet certain conditions (God’s building code)!
    God is very concerned that we build with QUALITY—in our workmanship or techniques as well as the materials we use.
    This morning, I would like to share FOUR ESSENTIALS for BUILDING:

    I. We Must Build on the RIGHT FOUNDATION! – (3:10-11)

    Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church!
    Three things Paul says about the foundation:

    1. “I have laid a foundation as a skilled masterbuilder…”

    You need nothing more!
    It’s not Christ plus this or that…you don’t need another gospel, it is in Christ alone I put my trust!

    2. “…and another builds on it”

    The progressive nature of the church teaches us that the church belongs to none of us!
    It is not MY or YOUR CHURCH! Unless the Lord returns every person assembled here will die, and the church will continue without us!

    3. “But each one is to be careful how he builds on it.” – (4:2)

    James 3:1 CSB
    Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
    Q: Why is Paul so concerned about the foundation (which is the proclamation of the Gospel)?
    A: Because the FOUNDATION determines the size, shape, & strength of the building!

    II. We Must Build with the RIGHT MATERIALS! – (3:12-17)

    What did Paul want to symbolize by his choice of materials in (v.12)?
    There are four possible comparisons:
    “…gold, silver, costly stones”
    “…wood, hay, or straw”
    Permanent vs. Passing, temporary
    Beautiful vs. Ordinary, even ugly
    Valuable vs. Cheap
    Hard to Obtain vs. Easy to Obtain
    While there are numerous applications to these possibilities, the one that Paul has placed emphasis on is that of permanence!
    (vv.13-14) – Our “work” will be tested by “fire!”
    Folks, do you realize that you can WASTE your entire life!
    This is NOT a question of salvation – (v.15)
    There are only TWO things that are permanent:
    The Word of God –
    1 Peter 1:22–25 CSB
    Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
    People – (vv.16-17)

    III. We Must Build According to the RIGHT PLAN! – (3:18-20)

    In (v.10), the word translated, “master (expert) builder” is from the Greek word, άρχιτέκτων (architektone)!
    Warren Wiersbe – “The Corinthians were trying to build their church by man’s wisdom, the wisdom of this world, when they should have been depending on the wisdom of God as found in the Word.
    The world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important people. The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility, sacrifice, and service. The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity.”

    IV. We Must Build with a RIGHT perspective! – (3:21-23)

    When someone says, “I am of Paul, Apollos, or of Cephas” they are creating divisions that DO NOT EXIST!
    Ephesians 2:14–18 CSB
    For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
    Ephesians 4:1–6 CSB
    Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
    ​
SPRINGCREEK FELLOWSHIP
jay@scfnwa.com
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