Building a Lasting Church on Christ's Foundation

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as Our Cornerstone

In the metaphor of the church as a building, Jesus Christ is described as the cornerstone, the essential foundation upon which everything else is built. This imagery emphasizes the importance of having a strong and stable foundation in our lives and church community. Just as a building relies on its cornerstone for stability and alignment, our lives must be anchored in Christ to ensure we are aligned with God's purposes. This calls for a deep commitment to understanding and living out the teachings of Jesus, ensuring that our actions and decisions are rooted in His truth. [07:19]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

Reflection: In what ways can you strengthen your foundation in Christ this week, ensuring that your actions and decisions are aligned with His teachings?

Day 2: Vigilance in Building

As we build our lives and church community, it is crucial to be vigilant about the influences and relationships we allow into our lives. These influences can either build us up or tear us down, impacting our spiritual growth and the health of our church community. Being intentional about the company we keep and the values we embrace ensures that we are building on the foundation of Christ and His teachings. This vigilance extends to how we contribute to the church's growth, ensuring that our efforts align with the foundation of Christ. [09:51]

Proverbs 4:23-27 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure."

Reflection: Identify one influence or relationship in your life that may not align with Christ's teachings. How can you address this to ensure it builds you up rather than tears you down?

Day 3: Testing by Fire

The work we do in our lives and ministry will be tested by fire, revealing whether we have built with enduring materials or with those that will be consumed. This serves as a caution against adopting worldly methods and values in our ministry, which may lead to temporary success but ultimately lack eternal significance. It is a reminder to focus on building with materials that will withstand the test of time, ensuring that our efforts have lasting value in God's kingdom. [17:11]

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (ESV): "Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward."

Reflection: Consider a recent project or task you have undertaken. Are you building with materials that have eternal significance, or are you relying on worldly methods? How can you ensure your efforts align with God's eternal purposes?

Day 4: Dangers of Straying from Truth

Straying from biblical truth can lead to the destruction of the church. It is essential to remain rooted in the Gospel, avoiding societal pressures or trends that deviate from biblical principles. Our commitment to Christ and His Word is paramount, as it ensures that we are building something that will last and bring glory to God. This calls for discernment and courage to stand firm in the truth, even when faced with opposition or temptation to conform. [25:37]

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV): "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Reflection: Reflect on a societal trend or pressure that challenges your commitment to biblical truth. How can you stand firm in the Gospel and resist the temptation to conform?

Day 5: Sufficiency in Christ

Everything we need is found in Christ. He is our foundation, and in Him, we have all the resources necessary to build a life and a church that honors God. This sufficiency in Christ calls us to remain steadfast in our faith, vigilant in our building, and committed to the truth of the Gospel. By relying on Christ's strength and wisdom, we can navigate the challenges of life and ministry, ensuring that our efforts bring glory to God and have lasting impact. [30:35]

Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on Christ's sufficiency? How can you actively seek His guidance and strength in this area today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound metaphor of the church as a building, as illustrated by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2 and 1 Corinthians 3. This metaphor serves as a reminder of the importance of being intentional and careful in how we build our lives and our church community. Growing up in a safe and nurturing environment can sometimes leave us naive to the world's dangers. As we mature, we must be vigilant about the influences and relationships we allow into our lives, as they can either build us up or tear us down.

Paul's illustration of the church as a building emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the essential foundation upon which everything else is built. The apostles and prophets laid the groundwork, and we, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house where God's Spirit dwells. This calls us to be mindful of how we contribute to the church's growth, ensuring that our efforts align with the foundation of Christ and His teachings.

We also examined the consequences of building with materials that won't withstand the test of time. Paul warns that our work will be tested by fire, revealing whether we have built with precious, enduring materials or with those that will be consumed. This serves as a caution against adopting worldly methods and values in our ministry, which may lead to temporary success but ultimately lack eternal significance.

Furthermore, we discussed the dangers of straying from the truth and the potential destruction that can result from false teachings. The church must remain rooted in the truth of the Gospel, avoiding the temptation to conform to societal pressures or popular trends that deviate from biblical principles. Our commitment to Christ and His Word is paramount, as it ensures that we are building something that will last and bring glory to God.

In conclusion, we are reminded that everything we need is found in Christ. He is our foundation, and in Him, we have all the resources necessary to build a life and a church that honors God. Let us remain steadfast in our faith, vigilant in our building, and committed to the truth of the Gospel.

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of a Strong Foundation: Just as a building relies on a solid cornerstone, our lives and church must be built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. This ensures stability and alignment with God's purposes. [07:19]
2. Vigilance in Building: We must be careful about the influences and relationships we allow into our lives, as they can either build us up or tear us down. This vigilance extends to how we build our church community, ensuring it aligns with Christ's teachings. [09:51]
3. Testing by Fire: Our work will be tested by fire, revealing whether we have built with enduring materials or with those that will be consumed. This serves as a caution against adopting worldly methods and values in our ministry. [17:11]
4. Dangers of Straying from Truth: Straying from biblical truth can lead to the destruction of the church. We must remain rooted in the Gospel, avoiding societal pressures or trends that deviate from biblical principles. [25:37]
5. Sufficiency in Christ: Everything we need is found in Christ. He is our foundation, and in Him, we have all the resources necessary to build a life and a church that honors God. Let us remain steadfast in our faith and committed to the truth of the Gospel. [30:35]
** [30:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Personal Reflections on Upbringing
[04:30] - The Dangers of Naivety
[07:19] - Christ as the Cornerstone
[09:51] - Building on the Foundation
[12:00] - Examples of Misguided Building
[14:11] - The Consequences of Worldly Methods
[17:11] - Testing by Fire
[19:30] - The Day of Revelation
[21:53] - Misconceptions in Church Teachings
[25:37] - Consequences of Straying from Truth
[27:00] - Personal and Corporate Judgment
[30:35] - Destruction of the Church
[32:00] - The Wisdom of the World vs. The Cross
[34:00] - Sufficiency in Christ

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What metaphor does Paul use to describe the church in Ephesians 2, and what roles do Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets play in this metaphor? [07:19]
According to 1 Corinthians 3, what warning does Paul give about how we build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ? [09:51]
What are the two types of building materials mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3, and what do they represent? [17:11]
How does Paul describe the consequences of building with materials that will not last? [25:37]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Jesus is described as the cornerstone in the metaphor of the church as a building? How does this affect the way we view our role in the church? [07:19]
What might be some modern examples of "worldly methods and values" that could be mistakenly used in building the church today? [14:11]
How does the concept of our work being "tested by fire" challenge the way we approach our ministry and service in the church? [17:11]
What are the potential dangers of straying from biblical truth, and how can this impact the church community? [25:37]

Application Questions

Reflect on your personal foundation. Is it firmly rooted in Christ, or are there areas where you have allowed other influences to take precedence? How can you realign your life with Christ as the cornerstone? [07:19]
Consider the relationships and influences in your life. Are there any that might be tearing you down rather than building you up? What steps can you take to address these influences? [09:51]
Think about the materials you are using to build your life and your contributions to the church. Are they enduring and precious, or are they temporary and worldly? How can you ensure your efforts have eternal significance? [17:11]
Have you ever experienced or witnessed the consequences of straying from biblical truth in a church setting? How did it affect the community, and what lessons can be learned from that experience? [25:37]
In what ways can you contribute to ensuring that your church remains rooted in the truth of the Gospel, avoiding societal pressures or trends that deviate from biblical principles? [25:37]
How can you actively participate in building a church community that honors God and reflects His teachings? What specific actions can you take this week to support this goal? [30:35]
Reflect on the sufficiency of Christ in your life. Are there areas where you are seeking fulfillment outside of Him? How can you refocus on Christ as your ultimate source of strength and resources? [30:35]

Sermon Clips

1) "So nobody's life just automatically goes from a kid to you're a successful believer in Jesus Christ. You're following after God. You have a good family. You have a great job. That stuff doesn't happen automatically. Maybe some of you younger people are here. This is a good word for you. It takes a lot of work. It takes being careful for the things that are all around you. us that can hurt us. And this world is an evil place. It's a sinful place. And you got to be careful. People are sinful. And so you got to be careful about things on the outside that can hurt you as you grow." [00:57] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "So he says, you, me, we are bricks. in the building. Or as Peter says in 1 Peter 2 verse 5, we are living stones. He says this, you yourselves are living stones are being built up as a spiritual house. So Peter used the same example, the same illustration. And so each one of us then are building blocks, are bricks in this building as we're building something. And what it is, is a place for God's spirit to dwell. So God doesn't dwell in the temple or the tabernacle anymore. He dwells in the church in his people. It's not this place. We're thankful for this building. I'm thankful we have this place to worship at. But we would still be the church if this building was gone tomorrow." [07:19] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Be careful how you build the church. This is a good word for me, for our staff, and for all of our volunteers, and for all of us who are members, attenders of this church. Be careful how you build the church. Be careful how you build on the foundation of Jesus Christ. It's a strong word for us, and we need to remember that, because we are in the people business in church, right? But ultimately, we're building this church. We're building this thing for God, and for his glory. We're helping people, yes. We're strengthening people, encouraging people, yes. But ultimately, we're doing this for the Lord." [09:51] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Now, if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw, each work, each one's work will be... manifest, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. So now he starts to talk about the building materials. He talked about the foundation being Jesus Christ. He said, be careful how you build it. And then he says, be careful what materials you use to build it. Now the first three, gold, silver, precious stones are non -flammable or non -combustible. And the last one, wood, hay, and straw are flammable. They're combustible." [17:11] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "It's the day when Christ comes back. He's coming back. He's coming back to his church. He died for his church. He gave his life for the church, and he's coming back for the church. And what is he going to see when he comes back here to village? What is he going to see? What's going to be burned away? What is stuff that we have built that will be burned up? And what are stuff that, the things that we've built out of precious stones and precious materials. By the way, what does fire do to gold and silver? It doesn't burn it out. It refines it. And those are precious things that we want to be building with." [17:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. So the fire is going to test what sort of work the person has done. And if he builds on the foundation, he'll receive a reward. That's a great thing. That's a great consequence that there are rewards for those who invest in God's kingdom here in the church. That's a beautiful thing, a blessed hope. We're thankful for that. But if we don't receive a reward, if the other stuff gets burned up, verse 15, if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but as only through a fire." [25:37] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. him, for God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. This is a dreadful thing, and this is not hypothetical. It happens all the time in one place or another. Back in New England 150 years ago, there were many evangelical, Bible -believing, preaching, gospel -centered churches who hired pastors, and they didn't know that these pastors were Unitarian pastors. Unitarian are a heretical group. They don't believe in the Trinity. They believe in more social justice -type causes." [30:35] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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