Building God's Kingdom Together: A Call to Action

Summary

Summary:

Good morning, everyone. Today, we focus on our church's mission endeavors, emphasizing our call to proclaim the gospel and build God's kingdom both locally and globally. We are organizing two short-term mission trips this year: one to Brazil in July and another to Budapest, Hungary, in May. These trips provide opportunities for cross-cultural experiences, allowing us to connect with God's work worldwide and appreciate the diverse ways ministry is conducted. In Brazil, we will assist a local church with an English camp, teaching and sharing the gospel. We encourage everyone to get involved, whether by participating, supporting through prayer, or attending our upcoming fundraiser dinner.

As we continue our study in 1 Corinthians, we explore the concept of church life as a group project. Paul addresses the Corinthian church's issues of self-promotion and division, urging them to focus on God's glory rather than individual recognition. He uses analogies of a field and a building to illustrate how we are all fellow workers in God's kingdom. Each of us has a unique role, and when we work together with the goal of glorifying God, it transforms our collaboration.

Paul emphasizes that our work will be judged on the "Day of the Lord," a time when God will make all things right. This perspective encourages us to build with materials that last, focusing on God's kingdom and enabling others to encounter Him. We are reminded that Jesus is the foundation of our faith, and through Him, we become living stones, building a spiritual house where people can experience God.

In practical terms, we are called to invest in our children's ministry and empower others to teach and lead. This is not a one-person show; it's a collective effort to build God's kingdom. As we engage in this group project, let us rely on one another, share responsibilities, and work for God's glory, knowing that when the goal is His glory, it changes how we work with others.

Key Takeaways:

1. Global Mission and Local Impact: Our mission endeavors remind us that God's kingdom extends beyond our immediate community. By participating in short-term mission trips, we gain a broader perspective of God's work worldwide and learn to appreciate diverse ministry approaches. This experience enriches our faith and encourages us to support global missions through prayer and involvement. [26:55]

2. The Church as a Group Project: Paul likens the church to a group project, where each member plays a vital role. When we focus on God's glory rather than personal recognition, it transforms our collaboration. This mindset encourages unity and shared responsibility, allowing us to build a strong, Christ-centered community. [39:17]

3. Building on a Solid Foundation: Jesus is the foundation of our faith, and we are called to build upon it with materials that last. Our work in God's kingdom should be focused on eternal values, enabling others to encounter God through our actions and witness. This perspective challenges us to prioritize God's glory in all we do. [45:24]

4. The Day of the Lord: Paul reminds us of the coming "Day of the Lord," when our work will be judged. This day is both a promise of hope and a call to accountability. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, ensuring that our efforts align with God's purposes and contribute to His kingdom. [56:07]

5. Empowering Others in Ministry: Building God's kingdom is not a solo endeavor. We are called to invest in others, empowering them to teach, lead, and serve. By sharing responsibilities and encouraging diverse voices, we strengthen our community and ensure that the gospel is proclaimed effectively. [50:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Missions
- [02:15] - Brazil Mission Trip Details
- [05:45] - Hungary Mission Trip Overview
- [10:00] - Prayer for Missions
- [12:30] - Children's Dismissal
- [15:00] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 3
- [18:45] - Group Project Analogy
- [22:00] - Addressing Self-Promotion
- [26:55] - The Role of Fellow Workers
- [30:00] - Building God's Kingdom
- [35:00] - The Day of the Lord
- [40:00] - Empowering Others in Ministry
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 3:1-17
- 1 Peter 2:4-5
- Hebrews 1:1-3

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two analogies Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 3 to describe the church, and what do they signify? [45:24]

2. How does Paul address the issue of self-promotion and division within the Corinthian church? [42:51]

3. What role does Jesus play in the foundation of our faith according to 1 Corinthians 3? [56:07]

4. How does the sermon describe the purpose of short-term mission trips in relation to God's global work? [26:55]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the analogy of the church as a "group project" challenge the cultural values of self-promotion and individualism? [39:17]

2. How does the concept of the "Day of the Lord" influence the way believers should approach their work in God's kingdom? [56:07]

3. What does it mean to build with "materials that last," and how does this relate to the eternal values of God's kingdom? [45:24]

4. How does the sermon suggest we can empower others in ministry, and why is this important for building God's kingdom? [50:54]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your involvement in church activities. Are there areas where you might be seeking personal recognition rather than focusing on God's glory? How can you shift your perspective? [39:17]

2. Consider the upcoming mission trips mentioned in the sermon. How can you support these efforts, whether through participation, prayer, or financial support? [26:55]

3. Think about your role in your church community. How can you contribute to the "group project" of building God's kingdom? Are there specific tasks or responsibilities you feel called to take on? [45:24]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of investing in children's ministry. How can you personally support or get involved in this area of ministry? [50:54]

5. Reflect on the "Day of the Lord" and its implications for your life. How does this eternal perspective influence your daily decisions and priorities? [56:07]

6. Identify someone in your church or community who you can empower or mentor in their faith journey. What steps can you take to encourage and support them in their spiritual growth? [50:54]

7. How can you ensure that your work in God's kingdom is built on the solid foundation of Jesus, focusing on eternal values rather than temporary achievements? [45:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Global Mission for Local Transformation
Our mission endeavors remind us that God's kingdom extends beyond our immediate community. By participating in short-term mission trips, we gain a broader perspective of God's work worldwide and learn to appreciate diverse ministry approaches. This experience enriches our faith and encourages us to support global missions through prayer and involvement. Engaging in these missions allows us to witness firsthand the transformative power of the gospel in different cultural contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of God's love for all people. As we connect with believers across the globe, we are reminded of the unity we share in Christ and the importance of supporting one another in our spiritual journeys. [26:55]

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively support global missions today, whether through prayer, financial support, or personal involvement?

Day 2: Unity in the Church as a Collective Effort
Paul likens the church to a group project, where each member plays a vital role. When we focus on God's glory rather than personal recognition, it transforms our collaboration. This mindset encourages unity and shared responsibility, allowing us to build a strong, Christ-centered community. By recognizing the unique gifts and contributions of each individual, we can work together harmoniously to fulfill God's purposes. This collective effort not only strengthens our church community but also serves as a powerful witness to the world of the love and unity found in Christ. [39:17]

"So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to fostering unity and collaboration within your church community today?

Day 3: Building on the Eternal Foundation of Christ
Jesus is the foundation of our faith, and we are called to build upon it with materials that last. Our work in God's kingdom should be focused on eternal values, enabling others to encounter God through our actions and witness. This perspective challenges us to prioritize God's glory in all we do, ensuring that our efforts are aligned with His eternal purposes. By investing in relationships and activities that have lasting significance, we can contribute to the growth of God's kingdom and the spiritual development of those around us. [45:24]

"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11, ESV)

Reflection: What are some ways you can build upon the foundation of Christ in your daily life, focusing on eternal values?

Day 4: Living with an Eternal Perspective
Paul reminds us of the coming "Day of the Lord," when our work will be judged. This day is both a promise of hope and a call to accountability. It encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, ensuring that our efforts align with God's purposes and contribute to His kingdom. By keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal, we can navigate the challenges of life with hope and purpose, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. This perspective helps us prioritize what truly matters and invest our time and resources in ways that have lasting impact. [56:07]

"But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus today to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing God's purposes in your daily decisions?

Day 5: Empowering Others to Lead and Serve
Building God's kingdom is not a solo endeavor. We are called to invest in others, empowering them to teach, lead, and serve. By sharing responsibilities and encouraging diverse voices, we strengthen our community and ensure that the gospel is proclaimed effectively. This collaborative approach not only enhances the effectiveness of our ministry but also fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among all members of the church. By equipping others to use their gifts for God's glory, we create a vibrant and dynamic community that reflects the love and grace of Christ. [50:54]

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you encourage and empower to step into their God-given role in ministry today?

Quotes

"And as a church, we believe that we are called to proclaim the gospel and build God's kingdom inside this community of faith. But also outside these walls. Here in Lenoxville, across Quebec and Canada, and yes, even to the uttermost parts of the world. And one of the ways that we do that is through short-term missions trips." [00:25:46] (22 seconds)

"Lord God, we thank you that you are a global God that there is coming a day when we will worship alongside throngs of people from every nation and tribe and tongue and what a beautiful glorious day that will be. I pray God that we would strive between now and then to give little tastes of that in our worship to give little tastes of that in the way that we build your kingdom in the way that we serve as the church and partner with other churches whether they're in Rock Forest or Rwanda." [00:31:34] (34 seconds)

"And the big idea that I want you to get today is that when the goal is God's glory, not yours, it changes the way you work with others. When the goal is God's glory and not yours, it changes the way you work with others." [00:41:30] (20 seconds)

"Paul needs to address the Corinthian church like infants, we read in verse one, because they still look too much like the world around them. He's saying, God, it's like you're on step one. It's like you're on the Duolingo lesson where they say, hello, my name is whatever. Like, we got to move past this already. You still look way too much like the Greco-Roman. You still look like the Greco-Roman culture around you in first century Corinth, and you're not supposed to be that way." [00:44:30] (32 seconds)

"And again, he is challenging their notion of self-first, self-promotion, and God's glory. God first, pointing everyone to Christ, to Jesus, because when the goal is God's glory, not yours, it changes the way that you work with others. And so he uses these two analogies. You can read them succinctly in verse nine." [00:45:46] (25 seconds)

"Finally, when is it judged when are we getting graded on this when is this thing do and when will we find out our grade and so let's go through these and I want to take them one at a time the first is who are the workers well the workers are outlined in verse 9 we are God's fellow workers but he's also talking about this in verses 5 through 8 about who he and Paul he Paul and Apollos are we we're not rock stars okay we're not meant to be the Messiah we're meant to point you to the Messiah and the point here is it takes different people sometimes many many people working together in conjunction to do this group project the idea here is everybody has a little bit different of a role everybody plays a different part he says I planted this is this analogy of the field and planting and your God's field and Paul came and Apollos excuse me came along in water you can extrapolate further and say well maybe somebody else did the harvesting maybe somebody else did the pruning maybe somebody else did the weeding the next spring you know whatever it is you say yeah everybody has a little bit different role here Paul spent 18 months with this church in Corinth and then he moved on Apollos came in and we know Peter came and visited there were probably plenty of other people who ran through Corinth and had a role in teaching and guiding and shepherding this church and Paul is saying that's how it's supposed to be we're meant to take turns it's not meant to be about any one of us and our glory when the goal is God's glory not yours it changes the way that you work with others my father had had this little mini sermon he would say all the time about working with others my father was part of a let's say somewhat large organization with a relatively substantial budget you may have heard of it the United States Armed Forces he had he would tell you a very minor caught you know this minor role my father made it to the rank of chief master sergeant he was in charge of other men he he had 150 people at one point in time I think working under him and reporting to him and all the time he would reiterate this same point listen guys if everyone does his duty and everyone instills trust in the guy next to him that he is going to do his part and everyone trusts other people to do their part if we just trust each other to do his duty the mission will be a success okay if you understand your role and you do it faithfully together working together the mission will be a success my dad preached this all the time at his men I heard him say this many many times and And that is true in the church as well. God has called each of us to sometimes very, very different tasks." [00:47:24] (0 seconds)

"And if it is my responsibility to plant or my responsibility to water or to prune or to harvest or whatever it is, I need to be faithful to that. There's a very famous Mother Teresa quote, God has not called me to be successful, he has called me to be faithful. And that is what we need to do in working in God's group project. When the goal is God's glory, not yours, it changes the way you work with others." [00:51:07] (29 seconds)

"Even in my own experience, in my own personal growth, I cannot point to one single person that I can say, it's because of them that I'm where I am and I know what I am and I'm as close to the Lord as I am, or I've learned. I've learned and built this character or whatever else. It has been a wide ranging cast of characters that have helped me. And I imagine for those of you, especially the older saints in the room, and you think about your own spiritual walk, there's probably a whole bunch of people that have helped you along the way. There are probably different people at different times and in different seasons who have poured into you in different ways." [00:52:54] (46 seconds)

"Remember that this is at a time when the temple still stands in Jerusalem. The people there would be very familiar with the Jewish center of worship and what this temple is. But even before he gets to verses 16 and 17, we can kind of feel that this temple is still there. tell paul has the temple in mind if you read in verses 11 and 12 paul is clearly thinking about the temple for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid which is jesus christ 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 now when he talks about laying a foundation and building with these materials he is using language that is very evocative of the temple and for one thing talking about jesus as the foundation this is something jesus taught a lot jesus would talk about himself like the temple in fact very famously once he he said you know you'll you'll tear this temple down and in three days rebuild it and everybody thought he was talking about the physical temple and jesus was saying jesus is referring to himself as the temple as the very foundation of what that temple is moreover the building materials that he talks about gold and silver and precious stones this is what the temple is made out of this is why it has lasted hundreds of years and solomon's temple before that one also lasted hundreds of years it was built with these sturdy precious important building materials and there's a difference if you try to use these other materials and he very clearly sets out okay wood or uh excuse me gold silver precious stones on one hand or wood hay and straw which isn't going to last very well it's like he's he's putting out there two very obvious choices it's like if you watch a kid's movie or a kid's television show and they say we're building an igloo what should we use this pile of snow or this pile of old empty aluminum cans and you know and you're like well one is off can you tell what kind of media i ingest most of the time uh when i watch yes i have young children but there's an obvious right answer okay he's going if we're building the temple these are the obvious things we need to bring to this these are the obvious no that's not going to be helpful that's not going to help accomplish the project that we have in mind why and that's the next question we need to ask why does it matter and for this we have to ask what is the purpose of the temple what was the purpose of the temple in the lives of religious jews and even non -religious jews even up to the time of paul's writing the purpose of the temple was to be a dedicated place where people could encounter god i messed that up it says encounter god but trust me uh i messed up the text box size there the purpose of the temple was to be a dedicated place where people could encounter god remember when the goal is god's glory not yours you work with others differently it changes the way that you work with others when we are focused on god's glory and the whole point of the temple is god's glory it is this place where god himself invites his people to come and live with him come and encounter him now is paul talking about building a literal temple no he is not what he is talking about is building the kingdom of god in such a way that people can come and encounter god on his terms in fact even before paul jesus is teaching about how he is this new temple why because jesus is a better way to encounter god even than the temple jesus is god in human flesh in fact the author of hebrews writes this as explicitly as anywhere else i know in scripture in chapter 1 when he or she says this but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son whom he appointed the heir of all things through whom also he created the world he is the radiance of the glory of god and the exact imprint of his nature he upholds the universe by the word of his power meaning if you want to encounter god look no further than jesus he is the absolute perfect representation of god because that's exactly who he is and when jesus comes there's this sense of going we don't need to go to the temple we don't need to wear these certain things or bring these animals or pay this money or shed this blood we can encounter god through jesus this is so much easier now and jesus is saying yes i am how you come and encounter god and in fact he says so explicitly in john 14 i am the way i am the truth i am the life no one comes to the father except through me jesus is the way that we are encountering god but it goes a step beyond that because all of the bible is teaching about these ways that god the father is reaching out to his beloved creation and saying i want to be with you i want to be near you i want to give you a way that you can come and encounter me and experience intimacy with your creator and your father and here are all of these ways that you can do that and then i'm going to cap it all off with the absolute best way jesus is going to do it and i'm going to give you an example of that and then i'm going to put myself inside of you so that instead of one temple in jerusalem all of you become many temples how just like we talked about last week it is through the holy spirit inside of us peter says it best at the very beginning of his letter when he says this as you come to him a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of god chosen and precious you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to god through jesus christ we do not need a temple anymore god has placed himself inside of us if you are a follower of jesus if you have trusted in him that he is a true follower and that you will be able to take in your is the only way to be made right with god our father and our creator he has put himself by his holy spirit inside each one of us all the things that we talked about last week illuminating and regenerating and sanctifying us" [00:56:18] (0 seconds)

"Finally, we ask this question when will it be judged but paul is showing us why it matters by drawing our attention not just to the here and now but into eternity and this also answers this question when will this group project be judged read with me verse 13 in chapter 3. each one's work will become manifest for the day we'll disclose it because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done paul is pointing towards a time when this matters god is going to look at this and god is going to judge this and there is obvious imagery about fire and burning and purifying that hearkens back to what all of the old testament and the prophets had talked about and what jesus himself describes about a last day and a last judgment coming but even more than that if you really look in at this two -word phrase it is very very telling the day and it's specific it's a specific day he says the day not a day not someday not one day it's the day and maybe your version like mine I hope has the word day capitalized capital d day there's a reason for that that's deliberate that is a faithful interpretation of what Paul is writing the day capital D like Christmas Day Canada Day Victoria Day Thanksgiving Day why do we capitalize it because it's a specific day it's a specific day that we're referencing and that's what Paul is doing here now Paul doesn't get into the weeds very much about this day and it kind of leads us to believe Paul has taught about this Paul has spent 18 months with this group of people and he has taught about this and he has taught about this group they kind of know he's hearkening back to some things that he has taught them when he was with them about the day about the coming day this is what especially the prophets called the day of the Lord I don't have enough time to walk you through every place where the minor prophets especially point to this but it's all over them okay in the minor prophets there is frequently this teaching about the day of the Lord and the day of the Lord and the day of the Lord and the day of the Lord and when it's coming but there's something interesting about the day there's something strange maybe a little bit even confusing too let me show you what I mean here's one example from Micah chapter 4 where Micah is talking about the coming day of the Lord in that day declares the Lord I will assemble the lame and gather those who've been driven away and those whom I've afflicted and the lame I will make the remnant and the those who are cast off a strong nation and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore woohoo this sounds like a great day so it's good news this is going to be a wonderful exuberant jubilant day great well hang on there keep reading into the next chapter where Micah is talking about the same day and he says and in that day declares the Lord I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy your chariots and I will cut off the cities from your land and throw down all your strongholds he goes on like this and he caps it off with verse 15 where he says and in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey okay so maybe not such a fun day what is it all throughout the minor prophets we get this same sense if you have time this week let me encourage you go to Zephaniah compare chapter 1 with chapter 3 especially verses 11 and 15 go to Zechariah compare chapters 12 and chapter 14 go to Joel just read through Joel chapter 2 and you get this same tension this same kind of multifaceted two sides of the day of the Lord and the truth is this there is a day coming when God is coming back to make everything right and that is wonderful news and that is a good news for some and very bad news for others that is the truth of the coming day of the Lord when God comes back to right every wrong and wipe away every teal tear and heal every infirmity and make righteousness and justice reign all throughout that's good news for many of us but if you are one who has been a purveyor of that injustice or who has instituted harm or who has been the oppressor rather the oppressed this is a day that you're going to fear this is what Paul is talking about when he talks about this day he is elevating our perspective to think in terms of eternity now I want to be clear because there is a difference between judgments here and Paul is even very clear and I'm very grateful for Addie who kind of walked us through some of this even at the beginning of the service where Paul is saying look I I I don't think that this means you're going to be cast into hell that's a different judgment but we are going to see the works here we are going to see the things that you have built that are going to last and the things that are just going to burn up and blow away and he's encouraging the people work in such a way that you are building something that lasts when the goal is God's glory not yours it changes way that you work with others and that's really important to think about as we think about the work that we are doing to encourage people to come and know their creator and that's what paul is doing as he says what are you what are you doing making these tribes and these factions i'm team apollos i'm team paul i'm team peter cut it out the point is god's glory that is the kingdom that we're building and it's going to far outlast anything that i do well so what what do we do with this in one sense we do need to take into account a lot of the the the context and the people that paul is writing to and this is a different language in a different time these are all first generation christians these are all people who are living within the same generation as jesus so what we're going to do is we're going to take a look at it and we're going to himself and there's a lot of kind of nuance to this in another sense there's not a lot of hard work that we have to do to interpret what we do about this who are the workers it's not just one superstar it's all of us and all the other questions what are we building the kingdom of God why is that important so that people can encounter the Living God when is it going to be judged on a day that's coming when the Lord Himself is returning to make all things right that's all the same thing and we need to think in that same perspective working together as a community as a family of Christ to build his kingdom that's what we're doing together and the big thing that I want you to know as we ask this question so what is this don't try to build God's kingdom all by yourself stop it stop trying to do it stop trying to be the superstar we ought not to live like this we need to work together to share responsibility to share credit to share the burden of the things that we are slogging through and going through and rely on one another and be interdependent that has a lot of implications in the way that we work and serve and minister not just in this church family but to the outside world as well" [01:04:43] (0 seconds)

"After there are two ways that I want to do this in a way that says this is a group project that we are working on together the first is this we need to be investing in our kids our kids ministry by the way is out of this world it's fantastic and of course she's not here to hear us talk about it because Sophie is always doing stuff but Sophie does an amazing job with our kids it is not babysitting she is discipling them and I am so grateful this year we've got a children's intern Emma who is doing a phenomenal job with our kids we are investing well in these kids and by golly this is yeah by" [01:13:16] (48 seconds)

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