Building the Church on Christ's Foundation

1) "And in many ways, we're going to see today in 1 Corinthians 3 that the church is like a building. Paul uses this analogy saying that that's what the church is like and it's important for us from time to time to build in some of these building inspections. And we know that if we do them honestly, sometimes they're going to be costly. They're costly at the outset just because you've got to take the time, you've got to set aside time to come and take an objective look at things and say, are we meeting the standards? Are we doing things? Are we being built up in the way that we are meant to be built up?" [10:50] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2) "The foundation is laid by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul laid that foundation. The foundation is the most important part of the building because it determines the size shape and strength of the superstructure so a ministry may seem to be successful for a time but if it is not founded on Christ it will eventually collapse and disappear you right so paul is saying listen you corinthians right now i laid the foundation and you are running the risk that you are building off of that foundation you are not following its size you are not following its shape you are not following its strength because right now you are not building on the foundation which is christ you are building a structure that is centered around the eloquence and charisma of individuals and of men that is not consistent with the foundation that's being laid" [19:00] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3) "You want the cheap church, you're going to build it with wood, hay, straw. You want the church that's going to last, you're going to build it with gold, silver, and precious stones. Notice verse 13. Each one's work will become manifest. You're not going to hide this. The quality of how a church is built will not be hidden. It's going to be revealed. If not in this life, it will be on the day. The day of judgment, that's what he talks about here. Because it will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." [24:15] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4) "What does he mean by that? What's the reward that paul's talking about well he doesn't exactly say here does he but other places he kind of does in first thessalonians chapter 2 he says for what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting for the lord jesus that is coming is it not you for you are her glory and joy he's writing to the church what's the reward what's the thing we have to brag about isn't it you isn't it the church philippians chapter 2 verse 16 holding fast to the word of life so that in the day of christ i may be proud that i did not run in vain or labor in vain therefore my brothers whom i love and long for my joy and crown stand firm thus in the lord my beloved so what what does paul view this reward to be that on that day on that day when all things are laid bare the reward is that paul's saying we're going to get to see a lot of you in glory we're going to get to see brothers and sisters in christ who were built up by the off that foundation of jesus christ in their lives and in their lives and in their lives and in their lives and in their lives and in their lives are going to resemble these great things built up in godliness and and righteousness that we're going to see the church that someday you look around this room we are gathered here now someday what would it look like to have reunion in heaven what would it look like for us to to meet up again and say hey you remember those days when we were meeting and we were we were working next to each other we were laboring for the gospel we were encouraging each other in the faith, and we're going to meet up with some of our friends who precede us in going to the Lord. We're going to meet up with our friends who come after us, and we're going to say, hey, this is a great reward. I kind of think that's what Paul's getting at. On that day, there's going to be a great reward. There's going to be much to rejoice over because the church was built up with sound materials." [29:00] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5) "The message. It's like if the foundation that has been laid is of Jesus Christ, then don't you think... that the message that the church preaches ought to be consistent with that foundation. Why would the church preach and proclaim and teach something inconsistent or contrary to that foundational message? In Galatians chapter one, Paul calls this out with that church in Galatia, and he says, listen, if anyone comes to you speaking a different gospel, they should be what? Just kind of welcomed in, put your arm around them, like have a good time. Just correct them. Maybe notify a couple of little changes. Galatians one is like if someone comes preaching a different gospel, they should be accursed. Like the nature of the message that is being preached and proclaimed in the church should be consistent. The materials that are being built on that foundation should be consistent with the foundation itself. So the message matters. What are we gonna teach? What are we gonna preach? We're gonna preach Christ crucified. We're gonna proclaim the repentance of sins. We're gonna teach God's word faithfully. And we're gonna let it say what it has to say. Is that a conviction that we will stand on and continue to build on?" [31:26] (87 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6) "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you? See, this is not just somebody. This is not just a building that's being built. This is a sacred building. The church is God's temple. He dwells with you. Like, so we're not, like, you talk about the quality of the materials. The quality of the materials matter because you're not just building a shack in your backyard to store, you know, yard tools. We're building the temple of God. It matters. Using the right tools matters. Using the right materials matters because we're building something of significance, of sacredness. That's why he says here that if anyone would destroy God's temple, God will destroy him for God's temple is holy and you are that temple." [36:37] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7) "So are we working in the way that is consistent with God's kingdom or are we working and evaluating based on the ways of the world? We're called to so much more. God has given us all that we need. For life and righteousness. Including his spirit. So as a church, just like any other structure, we recognize that we are always under construction. I love the fact that this building, this church started in this area 150 years ago. And it's continuing to be built today. That's why it's important for us from time to time to go back and say, where are we at? Where are we at? And if it's important enough with our physical structures to have them inspected from time to time, it's important enough for us to go back with the church and say, are we building with that gold, that silver, those precious stones? Are we building in a way that's consistent that we're actually building on the foundation which is Jesus Christ? Are we continuing in this race strong?" [44:21] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)