Title: The Temple of God
Text: 1 Corinthians 3: 10 – 17
MP: You are the legacy of Jesus Christ. Be worthy of that.
FCF: Christ is the foundation and His Word the materials that are the building blocks of our life.
Outline:
April 18, 1906 – San Francisco Earthquake / Valencia Hotel /
Fire Chief’s Dennis Sullivan legacy = John Doughtery
Ecc 2:18 I came to hate everything for which I had worked so hard under the sun, because I will have to leave it to the person who replaces me.
We don’t really know our legacy until others take it up. Paul is in the same boat. We want a legacy too…
1. A legacy that is pleasing to God
a. Temples are built to honor gods, not house people (Greeks, Holy of Holies)
b. Other Temples are inferior – Greek Temples are just ruins / Nepali ones cold
c. Our God wanted us to be his Temple
2. A legacy that is built well
a. Just our bodies? (Common – this means ‘don’t smoke, don’t drink, etc…’)
b. Just these perishable vessels of dirt? How about our minds? Or our creative spirit? (Bezalel & the Ark)
c. Exodus – Glory; Ezekiel – Hope; Revelation – Healing
d. What if Bezalel had just used an old scrap? Bible, or Penthouse?
e. God’s given us a blueprint, but we get to add in the detail
3. A legacy that is on a solid foundation
a. Closing illustration – the old Mint and the Bank of America
We have this Book not so that we’ll know how to set every nail, how lay each and every plank of our theology or our morality, or even so we’ll know how to sing or what to say. We have this book so we can understand the glory.
Jesus Christ is an amazing platform on which to build an amazing Temple. The blueprints are right here in his Word. Everything else? It’s quicksand. It’s a firetrap. Prone to earthquakes. This is gold, my friends. Build with this.
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It was 5:12 in the morning, on April 18th, 1906, when San Francisco truly found out what it was made of.
Two miles off the coast, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake set off tremors that would shake the city on the sea for less than10 minutes. But in just ten short minutes, San Francisco learned more about itself than it ever cared to know.
South of Market, for instance, the four-story Valencia Hotel literally pancaked. Floors smashed down below floors, all the way to the foundation. The reason was simple – the hotel and the neighborhood around it had been built on nothing but quicksand.
Several years earlier, garbage had been dumped into a swamp. When the earth shook, the ground literally liquefied. It became nothing more than quicksand. You know what happens when you step in quicksand. You can imagine what happens when you build in it.
But as bad as the quake was, it paled in comparison to the fires that followed.
Amongst the first casualties was Dennis Sullivan, the city’s illustrious fire chief. For years he warned of the danger of an earthquake to the city’s underground water system. He wrote newspaper articles warning the city, he lobbied, he even conducted demonstration demolitions to tests the effectiveness of dynamite in stopping a fire when there was no water.
In a disaster, he feared that the town’s wooden buildings, laid cheek by jowl down the crowded wharfs and narrow alleyways would be nothing but the fuel for a fire that wouldn’t stop until everything had been consumed.
But now, minutes into the holocaust, the man with the best chance of fighting that fiery beast was dead, and the city’s water system was destroyed to boot. Sure enough, the broken gas mains were all that was needed to begin the real damage.
His successor was a much smaller man, John Dougherty. Dougherty soon realized that his old master hadn’t been so crazy after all. His first action was to ask the soldiers at The Presidio for dynamite. In trying to stop the fires, the men were so inexpert that they ended up starting over 60 different fires.
Every bit of hope, passion, and love that Dennis Sullivan had put into his beloved San Francisco was now, just three days after his death, nothing built a smoldering heap of rubble and ash. The only surviving building was the U.S. Mint, a low, flat, and ugly utilitarian building under armed guard.
Dennis Sullivan’s plans to save his city had been tested. The foundational principles may have been valid, but the actual doing so poor that it worse than the earthquake. Talk about a legacy you wouldn’t really want to talk about.
I wonder if, up in heaven, Dennis Sullivan and Paul might have felt each other’s pain: Paul, looking over the legacy of his church, Sullivan over the legacy of his fire department. They had worked day and night, investing in their dream, only to find nobody worthy of their legacy.
The writer of Ecclesiastes said the words that haunt anyone who has success in this life: 18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?
We all want a legacy. None of us would find success sweet if we couldn’t pass it on. Even God chooses us, the Word says, as joint heirs of his creation. So, how then, you might ask, should we build something that lasts? How is it that we can have a legacy worth passing on?
It’s all in the building. This morning, I want to suggest that we evaluate our legacy now – even before we pass it on. A good legacy is simple: It is something that pleases God. It is built out of solid things, and it is built on a sure foundation, none other than Jesus Christ.
It Pleases God
Let me explain first what I mean when I say that a good legacy is pleasing to God. Our legacies – the things that last - are measured by how pleasing they are to God. Ultimately, that must be our mission. Money comes and goes, Fame is fleeting – the only thing that lasts is God’s glory.
You’ll see that in our text, God calls us his Temple. A Temple has one reason for being – it gives glory to God.
It is a common misconception to think of a church as a Temple. They are different things. When the Greeks built a Temple, you know how many people were allowed inside? Just the priests – the people consecrated to the god of that Temple. When the Israelites built their Temple, you know how many people were allowed inside? You got it - just the priests! In fact, in the Holiest of Holies, even the Priest was only allowed inside once a year.
Mere mortals did not go inside the Temple to worship – it was something they built to show their devotion, their total allegiance to the glory of their God. It wasn’t a meeting house, it was a memorial.
And now you have Paul here saying – guess what: You are God’s Temple. You are the thing that is going to be the memorial. Want to know what God’s legacy to man looks like? Look in the mirror.
I told you about the Parthenon last week. I’ve never actually been. But my guess is that I’d look at those old ruins I think, ‘Gee. Time has sure passed those gods by.’ I haven’t really ever told you much about the Temples in Nepal, but I can tell you that they are, for the most part, filthy dirty things often covered in little statues doing nothing than fornicating in what looks like very uncomfortable positions. Their temples are out of the way little things that are old but also impersonal. And again, I think to myself – that’s not the kind of god I’d want to serve.
Contrast that with a church. Contrast that with the Temple that our God asked us to build. He said, bring the people into my Temple. You will be my Temple. It’s right there in verse 17. You are my Temple. Make it a place of love and joy. Build one another up. That’s a place I want to be – a place where I am loved. That’s the Temple that our God asked for, because it pleased Him to do that. His glory is in our happiness. He delights in the family he has created us to be. It’s altogether different sort thing.
But, it can be fragile. So, we have to build it well.
It is Built Well
And that’s why Paul spends a little bit of time asking the Corinthians – and asking us – to take a minute to think about the things we’re going to build with.
Now, I know that some people think this is the verse of Scripture that proves you aren’t supposed to smoke or drink, and that you’re supposed to exercise three times a week. Those are all good health tips, but I think they’re missing the point of what a Temple is. A Temple glorifies God. Whether we suck down Doritos and Caviar or Bean Sprouts and Tofu has very little to do how we honor God. You see, Temples aren’t about bodies, there about the one being honored. And these Temples aren’t about honoring our Bodies, there about honoring God.
Maybe it’s just because I think that my mind is better suited to honor God than my perishable body – but I have to think that what I fill my life with is more important than what I fill this bucket of dust with. I can and probably should do a better job of honoring God with my body, but I honor him with my mind and my soul too.
That creative part that God put in each of us? That’s his you know. You remember the Ark of the Covenant? God picked out one guy by name to build it: Bezalel. Pretty cool to think you can have your name be remembered forever just for building a box. I suspect the most famous box maker ever. But that was the creative nature that God put in Bezalel.
Now, if God can use a simple little box to make Nazi’s faces melt, you and both know he could have made a simple little ark. But he wanted us to be co-laborers. He wanted us to be a part of His temple. He likes our creativity, and why wouldn’t he, since he is the author of Creation itself?
Half of Exodus goes into what he wanted his building to look like. He cared about what his Glory looked like to the people around. And in every case, he mentions how his people are going to interact with it. Half of Ezekiel talks about the Temple he’s going to have when he comes back – but again, it’s Hope for his people. And when God talks about the Temple in Revelation – it’s for the healing of the nations.
You see, when God builds something, he builds well. But he’s building it for his people. You are his legacy. You are the thing he’s proud of. He didn’t spare any expense. He made you out of costly and good things – gold, silver, precious stones.
And he makes it out of you and me. He wants to involve us. But tell me, what do you think God would have thought of old Bezalel if he had just picked up any old piece of scrap wood he had laying around the shop?
We build our lives every day – but what are we building it out of? We can choose gold, silver, we can also use straw, wood, and hay. Rubble. We can fill our minds with pictures of heaven written down for us in the Bible. Or, we can pull out Penthouse. I just finished writing a report about pornography. You don’t want to know the degrading things that happen in those magazines.
We can choose what we’ll fill our minds with – how we’ll flesh out this life that we’ve been given to create. God’s given us a blueprint, but we get to add in the detail. Again, if God had wanted to give us every single detail about how we’ll glorify him, he would have written it out. Half of Exodus, all the boring parts of Leviticus, Ezekiel – when God wants it clear, he makes it clear. But we’re his Temple. We can glorify God according to the gifts he’s given us.
It’s built on the Sure Foundation
Remember I said there was really only one building that survived the quake? That ugly mint in the center of town. Well, that mint had the reserves to rebuild the city. One little immigrant bank – the Bank of Italy used its own reserves to lend money so people could rebuild. Eventually that bank changed its name to Bank of America. It’s one of the nation’s largest – all in less than 100 years from ruin. They chose to build on a well known foundation – in banking, the more you give, the more you get.
In our lives, we too can build on a well-known foundation. Indeed, we know that we must build on the only sure foundation, Jesus Christ. He gave his all, and all became his as a result.
We have this Book not so that we’ll know how to set every nail, how lay each and every plank of our theology or our morality, or even so we’ll know how to sing or what to say. We have this book so we can understand the glory.
To the extent that my life mirrors and models Christ – it is a Temple. It is a glorious thing.
He has already shown you, o man, what is good; and what the Lord requires of Thee. Do Justly, Love Mercy, and that big one Paul keeps hitting here – walk humbly before your God.
Jesus Christ is an amazing platform on which to build an amazing Temple. The blueprints are right here in his Word. Everything else? It’s quicksand. It’s a firetrap. Prone to earthquakes. This is gold, my friends. Build with this.
Would you pray with me?
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Again, I go back to the Parthenon – to the extent that it reminds me of the ideals that our civilization was built on, it’s a beautiful thing. But where some guy scrawled, ‘Kilroy was here?’ well, not so much.
Chinatown, where the city’s disposable people lived, was reduced to ruins. Stone buildings were no match for the unstable ground beneath.
Long Branch Baptist Church
Halfway, Virginia; est. 1786
Sunday, September 9th, 2007
Enter to Worship
Prelude David Witt
Meditation Psalm 139: 1 – 18, 23 – 24
Invocation Michael Hollinger
*Opening Hymn #409
“I Know Whom I Have Believed”
Welcome & Announcements
Morning Prayer [See Insert]
*Hymn #399
“Higher Ground”
*Responsive Lesson [See Right]
*Hymn #404
“The Solid Rock”
Offertory Mr. Witt (#272)
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise him above, ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture 1 Corinthians 3: 10 – 17
Sermon
“The Temple of God”
Invitation Hymn #275
“How Firm a Foundation”
*Benediction
*Congregational Response
May the grace of Christ our Savior / And the Father’s boundless love
With the Holy Spirit’s favor / Rest upon us from above. Amen.
* Congregation, please stand.
Depart To Serve
RESPONSIVE LESSON
When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a crash.”
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation—
If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
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.
For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you, who believe,
But for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stumbling stone, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house.
But it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Matthew 7:28-29; 1 Peter 2:2-12 (ESV); Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to sing in the Choir (and you DO want to sing in the Combined Homecoming Choir!) please arrive at 10:15am next Sunday for a brief practice before the service.
Next Sunday is, of course, Homecoming Sunday.
1. Thank you to everyone who came yesterday to clean up!
2. Thank you to everyone in advance for the great lunch we’ll have afterwards!
3. Please remember, this is the one service of the year that starts at 11 – but if you’re here at 10am, we’ll put you to work!
4. There will be no Sunday School next week.
A brief note on our homecoming speaker, Jeff Coleman. As you know, I’ll be spending January with him in the country he is serving. He is sharing the Gospel in a place where doing so is not encouraged. Please keep him in your prayers.
1 CORINTHIANS 3: 10 – 23
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 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. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
PRAYER LIST
Cindy & Lee Thompson, Martha Puryear, Susan Schulz, Warren Lee, Irene Griffith, Cory Keely, Debbie Grigsby,
Jeff Coleman, Zane, Bruce, Steve,
Pray for rain! Pray for our country, our soldiers,
Our President, Congress, Court, Governor, and State
The family of D. James Kennedy, The Church Universal,
Long Branch Church
