Intro: Why did Paul write this letter? He wrote it because the conduct of the Corinthians did not match their confession of Christ. Division, strife, incest it sounds like a soap opera gone bad. We have to remember many of the Christians that Paul minister came out of a corrupt and selfish Roman culture. Gladiator, and other movies portray Roman culture as intellectual and kind and only a few of their people were selfish and sinful and corrupt. It is clear from Paul’s letter that the Roman culture and its citizens were sinners in need of a savior. In fact a special word was coined to speak of the debased lifestyle that the Corinthian people lived. To be called a Corinthian meant that you led an extremely lewd and immoral lifestyle.
There isn’t much difference today. The difference is that some of the sinners are regular attendees in many of the churches across the United States. Wherever you go you can find divisions, infighting, and strife, more concern over carpets and music style than missionary zeal and clear concern for people that are separated from God.
Here in Chapter three Paul is not comparing the natural or Christ-less person with the Christian or Christ follower. He is instead comparing the immature worldly Christ follower with the Spirit Controlled follower of Christ.
What are we doing as a church body and building? The dwelling place of God’s spirit is in a place not made with hands. We are the place that God lives. Are we building or breaking are we growing or gripping. Paul clearly rebukes and calls the Corinthians to have their behavior match their belief.
The problem is not in our programs, the problem is not in politics, the problem is in the pulpit, the problem is in the pew, the problem is in the people. If we continue to be babes in Christ immature then we will be immaterial in the spiritual war that rages every moment. If we continue to be immaterial in this war then we sit on the sidelines and watch countless numbers of people enter eternity without Christ! I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be successful I want to be significant. I want to make an impact in the lives of people that are around me. The only way I or your or anyone that is a living stone in the garden, building or body of God is to surrender to the Holy Spirit and grow up!
Grow beyond personal differences, grow beyond petty divisions, grow beyond private agendas, grow beyond going to church and grow into the Head who is Christ!
I. Spiritual immaturity breaks we should be building.
Paul called the Corinthians saints in 1 Corinthians 1.2, here in 3.1 He calls them brethren. There is no doubt that he is talking to believers in Christ. The problem is not their belief it is their behavior. Paul rebukes them pretty harshly. When first you met Christ I fed you milk.
However, 1.2 he says Indeed you are still not able to receive the solid food of the word of God.
1 Peter 2.2 tells us to long for the pure milk of the word so that by it we can grow in respect to salvation.
2 Peter 3.17, 18 tells us to be on our guard and not be carried away by people with no principles. Instead we are to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Not only were they still not beyond the basics of the faith they were acting like “mere men.” (1 Cor 3.4) Instead of controlling their attitudes and emotions their attitudes and emotions were controlling them. How do we know they were worldly or fleshy? Paul says in 3.3 “since there is jealousy and strife among you.
Chuck Swindoll has the ability to communicate truth so clearly and does in regard to this verse.
Carnal Christians feed their old natures and starve their new nature.
What are the signs of spiritual immaturity? They include following a person, a preacher, a personality instead of the Person Jesus Christ, gripes and complaints instead of grace and compassion, taking instead of giving.
Paul was ashamed that they were still characterized by the flesh when they should have been characterized by the fruit of the Spirit.
What are you characterized by, fruit or flesh?
II. United spiritual leaders are used of God to build the body of believers
What was another of the problems the Corinthians had? They were more concerned about their leader than their Lord. Factionalism, division, happens when leaders become the focus of the body of Christ.
Personalities can quickly divide while the Holy Spirit unites.
A) Superstar leaders
What is the problem with thinking that our leaders need to be superstars? Paul clearly uses a common word to describe himself and Apollus. Deakonai, the same word that was used to speak of the seven servants that were to take care of the widows in Acts 6. This is a word that is used to tell all Christians that we should serve God. It was used of a lowly table waiter. As pastors we are called to lead you into the truth of God’s word. Leaders are not to be lifted to a higher level than the rest of the Body, but are to be loved, respected, and supported in leading the church. 3.8 The workers are one. The workers are to be a team of leaders directing the church to follower Christ.
So how did Paul redirect their focus?
B) Supernatural Lord
Paul redirects the Corinthians attention and energy. 3.6-9 5 times 3 of those in verse 9 Paul says God did it. Fix your attention on God. Pray and ask Him to move among the church members mature and immature alike. We do not need to politick, fix, or fabricate the work of God we need to fix our attention on Jesus and surrender to His supernatural work in our life and the Body of the Church.
Something that we see in this passage as well is that God rewards not based on results he rewards us based on Labor! 1 Cor 3.8, 14-15 (read)
III. The unifying foundation of the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 3.10-11)
Paul tells us that as we build we build for quality before quantity. Jesus Christ is the only foundation for this or any church. Some have tried to make the foundation of the church tradition, others the ethical teachings of Jesus, still others works, others sentimental love and good deeds. No. Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and raised from the dead is the foundation of the church. Paul is talking about building the body of Christ on an established foundation with quality and lasting materials.
What are the materials we build with?
Again the focus of Paul is on lasting eternal materials rather than temporal materials that will not last.
Chuck Swindoll asks the question correctly again,
“What kind of materials are you using in your construction? Have you paved a walkway of hospitality out front? Have you put in a door of love on humility’s hinges? Have you built with the golden bricks of contentment, patience, and honesty?”
Why an emphasis on proper foundation and quality materials?
1 Cor 3.16 We all together are living stones making the dwelling place of God’s Holy Spirit. Once again the question are you building or breaking? Temple is singular by you is plural Paul is not merely talking about pastors, staff, but all Christans. It is clear in 17 that those who continue in immaturity and division will be divinely disciplined.
Those that continue to live in spiritual immaturity need to ask themselves have I ever been changed from life to death?
IV. The undeniable wisdom of God
We could title this becoming a fool for Christ. How does Paul tell us to build according to the undeniable wisdom of God?
A) A proper view of ourselves
Do we deceive ourselves or realize our need for a Savior, a sustainer. When we examine our life, motives, and conduct are we proud or does it humble us in light of the finished work of Jesus Christ?
B) A proper view of others
No pastor or teacher should be followed, respected, or supported because they are a good speaker, charismatic, or a great leader. Pastors, teachers and leaders should be respected and followed because they teach and live truth.
C) A proper view of Jesus
Jesus is the source of our spiritual unity. We are all His, we all belong to Him. We are His living stones, being built up into a dwelling place of the Lord. We are His building, we are His body.
What did the song say?
But if we are the Body
Why aren’t His arms reaching
Why aren’t His hands healing
Why aren’t His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren’t His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
There is a way
Conclusion: Are you building or breaking, growing or griping? Have you been broken so that you can be reshaped by Christ into a living stone in His building and making up His body? Are you humble enough to be used by Jesus?
