Title: Build The Church – Be The Church
Text: 1 Cor 3:5-17
Homiletical subject: What does it take to build a healthy and growing church?
Homiletical complement: it takes all of us, using all of our gifts, with all of our heart, in the power and partnership of Jesus Christ, who is Lord of the church!
Hom idea: the church is the greatest and most valuable project in all the world!
Preaching idea - God gave us his best – let’s give him our best!
Read text: 1 cor 3:
Introduction: I love the church!
There are 2 expressions of the church---invisible and visible. (the Institution - & as the Body of Christ)
2 Pictures of the church:
1. The church is like a tree
the Bark – dead exterior – yet it protects against disease and dehydration.this reminds me of the church as institution.
b. Sap – life of the tree--- like blood in our bodies is this sap. this reminds me of the people of God, indwelt by his Spirit.
2. The church is like a fireplace
a. Bricks/mortar of the fireplace represents the institution of the Chuch
b. The actual fire creating heat represents the people of God indwelt by his Spirit.
• My 3 churches…
• Harvest
• Emmanuel
• Elim.
***My childhood church CBS. (Very formative)
its been said by many ... “the local church is the hope of the world” …its the agent of the gospel and the kingdom of God.
Transition: How can we build a church that will survive and thrive?
I. (I have confidence in the church – because God Is The Architect Of The Church: V. 6
The church is not to be about personalities.
in Corinth—Paul is annoyed with them—acting like “mere” men/women
See 1:12 -15 Paul says I'm happy to say I never baptized any of you!
Hilarious!!!
I love baptizing people
in our Men’s meeting a few months ago – we had a baptism service!!!
What is Apollos …”only servants”
What is Graham Noble… Paul Grimes… Russ bartlett… fred penney.
“only servants” (verse 5) -“as the Lord has assigned each his task”
God is the centre…God made it grow!!!
we are “co-workers” – v. 9
Read Eph 2:19-22 “holy temple…"
God has designed the church to be a place where he dwells and a place where he shapes his people into righteousness…where disciples are made; where good news is preached and where broken lives—broken by sin and the evil one --- can find hope and healing.
II. I have confidence in the church Christ Is the Foundation of the Church: v. 10-11
His life…death…resurrection…ascension…return…king of kings
Precious Blood – a very Costly solution
His Moral Teaching--righteousness
Also Living head of the church!
The Foundation tells us a lot about the building…
When engineers have to build over soft, sandy ground, they often dig deep into the earth until they reach soil that's capable of supporting the structure's enormous weight.
John Hancock Center /Chicago
• 384 million pounds
• Height: 1,127 feet
• 100 stories.
It rests on piles that extend down to bedrock. 191 feet below.
III. I have confidence in the church because …God Raises Up Expert Builders of The Church—Pastors: V.10
Paul…Missionaries…pioneers
See Acts 18
i. Sabbath in synagogue
ii. Silas…timothy arrive
iii. Expelled
iv. Goes next door
v. Vision – don’t be afraid….
vi. Stayed 18 months
vii. Strategic city
“today - we stand on the shoulders of others”
we now must pass on to the next generation this gospel.
VBS
Kids min
Youth
Can i impress upon you the matter of “calling”…
1. Not if - but what… or where!
2. Young people in particular – you need to wrestle with your calling.
3. Don’t just assume… hey I'd like to become an engineer… a plumber…submit yourself to God… surrender your future to him.
4. All are called!!!
5. Some are called into “the ministry”
a. Paul says in Timothy “those whose ministry is preaching and teaching are worthy of double honor.”
b. In Romans 10 Paul says “how shall they hear without someone preaching to them?”
6. There’s always a need to have people in the pipeline.
I don’t think God has stopped calling!
My story - MUN business degree…
Speaking of Corinth – I guess my Corinth was Toronto…
1987 - graduating with MDiv
I Wanted to plant a church
the church institution - the PAOC said NO. You're not ready.
But God said yes.
14 years
I was there a couple of Sundays ago…
tell the Harvest story…
As for the notion of being “experts” (v. 10)… not the people I talk to!
Most pastors don’t feel like “experts” – just struggling servants…
Go to a pastors conference – they have the expert give a talk
– and the rest of us feel inferior…
a little inspiration…
a little jealousy
and a lot of self-doubt.
IV. I have confidence in the church …because We Are All Fellow Workers In The Construction Of The Church; V. 9, 10
How do we harness and mobilize all the gifts and all the potential God has placed in this church?
We have only scratched the surface!
You have been given gifts from the Lord to build his church!
Volunteer! … serve!
Volunteer means…
I’m doing you a favour –
You’re not doing God a favour… God did you a favour – all you’re doing is expressing gratitude.
That’s not volunteering – that’s showing appreciation…respect… more precisely – worship.
God has gifted his people
God graciously chooses to use us
Volunteering seems optional – it’s not optional – its xty 101.
You become stronger only when you become weaker. When you surrender your will to God, you discover the resources to do what God requires.
V. Now…God Is Asking Us For Our Best Work To Be Given To His Church; v. 12
“be careful how we build”
Wood – hay – straw - these are cheap and combustible
***Gold…silver…precious stones…these are costly and non-combustible.
• Attitudes can be straw - or gold
• Effort too
• Attention to detail - straw or gold.
• Preparedness
• Leaning on the Holy Spirit.
VI. …One Day, The Inspector Is Coming to examine our work in the construction of the church: v. 13-15
The day will bring it to light
God will Test the quality of our work
if we Pass the test - we receive a reward
if we Fail the quality test - we will be saved… and only escape the flames.
“the day,” Paul refers to here is judgement day!
Harvest – handicap washroom inspection… wen the city inspector examined the bathroom it failed to meet the building code - so we had to repair it. otherwise, no occupancy permit will be granted.
VII. I have confidence in the church because There’s A Security System In The Church; V. 16-17
Alarm systems—protect against vandals
the Holy Spirit dwells!!!
“temple” = OT word for dwelling place of God w/ his people
one day the temple will move to heaven—eternal life/state.
Corinth—division…quarrelling—Paul warns them—don’t hurt the church!!!
(Institutionally speaking…)
Sometimes i wonder why God doesn’t step in more often and more quickly…
• SCANDALS…
• CORRUPTION.
• GLORIFICATION OF PEOPLE
• LOVE OF MONEY
**THE CHURCH IS ALWAYS UNDER ATTACK/THREAT—DON’T BE SURPRISED!
Corinth was plagued by division…
other churches struggled too—heresy…others—persecution…
when it comes to Skyscrapers—the biggest threat is wind.
By clustering steel columns and beams in the skyscraper's core, engineers create a stiff backbone that can resist tremendous wind forces. The inner core is used as an elevator shaft, and the design allows lots of open space on each floor.
Application: Will you give your best for the church?
be the best usher you can be - bring your best effort (GOLD) to this ministry...
Be the best small group leader you can be...
Conclusion: God gave his best for the church - and he asks us to give our best!
