Title: “You Are The Church”
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:9-13
Introduction:
A lovely building is not a church. All the beams, joists, decking, pews, seats, pulpit furniture, carpet, fixtures, woodwork, organ, piano, speaker system, chalkboards, easels, and podiums do not make the church. These merely form a church building or the building where the church meets.
I. YOU ARE THE CHURCH
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
A. No building is ever mentioned in the New Testament
B. The building is not essential
C. What is the truth—you are God’s building
1. The church is people
2. You are the key issue in the church
II. YOUR FOUNDATION HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:20)
A. Paul says, “I have laid the foundation”
B. There is only one foundation that can be laid
1. Everyone who has a foundation has the same one
2. If you don’t have the one foundation, you don’t have any foundation at all
C. Christ is the one foundation—faith in Him gives you this foundation
III. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22)
A. You are to build on that one foundation
1. The foundation is the same
2. The superstructures are different
B. You have the choice of various materials
1. Materials are detailed here
2. Materials are readily available
C. You are building with such things as:
1. Conduct
2. Character
3. Communication
4. Commitment
5. Contribution
Illustration:
Your local church is like a bank: the more you put into it, the greater the interest.
IV. YOUR WORKMANSHIP WILL BE TRIED
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3:13)
A. It will happen “at that day”—the “Day of the Lord”
B. Your building will be manifest
1. It will be subjected to the fire of judgement
2. What you have truly built will be revealed
- There will be a discerning
- The true character of the building will be revealed
C. “Let every man take heed how he builds”
1. Our building is incredibly important
2. The architect might do differently if he knew trial were coming
Conclusion:
You are the church building. Your foundation has been laid in Christ. How you build is incredibly important.
