Paul writes to the Corinthians to address the dispute of which leader is better. He answers with a building metaphor. What does he say? And how does it apply to us? Pastor Jason shares from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
Enjoy this message? Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is serving as the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Send The Dirt Path Pastor a message. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thedirtpathpastor
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Paul writes to the Corinthians to address the dispute of which leader is better. He answers with a building metaphor. What does he say? And how does it apply to us? Pastor Jason shares from 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
Enjoy this message? Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is serving as the Senior Pastor. Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Send The Dirt Path Pastor a message. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thedirtpathpastor
Help spread the gospel through this podcast by subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing this episode.
There are many memories from this building project. Jeff surfing concrete stairs, Tracy trying to go through the wall twice, Patrick making sure we all knew the boss was on site, and removing seal plates with a broom. So many more stories, but I cannot remember them all.
What I do remember is the goal behind this project, shared by the team and the entire board. It was to make sure our fellowship hall would stay standing for another hundred years. And with the hard work of Jeff, Tracy, and Patrick, I believe it will. God’s victory will continue to be celebrated in those walls through baptisms, receptions, and dinners for years to come. This was and is the hope.
But the Kingdom of God is more than buildings, though they are important resources gifted to us by God. The Church is always building with the help of the Church members. God is always doing a work in the life of His followers that spills over the Church universal. The question that creates for each of us is: what are we building? Our passage today provides an insight on the answer to that question.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (CEB):
I laid a foundation like a wise master builder according to God’s grace that was given to me, but someone else is building on top of it. Each person needs to pay attention to the way they build on it. No one can lay any other foundation besides the one that is already laid, which is Christ Jesus. So, whether someone builds on top of the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, or hay, each one’s work will be clearly shown. The day will make it clear, because it will be revealed with fire—the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work survives, they’ll get a reward. But if anyone’s work goes up in flames, they’ll lose it. However, they themselves will be saved as if they had gone through a fire.
This is the Word of God.
For the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Paul is addressing many things in this letter to the church in Corinth. But one of the things important to our understanding in our passage is that church members were disputing who was better, Paul or Apollos? In his response, Paul is not taking a shot at Apollos, but the folks involved in the dispute. Both sides were missing the point, Paul and Apollos were doing God’s work. This passage for today is part of Paul’s response to this issue.
In verses 10 and 11, Paul is letting the Corinthians know God was the designer of the house. Paul worked for the Designer, following His plan. Knowing his past and what Paul wrote in other letters, it was a marvel to this apostle that God was using the “chief of sinners” such as himself.
While Paul knew the Designer, he also knew he was building on a solid foundation. He knew Jesus, Jesus was the foundation on which Paul was building. In the gospels, Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responded, “The Christ.” Jesus then tells Peter, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Faith in Him is what all the apostles built the Church upon. It is a foundation that cannot be improved and will not crumble. The soundness of any building depends on its foundation, so for the Church faith in Jesus is everything.
Moving into verses 12 and 13, Paul shares that the materials chosen to build on that foundation matter. Some build with “gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, or hay.” There are two interpretations to this. The first is that “gold, silver, precious stones,” refers to valuable and sturdy materials, meaning mature Christians build their lives on sound doctrine that can withstand the elements of life. These are beliefs resting on the foundation of faith in Jesus and a framework built from the things revealed by the Holy Spirit based on God’s Word and experience. “Wood, grass, and hay” are materials of less quality. They are susceptible to rot, fire, bugs, and all kinds of issues. A Christian can have faith in Jesus, a solid foundation, but use a framework of human wisdom and man-made traditions. These things are not bad, and certainly play a part in understanding, but divorced from Scripture and personal experience, these materials build a flimsy structure.
That was the first interpretation, which I believe has a lot of merit. But the second interpretation connects with the parables of Jesus. God does not expect Jesus to return only to find us standing on the foundation, He expects that those who have faith in Jesus will build His church upon that rock with His help and His provision. So, Paul could be calling the Corinthians to build with what God has made available. Over time, some lesser materials may need to be repaired or replaced, but the expectation is for them to build. There is some merit to this thought too.
Verses 13 through 15 talk about fire and reward. “Fire” and “the day” are implying the Corinthians will stand before Jesus and give an account for the work they have done. But the “fire” is not for judgment but purification. Solid structures built from solid materials on the foundation of faith in Jesus will survive the fire, anything that is not made correctly will be consumed by the fire.
Verse 15 says, “If anyone’s work goes up in flames, they’ll lose it. However, they themselves will be saved as if they had gone through the fire.” The idea is of a house fire with total loss of possessions, but the person escapes to live. In other words, works do not save us, faith in Jesus does. The point Paul is making is that the Corinthians can be saved through faith in Jesus, but they are to build on that foundation with what God gives them. They should strive to build a structure that will last, be beautiful and sturdy, able to withstand the flames. This is not about a physical structure, but lives of faith dedicated to the Kingdom of God and living it out for His glory.
How does this apply to us? How does it help us answer the question: what are we building? The answer to that question for each of us personally impacts our faith community collectively. As a church are we building an eyesore that is flammable or one that is beautiful and will last? Is my life of faith contributing to something that adds to the beauty or something flammable?
Our surrender in Christ, the Holy Spirit and grace given to us is for building a structure that will last. We are saved by our faith in Jesus, not by works. But is our lives something beautiful Jesus has done and is doing in us that draws others to Him? The culture we are ministering in has seen an ugly glimpse of the Church (not necessarily our church), but we can show them something different. Something beautiful, something good, not of ourselves but of Him. For that to happen we have to offer ourselves up as living sacrifices, just as Jesus did for us. And Scripture tells us, “He who started a good work in you will see it through to completion.” He who laid the foundation in you and me through our faith in Jesus will give us the Holy Spirit to build the framework and beyond.
We are called to faith in Jesus. If you do not know Jesus, He is calling so listen for His voice. I heard His voice and so have many others in this room, and when we heard it we knew it was Him. He called us to the place where we belong, into this fellowship with Him.
We are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit. If you are not filled with the Holy Spirit, ask and you will receive. Ask offering more than just your sins and sinful nature to be taken away, but offering up your whole self. I surrendered all of myself and so have many others here, and God has accomplished more in us and through us than we could have ever imagined. He can and He will in your life if you surrender all to Him too.
We are called to build. If the Holy Spirit is in us and our sins are forgiven, this is the next step. What hinders us is fear over materials and the elements they will endure. But we have the Holy Spirit of God! Trust Him and allow Him to direct you to the materials available. We may be at a moment realizing what we used to build has rotted or crumbled, but He wants to help us remodel! He wants to replace it with something that will last. Let Him.
Come Holy Spirit, I need you
Come sweet Spirit, I pray
Come in Your strength and Your power
Come in Your own gentle way