God’s Blueprint For A Church | 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
I want to give you three steps in the blueprint for building a church:
1. The Foundation Is Laid with the Gospel (v.10-11)
"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. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
— 1 Corinthians 3:10-11
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."
The foundation cannot be built on:
Philosophies
Ideologies
Personality
Self-Effort
2. The Structure Is Strengthened with Works (v.12)
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—"
— 1 Corinthians 3:12
1) Authentic Discipleship
2 Timothy 2:1-2
"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
2) Cheerful Giving
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
3) Personal Holiness
1 Peter 1:14-16
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
4) Being a Witness
Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
3. The Legacy Is Rewarded by Judgment (v.13-15)
"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."
— 1 Corinthians 3:13
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Romans 14:10
"Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God."
"If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."
— 1 Corinthians 3:14-15
