Construction Grunts

We would walk down the road to the clearing in the trees and watch them work. After they would leave for the day, we would walk through the construction site, exploring their progress. That’s the first time I was able to feel semi-fresh asphalt. I love the smell of fresh asphalt.

I find enjoyment in watching someone who is skilled in construction or building. They are able to throw together something out of nothing so easily.

Every builder has their own style. Every builder has their own proficiency. Every builder has an area that they probably shouldn’t do.

Last week, we discussed how we are God’s builders, so we should build.

Well, this week, we are going to take our eyes off of ourselves and consider the builders around us, people whom God has called to build into our lives: teachers and leaders of churches.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 with that perspective.

1 Corinthians 3:5–17 NIV

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Paul says: They are God’s builders, so let them build!

Pray

Paul tells us that God has placed servants among his churches to lead his churches. They are God’s builders. Paul says: let them build.

1A. Their Identity

Let’s talk about their identity.

They are called by God

Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 3:5 NIV

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Paul believed that both him and Apollos, though different in style and theology were both called by God for their task.

He openly claimed this at the beginning of the letter.

1 Corinthians 1:1 NIV

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

Other letters that he wrote, he claimed the same thing.

He firmly believed that everyone who is in a position of authority has been placed in that position by God.

This is true for people in government.

Romans 13:1 NIV

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

It is true for those who are leaders in churches.

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Those who lead and teach in a church have been called by God for that assignment.

Unfortunately, many leaders and teachers in churches these days do it because it is something to do, or someone told them they would be good at it. They don’t have a sense of the work.

Charles Spurgeon, in teaching young pastors, said:

“Let every man abide in the calling wherein he is called, unless there be to him some special call from God to devote himself to the ministry.”

And

“I do not ask whether you are much instructed or learned, or all that; I do not need to ask you; for I do not care about it myself. But I ask you these questions. Have you tried to address a Sabbath-school? have you gained the attention of the children. Having tried to address a few people, when they have been gathered together, have you found they would listen to you after you have preached? Had you any evidence and any sign that would lead you to believe that souls were blessed under you? Did any of the saints of God who were spiritually- minded, tell you that their souls were fed by your sermon? Did you hear of any sinner convinced of sin? Have you any reason to believe that you have had a soul converted under you? If not, if you will take one's advice for what it is good for- and I believe it is advice which God's Holy Spirit would have me give you-you had better give it up. You will make a very respectable Sunday-School teacher, you will do very well in a great many other ways; but unless these things have been known by you, unless you have these evidences, you may say you have been called, and all that; I don't believe it. If you had been called to preach, there would have been some evidence and some sign of it.”

When that evidence is there, the understanding of a mandate from God, the leader must lead, and the teacher must teach.

Who are they? They are called by God.

They are called by God to serve together

Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 3:6–8 NIV

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

Every single person who preaches the Word of God or who leads a church is part of a greater work.

I think about the church we attended while I was in high school. Evergreen Baptist Church. Pastor Jon Rumley.

He believed that God had given them the ministry of sending. God would lead people to attend Evergreen, and then after several years, they would move to a different city or state. Very few people would stay. Whenever they moved however, they were always more spiritually mature, a leader in whatever church they attended next.

Pastor Jon knew that he was serving together with other ministers around the nation to build the Church of Jesus Christ.

Who are these men? They are called by God to serve together.

They are called by God to serve together with one purpose

Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 3:8 NIV

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

Paul and Apollos had one purpose: preaching the Gospel and calling followers of Jesus Christ to live as followers of Jesus Christ.

They were two different people, but they were coworkers with one purpose.

There are some preachers who are insecure when they hear that the congregation is listening to other preachers. I am not. I know that I am only human. I am not adequate to lead you as a church to maturity. So, I welcome special speakers into the pulpit. I welcome you to listen to other ministers. That’s one reason why we have RightNow Media, so that you have the opportunity to grow in Jesus Christ through the teaching of Jesus’ church around the world.

One day Jesus’s disciples were arguing on who was the greatest among them. Jesus told them that they were to be a servant of all, not concerned about who was the greatest.

Then John moved the discussion from who was greatest among the disciples, to how the disciples who followed Jesus all the time were better than those who don’t.

Mark 9:38–40 NIV

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.

John wanted to lift himself up as a true follower of Jesus Christ, above all those whom he thought didn’t make the cut and Jesus says: don’t stop his ministry, for whoever is not against us is for us.

There are many people who we would look at and say: they are not leading people correctly. They are not teaching people correctly. We would do it differently, therefore they are wrong and need to stop.

However, these teachers, while they are different from how we would prefer, are not leading people away from Jesus. In fact, through their ministry, people are growing in spiritual maturity, they are confessing sin and changing.

Instead throwing a barrier in the church, saying: they are wrong and we are right, should we not realize that we serve together with one purpose, while acknowledging our differences.

I’m not a fan of Joel Olsteen. Some of you might not know who he is. He is megachurch pastor in southern Texas. He preaches what’s called prosperity Gospel, that Jesus saved us so that we can be healthy and wealthy. I do not believe that is true. But, there are somethings that I agree with Joel Olsteen on. When he preaches, he reads this poem:

"This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the Word of God. I will never be the same.”

That poem is correct. I have to say that I know people who have come to faith in Jesus Christ through his teaching and I know people who have grown in spiritual maturity, in understanding the Bible and how to live as a follower of Jesus Christ through his teaching.

I will not recommend that anyone listen to his teaching. I will stand up and show where his teaching is against the truths of the Bible. But, I have to also say that I believe that he is a follower of Jesus Christ and God has used him even in his brokenness, just as God uses me in my brokenness.

Who are these men? They are called by God to serve together with one purpose.

They are called by God to serve together with one purpose according to their gifts

Paul says:

1 Corinthians 3:5 NIV

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

Last week, we talked about how we each bring something of value, as we follow God in what he has called us to do.

Those things of value are based upon the gifts that God has given us, and they are based upon the personalities and talents that God created in us.

I believe that just as God has given everyone a gift to use, so he created us unique so that we will use our spirit-given gifts in a way that is unique to us. We are able to reach and encourage people in a way that no one else is able to because of the unique merging of our gifts, personalities, and talents.

We could talk about what Peter wrote:

1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

We could talk about what David said:

Psalm 139:13–14 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Our uniqueness is true of everyone, including leaders and teachers in churches.

I think about Sunday school. Brook, John, and I take turns teaching. We are each completely different. It shows in our teaching style. But each style is important. Each of us bring different ideas and perspectives that are necessary to consider. We each learn from each other and help each other grow.

In a broader sense, I am not Greg Laurie, or Chuck Swindoll, or David Jeremiah. Each of us are unique, with different giftings and personalities. However, each of us are necessary for the good of the church.

So, there we have it: their identity: Called by God to serve together with one purpose according to their gifts.

Their Responsibility

Now, let’s talk about their responsibility.

They are to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ

Paul writes:

1 Corinthians 3:10–11 NIV

Every single person that calls themselves a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or who has the position of teaching the Word of God is called to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the only foundation stone that will last.

Unfortunately, he is also the foundation stone which causes stumbling.

Jesus spoke of himself:

Matthew 21:42–44 NIV

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

People do not like preaching Jesus. If someone truly teaches the Word of God, they will be broken into pieces. Because as they study and as they teach, they realize who they are. Though they depend on Jesus, falling on him as their only hope, they realize that they must change. No one can stand up and say “Thus says the Lord” and continue living a lie.

People do not like preaching Jesus. Because, sometimes, when the truths of Christ are taught it is like you are lobbing a stone across the room that crushes those who are not following Christ. And you see the pain, and feel the pain, and you wish you didn’t have to do it.

It is hard to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ. There are some sermons that I do not want to preach.

That’s why so many pastors do not proclaim Christ anymore. It is easier not to. There was a pastor when I came to town that would pick a children’s book and make a sermon off of the children’s book. It is easier.

But, God’s servants have a responsibility to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Paul talks about the materials that a builder uses.

1 Corinthians 3:10–15 NIV

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Each of those materials speaks to the quality of what the builder is doing. God’s servants can build with things of eternal value or things of non-eternal value.

It is their choice. They will be rewarded or judged by God for what they do and what they teach.

What are the things of eternal value? Well, God’s servants have two responsibilities.

First,

They are to build so that Christ’s followers will grow in knowledge

The duty of a teacher is to present the truths of God, so that God’s people will grow in their knowledge of him.

This is why we preach through a book of the Bible, because we want to present the whole counsel of God, not leaving anything out.

That is why, during Sunday school, we have been doing a survey of the Old and New Testaments, so that people will know the things of God, so that people will be confident in who God is and what God does.

This duty is not flashy and sometimes it is boring. There are many evangelical churches who preach more to emotions and daily living, leaving the knowledge to others. However, this has caused many people to not know good doctrine, and to pass on bad doctrine.

People have a faulty view of the afterlife because good doctrine hasn’t been passed on. People think of becoming angels, viewing encouragements from God as signs from their loved one, living in Heaven for eternity. All these are because servants of God have not diligently taught truth to their congregation.

They are to build so that Christ’s followers will grow in knowledge.

Second,

They are to build so that Christ’s followers will grow in maturity

Unfortunately, many churches that focus on doctrine forget to lead the congregation towards spiritual maturity.

Remember spiritual maturity is following Christ, knowing the things of God and living the things of God.

So many pastors and teachers who are great at doctrine or who know the Bible so well do not live the Bible. Their marriages are a wreck. They are horrible parents. They look great on the outside, but they are rotting on the inside.

So many churches who know their doctrinal statement well experience split after split because it is one thing to know the Word of God and it is another thing to live the Word of God.

God’s servants are called to lead Christ’s church into maturity, so that the followers of Jesus Christ would live as followers of Jesus Christ.

God’s servants have two responsibilities in building with things of value: To build so that Christ’s followers would grow in knowledge and maturity.

We have seen the identity. We have seen the responsibility.

Now, let’s look at the judgment.

The Judgment

God promised to judge the builder of his church. He will judge him in three areas:

The foundation

He will judge him based on whether God’s servant built on the foundation of Jesus Christ or not.

Paul exhorts the Galatians:

Galatians 1:9 NIV

As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

When God’s servants lead someone to base their life on something other than Jesus Christ, that servant will be judged by God.

The materials

God will also judge his servants on what materials they use.

Paul wrote

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 NIV

their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

If the leader or the teacher do not teach correct doctrine, or don’t teach doctrine at all. If the leader or the teacher does not teach maturity, either through their words or their actions. God will judge these servants.

Their works will be burned up and they will be left standing, yes, but with nothing, surviving by the skin of their teeth, while in fact by God’s grace alone.

God will judge his servants.

The result

He will judge them for the foundation, for the material. He will also judge them for the result.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 NIV

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

As I said last week, Paul is talking about the church as a whole. God’s people gathered in a local church.

If one of his servants lives or leads in a way that destroys the local church, God will judge that person.

I have known pastors that have been stuck in their pride, and have ripped churches apart because they have not humbly admitted that they are not the correct leader for a church. They have started splits. God will judge that leader.

Pastors have refused to confess sin or acknowledge how bad their sin is, tearing churches apart. God will judge that leader.

Pastors have majored on minor points of doctrine, calling everyone to agree with them, as if they were God, knowing all things perfectly. And when some humbly disagree, they created divisions. God will judge that leader.

God’s servants, leaders and teachers called by God, have a sober responsibility to build up the church, not to tear it down.

That is why James says:

James 3:1 NIV

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

And the author of Hebrews says:

Hebrews 13:17 NIV

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

God will judge his servants, the builders of the church.

Application

If God will judge his servants, we don’t have to.

Many Bible churches get into the habit of tearing Bible teachers apart. We want to be discerning, which is good.

We look up to the Bereans in Acts. They listened to Paul and then they searched the Scriptures to see if what he was saying was true.

So we are discerning, but in our discerning, instead of searching the Scriptures in an open way, we think about what we already know and we bash everything bad about what the teacher is saying. We think that we have to be the judge of someone’s actions.

When in fact, by doing this, we are doing what Paul condemns. We are destroying the temple of God. We are dividing the church.

We are following in the footsteps of John, saying: God, can we stop this person from teaching, because they are not perfect in doctrine, like we are.

Or perhaps we are like the Pharisee, who said: God, I thank you that I am not like that tax collector, such a sinner.

In this we show our pride. In this we show our immaturity. In this, we declare that we will do a better job at judgment than God will.

In this, we destroy the church, and God says he will judge us.

I remember visiting a church with a retired pastor. After the service, the retired pastor came up to me and asked me: “So, how do you think that preacher did? What did he get wrong?” I looked at him and said: “I was blessed by what the man said.”

My bookshelves are full of books that I don’t agree with completely. I don’t know of anyone who I completely agree with. But, every book by a follower of Jesus Christ I find some value in.

You say, but what about discerning? Yes, we need to be discerning. But, we need to acknowledge when the Bible is shared and focus on the truth of what is shared before we start picking at minor things. And, we only pick at the minor things if we have proven what we believe by Scripture and we know that we can uplift those around us by doing this.

So many times we nitpick at preachers because of our pride, not because of humbly wanting to uplift those around us.

The truth is we should never throw out good because of a small amount of bad that we see.

The truth is God’s servants are God’s builders, and we need to let them build.

Instead of walking up to a construction site and looking at all the ways the construction workers are messing it up, let’s walk up to the site and be in awe of how God can use broken people to build his kingdom. Let’s see his hands at work and encourage the workers.