Take heed how you build.

Preample

There was tension in the church at Corinth. Envy/strife, Paul explained specifically. Some brethren in the church had a preference for appolos, others had a preference for Paul.

We live in the flesh, very easy to get sidetracked, the main thing is no longer the main. Paul used himself, as an example, he is only planting, its God that does the work. Further, we are all building, so build carefully.

We labor with God. V9

We are likened to a building V9

What does he mean by building??

building/is not wood and stone but people.

Ephesian 2:19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 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.”

Is 28:16 “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.”

1 peter 2 :5-9 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

1 cor. 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Materials available: Gold, silver, precious stone/ wood, hay, stubble.

There will be a day of testing. Revealing. Like fire reveals precious metals. So does God reveal the true heart and intent.

Take heed how you build.. For preachers and teachers, for anyone sharing the gospel.

The foundation: Jesus Christ

Draw a circle with the following categories. (Melvin Lehman slide)

a. Truth/doctrine

b. Ethics

c. Culture.

The only foundation. It is already laid. We do not determine the size etc. Our building needs to fit.

Doctrine

John 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Matt. 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Deny, take up the cross.

Jesus Christ as Lord of my life.

What does it mean to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ:

The meaning is, that no true church can be reared which does not embrace and hold the true doctrines respecting him - those which pertain to his incarnation, his divine nature, his instructions, his example, his atonement, his resurrection, and ascension. The reason why no true church can be established without embracing the truth as it is in Christ is, that it is by him only that people can be saved; and where This doctrine is missing, all is missing that enters into the essential idea of a church.

Articles of Faith: Unfalliable word of God, Of the existence and nature of God, Of the Creation, Of the fall of man, of Jesus Christ, Of Salvation, Of the Holy Spirit, Of Assurance, Of the Church, Of Seperation, Of disciplines, Of ordinances, Of restriction, Of apostosy, Of resurrection, Of the coming of Christ, Of the intermediate State, Of the Final State.

It appears doctrine influences ethics and culture..

Ethics

Divorce and remarriage. Very low percentage in early 1900. Today closer to 50%

Story of man who wouldn’t eat in pizza hut because they sold alchohol.

Man who ask Melvin if it is ok to smoke, will i go to hell if i dont stop smoking.

Melvin said, i am not the one to ask. Ask Jesus. And really, who is Lord of your life.

Culture

Definition of Culture:

The aggregate “heart” expression of a communities Values that orders the affairs of daily life and defines a communities concept of meaning, personal significance, and identity.

Culture is an accumulation of traditions. Traditions have a value attached to it.

How would you define culture? Maybe hard to put into words.

What comes to mind when you think of chick-fila. (Service, Teamwork, Culture of care)

What about Southwest airlines. (values=Transperancy, friendly)

Each of those “Cultures manifest themselves in very specific ways.

It affects how you view them.

How important is the culture, here at lighthouse? Does our culture just happen, or is it intentional?

We live in america, we are effected by american culture, we cannot avoid it. (big yard, multiple cars, busy life)

We are living in post modernism:

Characteristics:

Rejection of absolutes

Embraces relativity

Questions meta-narrative (gospel)

Emphasizes local narrative (me, my experience)

Emphasizes tolerance and pluralism (inclusivism)

Culture matters.

September of 1928 Alexander Fleming , a scotish scientist investigating the properties of invectius diseases.

a Petri dish and a Culture Medium

a bacteria.. and a mold. = miracle drug Penicillin.

Culture matters. It enhances or inhibits growth.

1. Work projects among the brotherhood. Is a tradition that creates culture. We are not independent islands, we are fellow citizens and labours.

2. Private School, is a tradition. Its part of our mennonite culture. Why, because of the value behind it. Safe, biblical schooling. The world doesnt have this value. They pay sports figures, millions of dollars, but can barely pay a mininum wage teacher salary.

Culture informs doctrine and ethics.

So Build Culture.

Example A. - growing up i was not allowed to drive a quarter mile down the road to one of the buildings.

Did that affect how i viewed goverment authority and relating to the law? Yes.

Example B. We were not allowed to load delivery trucks before midnight Sunday night.

Would that have been a sin? No

Take heed how you build culture. Do my actions today help the generation of tommorrow hold the gospel in high esteem. Is Jesus really my Lord.

Values/tradition/culture most be defended or it will be replaced.

1. Identify Core virtues and values - (personally, as a young person, as a dad, mom)

4 Dangers according to Psalm 15 Speak truth in your heart.

hard to hear, depending on life circumstances. Example, i used to listen to Ravi Zacharius. Since his unfaithfulness i tend to react … but truth he spoke is still truth and i can continue to minister.

Integration mode: adapting to and coasting toward the norms of mainstream culture practices.

Defensive mode: Idealizing local culture; ignoring faults and even flaws.

Reactive mode: Reacting to specifics; ignoring the strenths of core values.

Failure to reconize the root/relationship between specifics and core values.

How am i building.

Am i building with precious metals, will my work be burned up and worthless?

Build with a vision…

Tune God up, tune down the social media

ask the questions. Is this expedient? will it edify 1 cor. 10:23, will this enslave? 1 cor. 6:12

Why, because of purity in our lives, We are bought with a price. The church is the bride of Jesus Christ, so stay unspotted from the world.

Rev. 3:5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” clothed in white.