Sermon Series

Based on scripture we will be addressing this topic: What a new testament church should NOT do and what a new testament church SHOULD do!

Ever since you all called Amie and I to serve here as, Pastor and Pastors wife, I have heard a consistent theme from a lot of you. It is this: We want to grow and be the lighthouse for the this community like we use to be! We want to see lost people come to know the Lord, top come visit us and let them know that we care for and love them! This is a truly wonderful idea and goal! BUT, before we can set out to accomplish this goal we have to learn what Christ has instructed the church(individual believers) to do and how to live together in community! When we begin to see visitors enter this building, did you know within 10 minutes before any song is sung or sermon given, they have already detirmend if they will come back!! We have to understand our task and have our hearts in unity, living the way Christ has instructed us to.

If we truly want to meet our stated goal, the evidence will be the commitment to do the things Christ has instructed us to do and to NOT DO those things He has instructed us NOT TO DO!

Obedience is the love language of Christ!

1 Cor. 1-1-3 Context of the Book by Paul (his authority given by God) (audience= the church at Corinth those who are in Christ)

Our text for today will be 1 Corinthians 3:1-18

Verses 1-7

The condition Paul find the sanctified believers at Corinth:

He finds them to still be babies in Christ, they have not matured. Why did he come to that conclusion? Envy, strife, and divisions were among them! He gives specific examples....verse 4.

Verse 3 also states that they were acting like “mere men”? (this indicates that as sanctified believers in Christ we should NOT ACT like mere men! We should conduct ourselves in a sanctified manor through the power of the Holy Spirit!!)

**Our desire as a Church should be to become mature follower of Christ!

Verse 5-7 Paul plainly states that Apollos and himself are nothing! Just ministers that God used to share the Gospel with them and they believed their testimony!

Verses 8-9

WE (Paul, Apollos and those inside the church) are fellow workers together! no one is more important than the other!

WE are God’s field and Building! God resides within us! (as we will see shortly)

**We belong to God! He is our Master! (when we placed our belief and faith into Christ we exchanged MASTER’S! Satan for Jesus Christ! (John 8:44)

Verses 10-11

Paul states that he has laid the foundation for the church! (individuals) AND ANOTHER BUILD UPON IT!? (THAT’S US SALTILLO BAPTIST CHURCH)

THE FOUNDATION IS JESUS CHRIST AND HIM ALONE!

***AT THE END OF VERSE 10 WE SEE A STERN WARNING! TAKE HEED (PAY ATTENTION) HOW WE BUILD ON OUR FOUNDATION!!

We are responsible for how we build upon our foundation!!

Verses 12-15 Paul tells us more details about his warning

Look at the results of our choices!

A. Build gold, silver or precious stones = rewards

B. Builds wood, hay or stubble = loss, no rewards, wasted time and effort

Verses 16-17

God will destroy you? God will Ruin you! You become of no use!!

The very first step for Saltillo Baptist Church is for each of us need to inspect were we are!

1. Are you in the faith? Are you a believer?

2. Are you maturing or are you still a babe in Christ?

3. Are you a member of this local body of believers? Membership is a statement of identity in Christ and His people!

4. What are you building upon our foundation?