Building The Church (2)

Building The Church 1 Cor 3

Spiritual Maturity

Understanding God’s Servants

Building on the Foundation of Christ

Spiritual Maturity (Verses 1-4)

“Brothers and sisters, when I first came to you, I couldn’t speak to you as mature believers. You were like infants in Christ. I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready.”

We all start somewhere in our faith journey. At times, we act out of jealousy and division, showing that we are still growing. But as we grow, we should seek to move beyond these immature behaviors.

Understanding God’s Servants (Verses 5-9)

“Who is Paul? Who is Apollos? We are just servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord has assigned each of us a task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

Understand that no single leader or teacher holds the key to my spiritual growth. It is God who gives the increase. Therefore, I focus on the work He has given me while remembering that I am part of something bigger.

Building on the Foundation of Christ (Verses 10-15)

“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.”

We must carefully build on the foundation that is Jesus. My works—whether strong like gold or weak like straw—will be tested. We want to ensure that We build something lasting, based on Christ.

The Outer darkness in Matthew 8:12 “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”” and Matthew 22:13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” is Gehenna (the place of burning). But the outer darkness of Matthew 25:30 “And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” does not mean Gehenna. It applied not to unbelievers or hypocrites but to the believers who neglected to exercise their God giving talents

We are the temple of God! His Spirit dwells in us, so we should be careful how we live and what we build in our life’s. We have to protect this temple and build on a strong foundation, recognizing the holy presence within us.

Application: Building Skills for a Strong Foundation

1. Self-Awareness:

• Engagement Question: What kind of spiritual foundation have you been building? Is it based on Jesus, or have I been using weaker materials like pride, jealousy, or worldly desires?

• Activity: Each person reflect on an area in their life where they can reinforce their foundation with stronger materials like faith, prayer, or community.

2. Accountability in Growth:

• Engagement Question: Who am I listening to and allowing to influence my growth? Am I focused on following God’s plan for me, or have I been distracted by human leaders and their opinions?

• Activity: Discuss one thing you can do to better align your growth with God’s will rather than the opinions of others. Pray together for wisdom and strength.

Conclusion: God’s Wisdom and Our Growth

• “The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” We must seek God’s wisdom as we continue to build our life on Christ’s foundation. The wisdom of this world may seem appealing, but it cannot sustain us the way God’s wisdom can. We belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Closing Prayer:

Lord, help us to build wisely on the foundation You have laid through Jesus Christ. Let our actions and decisions reflect Your wisdom. Remind me that I am Your temple, and help me honor You in all I do. Amen.