Jesus; The Foundation of the Church 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

Introduction

When you walk by a building under construction, it’s easy to admire the walls going up, the architecture taking shape, or the finishes being applied. But what you don’t usually see—the part that’s buried beneath the surface—is the most important part: the foundation. Without a solid foundation, it doesn’t matter how impressive or beautiful the building looks. The smallest crack in the base can compromise everything above it.

That same principle is true for the Church.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul gives us a powerful picture: We are God’s building. Not just individually, but together—as the local body of Christ. And just like any building, the foundation matters. It determines the strength, direction, and future of everything that’s built upon it.

Paul makes it clear: The foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ. Not tradition, not opinion, not personality or popularity—Christ alone. He says, “As a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation.” That word “master builder” comes from the Greek architectron, where we get our word “architect.” And the blueprint he followed was not of his own design. Paul knew that no other foundation could hold except the one that had already been laid—Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.

The church at Corinth had started drifting—trying to build on worldly wisdom, personal preferences, and human personalities. But Paul pulls them back to the core: if the church is not built on Jesus, it will not stand.

And friends, the same warning applies to us today. A church without Christ is just a building. A gospel without Jesus is not good news. And a Christian life not rooted in Him will eventually collapse under the weight of trials, temptation, or time.

So today we’ll look at this vital truth: Jesus is the only foundation the Church can be built upon. And not only must the foundation be right, but what we build on it must be right too. Because one day, everything will be tested—not by man’s opinion, but by God’s fire.

The foundation matters vs. 9-11

In the last part of verse 9 Paul reminds us that we are God’s building, and we make up the Local Church and so this truth is applicable to both settings

Ephesians 2:19–22 “19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

In verse 10 we find Paul telling us that by the grace of God that was given to him, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation

The greek word for masterbuilder here is architectron which is the root work for architect.

Every builder knows that a good foundation is necessary for a good building. It doesn’t matter how nice the building looks or even how well constructed it is, if the foundation cracks, crumbles and is destroyed, the building will not last.

The foundation Paul laid for the Church at Corinth was Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 “1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

Wiersbe said this in his commentary “The foundation is laid by the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The foundation is the most important part of the building because it determines the size, shape, and strength of the superstructure. A ministry may seem successful for a time, but if it is not founded on Christ, it will eventually collapse and disappear.”

A church that is being built on anything other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ will surely fall

Paul laid the foundation and another built upon it, and other would build upon it as well and to those who came behind he gave an exhortation to take heed

Everyone who was going to come behind need to take heed how they would build upon it

That word heed means To mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe.

It was important to Paul to remind them to build with care. If we start building our own kingdom, or our own pocketbook we have missed the point of the Church.

A church without Christ as its foundation is not a church, it is a social club. A Christian without out Christ is not a Christian, because Christianity is Christ.

The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ and other might try to build a church on another foundation, but it will surely crumble.

The foundation of the church is emphatically proclaimed by Paul as Christ Jesus, but promised God through the prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 28:16 “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.”

Paul reminds them that there is only one Gospel

2 Corinthians 11:4 “4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

The material matters vs. 12-15

Once the foundation is set, the materials you build with matter as well

Her Paul breaks the materials into two separate categories

Gold, Silver, Precious Stones. These materials are permanent, beautiful, valuable and hard to obtain

Wood, hay and stubble. These materials are temporary, ordinary, cheap and easy to obtain

I like how one commentator broke down this chapter, The word is food for the family (1-5), seed for the field (6-9a), material for the temple (9b-15)

Remember the church at Corinth was trying to build the church there on man’s wisdom, which here would be represented by the wood, hay and stubble.

So often church’s are being built on a book store theology, rather than a theology based solely on the Bible.

We try to use our own wisdom and our own power, instead of getting the wisdom scripture offers us.

A church isn’t built on man’s wisdom but rather by God’s wisdom which is represented by God, silver and precious stones

Proverbs 2:1–5 “1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, And liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, And searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 3:13–15 “13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.”

Proverbs 8:10–11 “10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”

The Corinthians were trying to build their church by man’s wisdom, the wisdom of this world, when they should have been depending on the wisdom of God as found in the Word.

Our works will be tried and revealed by fire

Notice when the fire is used to reveal our building materials, we will receive a reward if we build with the right materials or regret if we build with the wrong materials

You will be saved but your work will be destroyed by fire.

Amy Carmichael said this, “The work will never go deeper than we have gone ourselves.”

We may look very successful to men, but “the day shall declare it,” and on that day, some ministers will go up in smoke.

I was reading a book about G. Campbell Morgan and they asked him the secret to pulpit success and here is what he told them “ I always say to them the same thing—work; hard work; and again, work!” Morgan was in his study at six o’clock each morning, digging treasures out of the Bible. You can find wood, hay, and stubble in your backyard, and it will not take too much effort to pick it up. But if you want gold, silver, and jewels, you have to dig for them.

Conclusion

As we come to the close of this passage, Paul leaves us with a sobering and yet hope-filled truth: “Every man's work shall be made manifest… because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

The foundation has already been laid—it is Jesus Christ. That’s settled. But what we build on that foundation is what will be tested. Not by popularity. Not by numbers. Not by appearances. But by the fire of God’s judgment.

Some will receive reward—gold, silver, precious stones—eternal fruit from lives built on the truth of Christ, with the wisdom of God. Others will suffer loss—not the loss of salvation, but the loss of purpose, the loss of reward, the loss of what could have been if we had built with care.

The question we have to ask ourselves is this: What are we building with?

Are we chasing success by the world’s standards—quick, easy, flashy, temporary like wood, hay, and stubble? Or are we digging deep, searching the Scriptures, investing in what’s eternal, even when it’s hard?

Because the truth is, the fire is coming. Not to destroy us—but to reveal us. To test the substance of our lives, our ministries, our motives. And Paul’s warning is still relevant: Take heed how you build.

Church, Jesus is not just the cornerstone of our faith—He is the foundation of everything we are and everything we do. We don’t need a new gospel. We don’t need to reinvent the church. We just need to return to the one thing that’s always been true: “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Let us be a people who build carefully, faithfully, and eternally—on the only foundation that will never crumble.