Every Christian is a Builder

Start with the Cord Illustration

Our Mission in the Persian Gulf War 70%-90%

Wife still has the letter in her hope chest

Paul speaks about many different topics

Speaks about:

Discipleship

Exclusiveness of Christ

Judgement of the Believer

Eternal Reward

The Immature Builder Verses 1-3

The Carnal Christian

Paul is not saying they are lost he just said to them in

1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB95

30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

The Carnal Christian has no teeth

Hebrews 5:12–13 NASB95

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

I cant even talk to you in any level of spiritual maturity but as Neh-pois (infants or one with a small mouth that can only handle milk).

You should be growing up,

I feed you with milk when you first believed and even now...your are still carnal

Corinth was a very bad place.

In much the same way America is today

“Churches are buying into these lies of the carnal world where sin’s not that bad, heaven’s not that good, hell’s not that hot, and the gospel’s not that urgent but I tell you it is!” Pastor David Sims

In Verse 3 - Evidence is that they are Jealous and argumentative

He puts this as a rhetorical question for them to consider their own actions

The Carnal Christian has no spiritual discernment

They were still fleshly

Ephesians 4:14 NASB95

14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

Romans 13:13 NASB95

13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

The Confused Builder Verses 4-9

He thinks he is building an earthly temple

Not about your upbringing

Grew up in Church

Your parents were Christians

Your Grandparents were Christians

1 Peter 1:18 NASB95

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

Not about your denomination

Baptist

Presbyterian

Pentecostal

Church of God

Church of Christ

Non-Denominational

Explain Dogma, Doctrine, and Opinion

Not about your who you know or who you follow

1 Corinthians 1:12 NASB95

12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”

It was not about Apollos

It was not about Peter

It was not about Paul

One born out of due season

1 Corinthians 15:6–8 ESV

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

In Verse 5

Apollos and Pauls are servents (Same greek word of a Deacon comes from)

We can bring the message and others can water it but God brings the growth.

It is All About Jesus!

It is about believing Jesus died for your sins

It is about you making Jesus Lord of your Life

Ephesians 2:8–10 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

1 Corinthians 4:5 NASB95

5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

Romans 10:9–11 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Reward in Verse 8 = Wages according to his own wages

Verse 8 Paul is, “showing them the importance of what they do each and every day for the Kingdom of God...but don’t misunderstand this passage, we’re not working for out salvation but our reward is based on the work we do.” Pastor David Sims

We are God’s fellow workers we are partnering with Him.

God’s Building in Verse 9

Ephesians 2:20–22 NASB95

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The Master Builder Verses 10-15

Skilled Master Builder (Architek-tawn) where we get our word Architect

1 Corinthians 2:15 ESV

15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

Be careful - Take heed - pay attention- related to the choices you are going to make

building a life that counts having the foundation of Jesus Christ

you build your spiritual house through the actions of your life

Yest Remember, God, not man, is the Master Overseer of the Work

The Master Builder understands the importance of the Foundation and the Corner Stone

Isaiah 28:16 NASB95

16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

Psalm 118:22 NASB95

22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

Matthew 21:42 NASB95

42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

1 Peter 2:4–8 NASB95

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

There will be some who you would consider meek but in their life they were powerful prayer warriors, other’s show the love of Jesus to the world through their servant lifestyles working in the background of the church, while others are front line workers sharing the good news of Jesus being a light that shines in the darkness

Then comes the fire which is the Judgement seat of Christ as compared to the Great White Throne Judgement

If you are building on any other foundation other than Jesus Christ all of your work will be consumed by the fire and it will collapse

John 14:6 Jesus is the only way

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

1 John 5:12 NASB95

12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Good materials and bad building materials

They have different value

They have a different beauty

How they hold up to the fire

Made more beautiful

It is consumed

Which begs the question...What did any of you do yesterday that had spiritual significance (Had any lasting value)

Thinking just about your life yesterday

from the time you woke up to the time you went to bed

What Gold, Silver, or Precious Stone did you labor to build with

What Wood, Hay, or Straw did you labor to build with

Not necessarily sin this could just be vain pursuits

God Knows what you have done

1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord

Spoke briefly of at my friend Drew Godby’s Funeral this past Thursday

Drew Godby

Refer back to the Cord