Building Better Lives

Text: I Cor. 3:6-9

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (05/18/03)

Introduction:   

Explain Philosophy of Ministry

Vs.6 is as Biblical a philosophy of ministry as you will find!!

God gives the increase!!

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Psalms 127:1  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

NOW, we need to have a vision for what God (ALONE) can do!! What He can do here, in this place!

Planting and watering are action mentioned in our text, and they are actions carried out by those full of hope and expectancy.

People of vision!!

As God’s people our hope is in the Lord who give the increase.

He is Lord of the Harvest!

Vision / Mission / Purpose (Terms are interchangeable) Requires some important elements if it is going to go from being a dream to being a reality.

I. The Vision Requires Language

In other words Spell-It-Out

What EXACTLY are we looking to accomplish?

Proverbs 29:18  Where there is no vision (Word of God - Revelation), the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Paul’s Vision for the Corinthian Church was at least three-fold

1. Maturity  2. Unity  3. Purity

Our Vision for MIBC – “Building Better Lives”

We are not here to be a .....

Society for theological debate

Holy Huddle where only the Super Saints are admitted

What Areas will a church “Building Better Lives” be concerned about?

Evangelism

Discipleship

Honouring God in...

Family – Finances – Time – Talent - Treasure

There are some Reason we will stick to that....

1 That we might glorify God. Vs.7

2 Because people need The Lord vs.11

3 Because Christians need to be Growing vs.1-5

4. Because the world is destroying lives.

5. Because there is a judgement. Vs.13-15

II. The Vision Requires Labourers

A. Those who Plant

The planter is a sower, an initiator, he starts something.

He has the Leadership, the vision, the faith to step out and attempt something for God.

The Soulwinner / The Church planter / The Missionary

He is a visionary – He takes ownership of a goal.

He invests toil and labour also.

B. Those who Water

These are the ones who invest in the labours of another.

They get behind the vision, they support the work.

They support it prayerfully.

They get involved financially.

They invest emotionally.

They contribute physically and manually to then labour.

Now there are some things true of a labourer...

C The Labourer is a Cooperator vs.9

With God.

2 Corinthians 6:1  ¶We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

With other labourers.

“Together”

1 Corinthians 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

LOOK UP & READ John 4:35-38  

B. The Labourer is a Facilitator vs.6

ILLUS:  A Farmer, A Gardener, A Doctor

C. The Labourer is Nothing vs.5 & 7

You will notice in this passage that the reapers are not even mentioned!!

The pickers are the lowest paid labourers on the farm.

We are nothing!!!

John 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

IV. The Vision Requires the Lord

“God gives the increase”

A. Established by Him (FOUNDATION / ROOT)

“Other foundation can no man lay”

B. Equipped by Him (FURNISHING)

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We are talking about the empowerment, and enablement of God’s Holy Spirit.

God’s Work done in God’s Way will never lack God’s Supply!!!

C. Increased by Him (FRUIT / RESULT)

Conclusion:     (Review)