Sermon Tone Analysis

Context

With a population of 400,000 and being a prominent center of commerce in the Mediterranean world, it was a place for all sorts of vice.

An example of its immorality was found in the temple of Venus (Aphrodite), which hosted 1000 priestesses dedicated to prostitution in the name of religion.

The city's close proximity to the city of Athens probably added the problem of intellectualism.

As noticed in the epistle, such an environment had its effect upon the church in Corinth.

It is amazing that a church existed at all in such a city.

Theme 1Corinthians 1:10

Brief Outline

PROBLEMS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE OF CHLOE (1Cr 1:10-6:20)

FACTIONS IN THE CHURCH (1Cr 1:1-4:21)

SEXUAL IMMORALITY (1Cr 5:1-13)

LAWSUITS AMONG BRETHREN (1Cr 6:1-11)

MORAL DEFILEMENTS (1Cr 6:12-20)

PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER FROM CORINTH

(1Cr 7:1-16:9)MARRIAGE & CELIBACY

EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (1Cr 8:1-11:1)

(1Cr 7:1-40)EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS

WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED (1Cr 11:2-16)

(1Cr 8:1-11:1)WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED

THE LORD'S SUPPER (1Cr 11:17-34)

(1Cr 11:2-16)THE LORD'S SUPPER

SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1Cr 12:1-14:40)

(1Cr 11:17-34)SPIRITUAL GIFTS

(1Cr 12:1-14:40)RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (1Cr 15:1-58)

COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS (1Cr 16:1-4)

(1Cr 15:1-58)COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS (1Cr 16:1-4)

Brief Outline

Only A Solid Foundation and Quality Materials Can Build a Holy Temple and Bring a Lasting Reward.

PROBLEMS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE OF CHLOE (1Cr 1:10-6:20)FACTIONS IN THE CHURCH (1Cr 1:1-4:21)SEXUAL IMMORALITY (1Cr 5:1-13)LAWSUITS AMONG BRETHREN (1Cr 6:1-11)MORAL DEFILEMENTS (1Cr 6:12-20)PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER FROM CORINTH (1Cr 7:1-16:9)MARRIAGE & CELIBACY (1Cr 7:1-40)EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (1Cr 8:1-11:1)WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED (1Cr 11:2-16)THE LORD'S SUPPER (1Cr 11:17-34)SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1Cr 12:1-14:40)RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (1Cr 15:1-58)COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS (1Cr 16:1-4)

1Corinthians 3:10-15

How do you build wisely?

How do you live wisely?

Starts with a Solid Foundation

Believe and Trust in Jesus

There is only one foundation upon which any person can stand.

Paul tells them, they are divided, but He laid the foundtion of Jesus Christ.

They make claims to I follow Paul, I follow Appolos, but Paul sets the after straight.

It is by God’s grace and His alone that they are saved.

Paul planted, Apollos is watering, but God brings growth.

Following Paul didn’t save, following Appolos didn’t save, Following God saves.

Only Jesus.

Every person will be help accountable for the life they live.

Paul describes it as by fire, and Christ is the only thing that will last.

“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Nothing that lasts can be built on any other foundation.

Nothing built on any other foundation can bring God glory.

There are different materials on which you can build, but only one foundation upon which you can build.

Use Quality Material

Appolos was going to be held accountable for how He build on the foundation, but also, they were!

And there was a mess going on In that church.

Give God your best, not your leftovers.

(TNTC 1 Co): 12.

But if there can be only one foundation it is otherwise with the superstructure.

It is all too possible for astonishing varieties to make their appearance.

Paul lists several materials which may be used for building, and ingenuity has sometimes been exercised in trying to find edifying meanings for them all.

Such labour is probably in vain, for Paul seems concerned simply with two classes, the valuable, typified by gold, silver, costly stones, and the worthless, the wood, hay or straw.

The workman may try to make the building as worthy of the foundation as possible.

Or, in slovenly fashion, he may be content to put into it that which costs him little or nothing.

Costly stones may be ‘precious stones’ used for ornamentation, or costly building materials, like marble

We must build with material that is worthy of the foundation.

The Corinthians were living in a way that was inconsistent with the foundation!

The foundation was there, they were saved, but they weren’t glorifying God.

They building thier life or thier church in a way that was divisive, sinful..to use Paul’s analogy with cheap materials.

Build your life in a manner worthy of foundation!

If I’m building a house and I spend thousands of dollars in the foundation, I’m not going throw something together on top of it.

The building should reflect the foundation!

Gold, silver, precious stones, vs wood, hay, and straw.

It means, if nothing else, that which is costly, rare, and expensive.

Giving to God that which costs us.

Our first and foremost, not our leftovers.

The judgement will not be whether a person is saved or unsaved, but whether we have been wise, or unwise builders.

What determines the quality?

Atleast 3 things:

1. Was it aligned with His word?

2. Was it with the right attitude?

Paul says I do this willingly, for Christ’s sake, not my own.

2

We stand on this foundation by the grace of God, and that is what motivates us!

What does even coming to church mean to you?

Why do you come?

Because it what your parent did, its how you were brought up?

How often do we say well I guess I’ll do it because somebody has to do it.

3. What was your ability?

When we give to God our first and best, according to what we have.

What you bring to God should cost you something.

When you give to God, to you give the best of what you have or just what you have left?

There is a way to give, and actually not be giving anything.

When you give money for tithe or offering, is the question what the least I can give and maintain my lifestyle.

Or, when you look for opportunities to serve, do we say, “After I do all the things I want to do, make time for my plans, I’ll see what I can do left.”

When's the last time you did something that scared you for God?

Or gave untill it hurt?

You see, I think that when we just give to God our leftover time, leftover money, even coming to church and not giving him Monday-Saturday, is not a sacrifice.

Everyday, daily activities are seen as building.

They are good things, but I don’t know they glorify God.

If you’re married, you don’t find time for your spouse, you make time for your spouse, and you find time for everything else.

Your walk with God shouold not ask what can I keep, but what can I give?

And then you may say, well when is it too much?

Application:

Do somethihng for God which scares you.

Do something for God which makes you uncomfortable.