Sticks and Stones

The Church is the Temple of the Living God.

My grandfather’s work besides farming was a heavy machine operator. The world famous bridge in West Virginia, the New River Gorge Bridge was one of his projects.

At time of construction, the New River Gorge Bridge's arch made it the longest steel arch bridge in the world, a title it held until 2003 with the construction of China's Shanghai's Lupu Bridge. It is currently the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the United States and the third highest bridge in the country.

A good foundation is needed. They did not build with timber. Concrete and large stone ledges comprise the foundation…

The Jewish Temple Solomon built was fabricated off-site and then transported and assembled on the Temple Mount. It was an amazing undertaking built with precision.

They used stones for the building of it.

Reconstructed art depicting worshipers around the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount.

Sticks and Stones: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” A common childhood chant meaning hurtful words cannot cause any physical pain and thus will be ignored or disregarded.

Sticks and Stones are used for building. Americans general use sticks (2x4’s) for our construction. It is fast, less expensive, but not as long lasting.

More expensive, longer in construction and longer lasting buildings are made with stone.

Ephesians 2:19–22 (AV)

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

The Foundation of our Faith is the Bible. Some say the OT is not needed today. Bad idea. Our Faith is built on the Prophets (OT and NT) and the Apostles (NT).

The Chief (Most important) Cornerstone is Jesus.

The Stones in the Building are US! Gods people are stones.

Paul switches to the metaphor of a building and declares that both Jews and Gentiles are “stones,” as it were, of a building. The building rests on a solid foundation—the faith, testimony, and life of Christ’s closest followers, his apostles. It also rests on the foundation of prophets. These are usually taken as New Testament prophets who proclaim and explain the Word of God. It may well include also the work of the Old Testament prophets in laying the foundation on which Christ built. (Galatians,Eph, Phil commentary)

Just before COVID19 invaded our country, Bill Cole and I helped build a church building in Grenada. They locals there considered every house built with wood to be temporary. Only stone structures were deemed permanent!

1 Peter 2:4–8 (AV)

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

The Church is the Temple of the Living God!

Sometimes people say, and even pray about a church building: “This is the house of God” or “It’s good to be in God’s House.” Not really true. The People (in the building and outside the building ) who are IN CHRIST are the Church or House of God! We are God’s House.

HOW can we HONOR Jesus in This Temple???

Be the Building God has called you to be!

Build on the Foundation of the Bible. 20

NOTE: This passage teaches the HOLY SPIRIT is building us. In connection with other passages, we discover that we are also responsible for seeing the Holy Spirit building our lives… For simplicity, we will say “Build” as in “You are building and being built.”

Thru the Bible Vol. 47: The Epistles (Ephesians) (The Meaning of the Construction)

We are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” This is important. It does not mean that the apostles and prophets were the foundation but that they personally laid the foundation.

Acts 2:42 (AV)

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The apostles and prophets laid a good foundation for the church.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (AV)

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary (b. The Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles (2:11–22))

The question is asked whether this does not go against the Pauline picture of the house in 1 Corinthians 3:11, where it is said that ‘There can be no other foundation beyond that which is already laid; … Jesus Christ himself’ (NEB). To overcome the assumed difficulty some have suggested that we should take the words here to mean the foundation that they laid in the lives of others, or that they had built on in their work. We need not feel that this is necessary. What we have here we may regard simply as a slightly different handling of the same metaphor as that in 1 Corinthians 3. (Cf. Rev. 21:14 for a use that is different again but not contradictory.) There the apostle thought of himself and others as builders, here as stones in the building.

The Apostles and Prophets built their foundation on THE Foundation - Jesus. The WORD was made flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus, His Word is the FOUNDATION.

Ephesians 3:5 (AV)

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

The church is not built on the LAW (OT). We need the OT to see how we fall short and to learn how much we need God’s grace!

The Church is built on God’s Grace.

We are in the dispensation of Grace.

The OT Saints looked for Jesus to come the first time. We are looking forward to Jesus coming a second time and we KNOW He came the first time!

Revelation 21:12–13 (AV)

And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.

The OT Saints ( 12 Tribes, Prophets) pointed the direction of God and the need for God’s grace to get into Heaven. The OT could not get us into Heaven. The OT does show us how we fall short! through the Jewish messiah the world can be saved!

Revelation 21:14 (AV)

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The Foundation of Heaven is built on the Foundations Named after the Apostles.

Revelation 21:22 (AV)

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

Solomon’s Temple was designed after the Temple/dwelling place of God in Heaven. God is central to any temple.

Word Pictures in the New Testament (Revelation 21:22)

“Temple I did not see in it.” The whole city is a temple in one sense (verse 16), but it is something more than a temple even with its sanctuary and Shekinah Glory in the Holy of Holies. For the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb are the temple thereof

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 21)

21:19 every kind of precious stone These stones recall those that were set into the high priest’s breastplate (see Exod 28:17–20).21:21 each one of the gates was from a single pearl Describes 12 massive pearls—each pearl is its own gate.

Our FOUNDATION OF FAITH IS JESUS AND HIS WORD. Through the Messaih and only by Him, one can be saved!

HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN? Have you become a Christian?

My Home church, where my early spiritual formation took place was the Berean Baptist Church in Sciotoville, OH. After several building programs, the church needed a new sanctuary for worship. The building plans called for a certain amount of congregate for the foundation. The owner of the construction company, a Christian man, tripled the amount of concrete for the foundation. He said something to the effect, “I want this building to stand until Jesus comes.”

Picture of Church Building?

Build on the Foundation of the Bible.

Find God’s Blueprint for Building. 20-21

From the Corner stone, all the other stones are set in place. Depending on the corner stone, the other stones are shaped and integrated into the building. Everything is framed according to the blueprint based off the laying of the first stone. The blueprint for the Christian is based on the Life of Christ!

How do You Fit in God’s Church? Every person is needed here.

How do you Fit into God’s plan? God has a specific plan for you.

Elaine found ways to serve others and she was a foody, she loved serving coffee in the church kitchen. Who is

God wants us to be growing and following His blueprint for our lives!

You and I are the Temple of the Living God! We are to be HOLY.

HOW DID JESUS SEE THE TEMPLE??? Matthew 21 gives a glimpse.

A Place of Prayer.

Matthew 21:13 (AV)

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

A Place of Power. God’s power can be seen in the Christian’s changed life.

Matthew 21:14 (AV)

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

A Place of Praise.

Matthew 21:15–16 (AV)

And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Build on the Foundation of the Bible.

Find God’s Blueprint for Building. 20-21

Become a Reliable Part of the Building. 22

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (συν-οικοδομέω)

Builder = συν-οικοδομέω, -ῶ: pres. pass. συνοικοδομοῦμαι; a. to build together or with others , b. to put together or construct by building, out of several things to build up one whole,

You are part of a whole.

You are part of a bigger picture.

The weakest link reveals the overall strength of a chain, or a building.

Others Rely on You. (Together) WE NEED YOU.

Holy Spirit Resides in You. (Habitation)

The Holy Spirit is Building Us! He lives in us while building us! “Builded”

Your life is still under construction.

You do not “arrive” spiritually speaking while on earth.

Everyday we are growing in faithfulness, love, and devotion in the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is putting the “finishing touches” on your life.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (AV)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Conclusion:

In addition to the world famous bridge in West Virginia, my grandfather also helped build the High School I graduated from. One wing of classrooms was build on fill dirt, built up for construction. The foundation was not that good and several years ago, that wing was condemned and the school had to rebuild on a better foundation.

Matthew 7:24–27 (AV)

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The Church is the Temple of the Living God!

Build on the Foundation of the Bible.

Find God’s Blueprint for Building. 20-21

Become a Reliable Part of the Building. 22

RESPONSE:

Build Your Life on a Good Foundation - Jesus and His Word.

Discover God’s Blueprint for your life and do it!

This Church depends on you. Are you dependable?

Are you honoring the Lord as the Holy Temple God has called for you to be?

Are you a Christian? Be saved today.