WORKS: PURIFIED OR FRIED? (9 OF 36)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:9-15
This content is part of a series.
Works: Purified or Fried? (9 of 36)
Series: Saints Gone Wild
Keith Krell
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
During the Middle Ages many Gothic churches were built. Gothic churches were elaborate and beautiful buildings. They required great time and energy to build. Yet what is most fascinating about these churches is the manner in which they were constructed. A mine was established, often as much as 50 miles from the place where the church was to be erected. When the rocks were mined volunteers from all over the countryside would form a living chain from the mine to the building site. The rocks would then be passed from hand to hand all the way to the construction site. If anyone in the rock chain dropped the stone or failed to do his or her part the church could not be built up.
Today, the church is still dependent upon believers faithfully working together to build the church. If we fail to properly build Christ's church she will never be all that God desires her to be. More importantly, the Bible declares that our future reward comes from building Christ's church, here and now. In other words, what we do with our lives here on earth will have serious ramifications on our heavenly experience. Consequently, the time to prepare for tomorrow is today.
In 1 Cor 3:9-15, Paul describes the church as a building. He stresses the quality we should strive for in constructing each stage-from laying the foundation, through the actual construction, to the final inspection. And in this image he gives some of Christianity's nuts and bolts, in the form of two construction tips.
1. Make sure to build on the right foundation (3:9-11). In 3:9 Paul writes, "For we [Paul and Apollos] are God's fellow workers; you [Corinthians] are God's field, God's building." Verse 9 is what is called a "hinge verse." It closes out 3:5-8 and opens up 3:10-15. In 3:9b, Paul transitions with the statement: "You are God's field, God's building." In the previous section (3:5-9a), Paul used Apollo ...
Series: Saints Gone Wild
Keith Krell
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
During the Middle Ages many Gothic churches were built. Gothic churches were elaborate and beautiful buildings. They required great time and energy to build. Yet what is most fascinating about these churches is the manner in which they were constructed. A mine was established, often as much as 50 miles from the place where the church was to be erected. When the rocks were mined volunteers from all over the countryside would form a living chain from the mine to the building site. The rocks would then be passed from hand to hand all the way to the construction site. If anyone in the rock chain dropped the stone or failed to do his or her part the church could not be built up.
Today, the church is still dependent upon believers faithfully working together to build the church. If we fail to properly build Christ's church she will never be all that God desires her to be. More importantly, the Bible declares that our future reward comes from building Christ's church, here and now. In other words, what we do with our lives here on earth will have serious ramifications on our heavenly experience. Consequently, the time to prepare for tomorrow is today.
In 1 Cor 3:9-15, Paul describes the church as a building. He stresses the quality we should strive for in constructing each stage-from laying the foundation, through the actual construction, to the final inspection. And in this image he gives some of Christianity's nuts and bolts, in the form of two construction tips.
1. Make sure to build on the right foundation (3:9-11). In 3:9 Paul writes, "For we [Paul and Apollos] are God's fellow workers; you [Corinthians] are God's field, God's building." Verse 9 is what is called a "hinge verse." It closes out 3:5-8 and opens up 3:10-15. In 3:9b, Paul transitions with the statement: "You are God's field, God's building." In the previous section (3:5-9a), Paul used Apollo ...
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