Builders Together

Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Introduction

Text -

Title - Builders Together
1 Corinthians 3:5–9 NKJV
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Background

In Paul describes to the believers in Corinth how ministry works.
there are the ministers
ministers through whom the people believed
there is the church
God’s field
God’s building
the workers
master builder - Paul laid the foundation of the house of God
other workers - they build on the foundation
other workers
the workers are responsible for using quality materials
the work
the works will be tested by fire
the work that endures is rewarded
the work that gets burned is lost
The house of God is not built up through a one-man effort. It is built up by the contribution, collaboration, team effort, and support of many workers.
hence, the 5-fold ministry
even apostles have different measures of the gift
No two workers have the same measure of the gifts.
different gifts
different measures of the same gift
Every contribution to the body will be tested for quality.
a quality work endures
a non-quality work gets burned
a non-quality work defiles the church of God

My Main Point

A thriving, growing ministry is the result of the joint-effort of workers who understand their God-given gifts and measures, and contribute them to the work by providing quality service that endure the test and gets rewarded.

Sermon Points

How can we work together with our different gifts and measures?
How do we become “builders together?

We must work towards a common goal.

1 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3.5

The primary goal is: to preach the gospel of Christ for the salvation of souls.

whether we are preachers or not, those who part of the ministry should work towards this primary goal.

The secondary goals are:

building communities around the word of God.
Edifying the body of Christ.
ministering to specific needs.
Defending the gospel from its enemies.

We must recognize the nature and purpose of each other’s work.

1 Corinthians 3:6–8 NKJV
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Paul was the planter
Apollos was the waterer
they will be rewarded according to their labors

The Master Builder

1 Corinthians 3:10 NKJV
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 3.10
Paul was a “master builder” - Grk. architekton, builder and designer
Paul was a “master builder” - Grk. architekton, builder and designer
MacArthur - Paul’s specialty was designing and building spiritual foundations.
Paul gives a distinction to his ministry and calling.
He was called to be an apostle, preacher, teacher - ;
he was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and to establish churches
Master builders are those who are called to pioneer churches, or plant churches.
A master builder is a apostolic work, a missionary work
Master builders and preachers and teachers of the Word, called to establish churches.
Other Characteristics of a Master Builder
he sees the whole building in his mind
he knows the right materials that is required in the building
he is observant to kind of work that the other builders do

Other Builders

1 Corinthians 3:11–13 NKJV
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3.11-13
The “other builders” are those who are called to continue on the work established.
preachers and teachers who build the faith of the believers
ministers who contribute to the work by providing services according to their measure.
Romans 12.6-
Romans 12:6–8 NKJV
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We must contribute quality work.

1 Corinthians 3.12-14
1 Corinthians 3:12–13 NKJV
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:12–14 NKJV
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
1 Corinthians 3.12-15
The builders are responsible for the quality of materials they will use.
Quality materials - dedicated, spiritual service; God-centered service;
Inferior materials - shallow activity with no eternal value; man-centered service;
Quality materials endure the test
The work of the builders will be tested.
Inferior materials get burned
The builders are responsible for whatever happens to the house of God.
1 Corinthians 3:15–17 NKJV
15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
defile - actually means “destroy” (Grk. phtheiro) make a mess, disorder, become useless
the materials contributed by the builders can build or destroy the house of God.
How to provide “Quality Work”
Give it your best
Be passionate with your work
-10
Become fitted together
Check on each other - warning, prayer, admonition

Conclusion

SONG - THIS IS YOUR HOUSE
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more