2024-06-16

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Our passage today is a clear reminder of our place within the body of Christ. We each have a responsibility to serve the body. Paul uses this portion of the letter to challenge the church to remember whom they serve.

1. Where you started

Vss 1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there areenvy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

• We all start our spiritual journey as “babes” in Christ taking slow but deliberate steps towards knowing him
• Paul is writing of the two types of believers present within the church: the mature and the immature
• As Warren Weirsbe states, the immature “knows only Bible stories, not Bible doctrines.”
• Some get their eyes of Christ and follow man which will always lead to the wrong place

1. Where you belong

Vss 5-11 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 areGod’s building. 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. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ

• It is vital we understand where our strength lies; it does not come from our ability or the strength of others…it comes from God
• WE should focus our lives and ministry (and the local church) not on a person but on Christ. God “gives the increase.”
• We are created by God for a reason
• We must build our lives on Him

1. Where you don’t belong

Vss 12-17 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. 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.

• Recognizing our purpose, we build our spiritual lives based on God’s plans
• We build our churches on the things which have eternal effect
• When we lose sight of what is important, we will build what does not matter
• To build properly, we must remain in shape

1. Where you’re going

Vss 18-23 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

• Paul once again admonishes the church for the division among them
• He tells them not to fix their eyes on the things of men, but rather on the things of God

Action points:

1. Make it your life’s goal to mature in your faith

• Move beyond the “spiritual milk”
• Grow in your faith daily

1. Exercise your muscles

• Find your place to contribute and get to work
• Determine to serve the body every month

1. Don’t let the world corrupt the temple

• Stay away from the “junk” that is so easy to find