Bible Studies
What Are We Building?
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. In the Alice in Wonderland adventure, Alice comes to a junction in the road that leads in different directions, she asks the Cheshire Cat, “Cheshire… would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”“That depends a good deal on where you want to go to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where,” replied Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
2. Uncertainty of direction often characterizes our lives. Like Alice, we do not know which way to go from here. We are uncertain. Wandering. 3. One consultant to businesses and organizations described his function as asking two important questions: What are we supposed to be doing? And, how well are we doing it? 4. A strong sense of direction leads to deliberate actions that give purpose,and even meaning to our lives. But there are different perspectives. While one man sees himself merely as working, another sees himself as building a wall, while yet another sees himself as building a great structure for the benefit of mankind. 5. What are you building with your life? Where do you want to go from here? If you don’t much care then it doesn’t matter which way you go, but if you are building something significant it makes all the difference.Discussion:
I. Paul considered himself to be building a holy temple (1 Cor. 3:10-17; Eph. 2:19-22).A. We all know that Paul was specially chosen by God, specially gifted in order to carry out the work that he did in preaching the gospel.
1. And so, we may discredit ourselves and our paltry contributions, but we are builders too.
2. The Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Cor. 3:16) and He is at work in us both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
B. We must begin our work with the appropriate foundation (1 Cor. 3:11).
1. It is the message of the apostles and prophets that is the foundation (Eph. 2:20).
2. Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.
II. It affected the way he saw himself and others (1 Cor. 3:5-9).A. It is interesting to me how great men see themselves.
1. A veteran of WW II was asked by his grandson, “Granddad are you a hero?” No, son I am not, but I served in a company of heroes.
2. Great men see themselves as servants of others (1 Cor. 3:5).
a. Paul saw himself as a servant of God, first.
b. He would have no man to exalt himself (1 Cor. 3:18ff; note also chapter 4).
c. As a servant of God he served others in taking them the message of the gospel (1 Cor. 3:5).
B. Their direction, their goals, their buildings are for themselves.
1. They have their reward.
2. Those who build the house of God have their reward (1 Cor. 3:14-15).
III. It affected the way he lived (1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Tim. 2:8-10).A. From a worldly perspective it was not attractive (2 Cor. 4:9-13).
B. It lead to a different kind of reward 2 Tim. 2:8-10).
IV. It affected what he taught (2 Tim. 2:14-26; 3:1-17).A. He taught others to turn away from wrangling about words to the word of truth.
B. He taught reliance upon Scripture.
V. It affected the way he died (2 Tim. 4:6-8).Conclusion:
1. Who is being impacted by your life? What are you building? 2. Are you building a holy temple in the Lord?
