Building The Church of Christ as Co-workers

Text: 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

This church was most powerful and charismatic yet sinful. Along with the work of God work of devil was also evident. Paul in his two letters talks about the works of God.

In this passage Paul says everything in church belongs to God. Ministry, believers, church, pastors, leaders everything is God's belonging. God is the creator.

This text could be divided into two.

There are two metaphor and one picture. First five verses addressed to leader of coworkers. Coworkers with one single purpose. When we understand that purpose of single we understand why Paul is writing.

Verse 5 its immaturity in the part of coworkers...!!! Leaders are mere labours in God's wine yard. First metaphor is from Isaiah 5 about wine yard.

Paul planted Appolos watered, all mere coworkers for one single purpose.

Verse 7 you just worked in God's, God gives the growth not you. Even Paul himself says he is nothing. Plants need to be taken care of until the day of the fruit. Water,  manures, sunlight etc is required.

Church leaders today think themselves to be the kings. They forget King of kings. They twist the rules so that they can have great crowd of followers. This kind of leadership is worldly leadership. Followers political parties don't care whether one leader is good or bad, moral or immoral, many simply for personal gain follow them blindly.

In subsequent verses Paul says all will get reward only after it has been tested with fire. Now metaphor of architect, farmer comes in the scene.

He talks about building as collective work not individual work.

Verse 16. You are the temple of God. It's not singular pronoun in original language but plural pronoun CHURCH IS THE TEMPLE OF GOD NOT INDIVIDUALS.

Verse10. He changes the tone to warnings and caution. Which foundation do all use today to build this building. It's only Jesus.

Six materials Paul mentions here:

Gold, silver, precious stones

Wood, hey, stubble

These two groups would be put to fire which comes out will be rewarded. Second group will never come out as same but as ashes. But first group will come out same.

You are the leaders for the future make sure what kind of leadership are you building within you today. If you don't fill  yourself with the word of God tomorrow you won't be able to stand in your church to defend anything significant. 

God will reward us in His day. What kind of disciple are becoming or making. Let's be mature when it comes to building Christ's church.

Source: A sermon Preached at CITS by Mr. Uday Mustafi

Posted in: Sermons