I. MAKE SURE YOU BUILD UPON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

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1 Sermon outline and notes prepared by: Pastor Stephen Felker Swift Creek Baptist Church, Branders Bridge Rd., Colonial Heights, VA /20/05 I Corinthians 3:5-15 Christian Service and Reward Intro. Imagine that your life s work is over. You are waiting your turn to stand before Jesus Christ, where He will examine your life and your service unto Him. You hear Him say to the person in front of you, Well done, good and faithful servant. Then, you re next. You now stand before Jesus. You see His nail scared hand, which reminds you of the fact that He suffered and died for you. He loved you with an everlasting love. He gave His all for you. Now it s time for Him to examine what you have done for Him. He scans your service over the years. With eyes of fire He penetrates into your motivation. He looks for any souls that have been saved because of your life and witness. He looks determines if there were any Christians who grew in their faith, or were blessed by your loving ministry. Now, He is ready to announce your reward. There is a pause. Then the announcement is made. Knowing your life up to this moment, how would you feel if the scene I just described took place, and you were standing before the Lord. Would you be apprehensive about what Jesus would say? Well, you will stand before Jesus Christ some day. And in my text of Scripture today, Paul tells us what we need to know and do in order to have a good outcome on that day of judgment. If you are a Christian, you will not be judged regarding your salvation, 1 but you will be judged regarding your service. This morning I want to offer you one big reason why you should serve the Lord faithfully. Simply put, Jesus offers to you an eternal reward. The rewards and wages of this life are so temporary, but the reward that Jesus offers is eternal. But first, I want you to see what you must do to receive that reward. Let s get the context. Paul is talking about Christian service, about building up the church of God, both numerically and spiritually. In vv. 5-9 he compares the church to the crop of a field. Christian workers plant the seed of the Word of God. They water and cultivate the field. But God is the one who causes the seed to grow and bear fruit. Then, beginning in the last of v.9, Paul changes the illustration. He begins to compare the church to a building. God wants His church to be built up. We are to be like a shining city upon a hill. So with that background, let s see what we must do to build up God s church, and receive an eternal reward. First: I. MAKE SURE YOU BUILD UPON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION In v. 10 Paul says, According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation. Most everyone knows of the importance of the foundation. The foundation is so important because it determines the size, shape, and strength of the superstructure. If you want a building to last, you must have a good foundation. You cannot build a house upon a foundation of sand. You need to build upon something hard and solid like solid rock or concrete. When we lived on Clifton Drive, during one dry, hot summer we noticed several big cracks developing in our brick. We found out that we had shrink-swell soil. We needed a better foundation! What is the spiritual foundation for a life or for a church? The church is not to be build 1 It is the clear teaching of Jesus in Jn. 5:24 that a believer will never enter into judgment, but immediately passes from (spiritual) death into eternal life, the moment he believes.

2 upon a pastor, or human wisdom, or tradition. In v.11 Paul identifies the true foundation of the church. He said, For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. He knew that Jesus Christ is the only proper foundation. That is why Paul said back in 2:2, For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He had the godly wisdom to know that Jesus Christ is the only proper foundation for a life, or a lasting work of God (v.10). This also remind me of the time when Jesus asked His disciples, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Then Jesus said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter stepped forward and answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Then Jesus said, " you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church (Mt. 16:13-18). I believe Jesus is the rock, and the church is built up when people place their faith in Jesus, just like Peter did. So what should we do? We build a right foundation for a Church by proclaiming the gospel, point souls to Jesus Christ. We must build a church by leading people to faith in Christ. He is the only way of salvation (John 14:6). Churches that do a lot of nice little works, but do not win people to faith in Jesus Christ are not laying the right foundation. What they are doing has little lasting value. A ministry may seem to be successful for a time, but if it is not founded on Christ, it will eventually collapse and disappear. Is your service contributing to the salvation of souls for Christ? Is your home founded upon Jesus Christ? Now once we lay the right foundation, then you need to build upon that foundation. So the second requirement for receiving an eternal reward is this: II. MAKE SURE YOU BUILD WITH THE RIGHT MATERIALS The Lord promises to reward His people, but not just anything we do will bring reward. Notice what Paul says in the last of v.10, But let each one take heed how he builds on it, that is, on the foundation. He talks about what kind of materials we can use to build up His church, His temple. It does matter what kind of material we use. It does matter what kind of workmanship we employ. Why? Because after our work is finished, God will inspect our work. I remember when we built this building a building inspector from the country would come and inspect the work after each phase of the building. In v.12 Paul mentions that you may build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw. In this verse Paul speaks of the different kinds of material we can use in building a church. There is only one foundation, but there are many types of materials for erecting the spiritual edifice. What good will it do to have the right foundation, but use shoddy materials? It s not enough just to be busy for the Lord. We are to work, but we are to make sure we are doing the right kind of work. God wants us to build only with the best materials, because only the best materials are worthy of Him. We are to do our best in serving the Lord. Now Paul says that there are basically 2 kinds of materials that we can use to build up His church in this world. Based on vv I want to make my first appeal in this regard: A. Don t Use Cheap Materials That Do not Last - In v.12 Paul says that some Christians build with wood, hay, straw. You need to think of the kind of construction that was used for homes of the common people. Wood would be used for the frame, rafters, the doors, and the windows, while hay refers to dried grass, which, if mixed with mud, would provide the walls, and straw would be used for the roof. These are materials that are not valuable, and do not endure like stone, or precious metals. What kind of church work is like building with wood, hay, and straw? Based on v.15, we can say that such materials are subject to burning. They are subject to decay. In other words, they

3 do not last. They may be easier to work with and cheaper, but they do not endure like gold, silver, and precious stones. So the question is, What kind of church work has little lasting value? Have you ever spent hours doing something that had no lasting value? [Give example]. It is easy to become deeply involved in all sorts of church activities and projects that are hay work. They are not bad programs or projects, but they are trivial. They may appear to be good in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of God they are just wood, hay, and straw. Too often, churches seek to grow or do God s work by doing things that have no lasting value. Let me give you some examples of wood, hay, and straw: 1. Build with Leadership that Merely Has Good Human Qualities A church may try to get a certain pastor who has many attractive human characteristics: he is good looking, and has a dynamic, friendly personality. They make a nice offer to such a person and he seems to do a good job. But another church comes along a makes a better offer, and he leaves, and within a few weeks the church is right back where it was. In such a case there was no lasting value to his ministry. 2. Build with Attractive Buildings The work of God is not dependent upon a physical building. The church is first and foremost the people of God. We should reach people, and build buildings to accommodate the people, but we do not build buildings to attract the people. 3. Build with Entertainment Just the other day I heard someone describe a certain evangelist as 95% entertainment, and 5% preaching. 4. Build by Conforming to Worldly Trends and Philosophies - When you remember that Paul has been writing about worldly wisdom in these first 3 chapters, you can easily see the connection. The Corinthians were trying to build their church by man s wisdom when they should have been depending on the wisdom of God as found in the Word of God. Do you know what is wrong with all of these approaches? The world can build an organization with good looking, talented leaders. They can build even more attractive buildings. They can draw bigger crowds with special events. They can pack an auditorium with best-selling authors who give the latest worldly trends and thinking. But the Bible says that the world is passing away. Every secular and godless organization, government, or structure will go up in smoke some day. We cannot build God s church simply by imitating the world. Now here s the real question: What is our church doing that can only be explained by the power of God? And if you look at vv.6-7, you will see that Paul and Apollos did their work, but the success and growth was primarily through the work of God through them. God alone makes the plant to grow, and God alone turns the hearts of men and regenerates them. So we must build with materials that God has promised to bless. And so that leads us to the right kind of materials to build God s church: B. Build with Materials that Have Lasting Value In v.12 he gives the example of gold, silver, and precious stones. What would these kinds of materials represent in the service of God? These materials are valuable. Furthermore, look also at v.14, If anyone s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. So we are talking about doing things for Christ that have lasting value. Jesus said in Jn. 15:16,...I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain... So what kind of work has lasting value? The examples given in vv.5-8 are sharing the gospel and teaching the Word of God. Can you think of anything that you can do that will have more lasting value than leading a soul to faith in Jesus Christ? If you win a soul to Christ, you have done a work that has lasting value. Apollos did a great job of helping Christian grow in their faith. If you help Christians grow in their faith through discipleship, then you are making a lasting change in their lives. Those of you who are S.S. teachers or AWANA leaders are doing that. That

4 too, is a good work that has lasting value. Other examples include prayer. And the primary way to bring God s power into our lives is by prayer and dependence upon Him. Furthermore, loving service and good works done in the name of Jesus has lasting value. I Cor. 13:13 says, And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Love is what endures. Jesus said in Mk. 9:41, For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. Jesus said in Mt 23:11, But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. When all is said and done, whatever of lasting value that is done will be God s work through us. Also, keep in mind that people are eternal and enduring, not things. Our ministry must be people-centered. So make sure you are serving Jesus, but also make sure you are not just doing busy work. Do what really matters. Do what has lasting value. Win a soul to Christ. Share the Word of God. Pray. Do an act of loving service in Jesus name. III. RELY UPON GOD S ENABLING GRACE This is brought out in vv. 5-7, Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Then he says in v.10, According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation. Do you see the point I am making from this text? We must work to build up God s church, but in the final analysis the results belong to God. And our ability to work effectively is through the enabling grace of God. Paul said later in 15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. The primary application of this truth is that we must work for Jesus, not relying upon our own strength and wisdom, but relying upon the strength, abilities, and wisdom that God provides. We must work, and then trust God for the results. IV. ALWAYS BE MINDFUL OF THE APPROACHING EXAMINATION Notice what Paul says in v.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. You know, when you are building a house, you can use shoddy workmanship and cheap materials. At first, a good paint job may cover up the inferior work and materials. But in time, it will become clear what you have really done. Even so, the kind of work you have done to build up the church of the Lord Jesus will eventually become fully manifest. Right now, we may not clearly see what kind of work each person is doing. We may be fooled by appearances. But at the Judgment Seat of Christ, each person s work will be put to the test, and it will become clear what kind of work it was. Paul tells us when that will take place. In v.13 Paul says, for the Day will declare it. When Paul says the Day, that is a shortened form of the Day of the Lord. That is a reference to the return of Jesus, and the Judgment Seat of Christ that will soon follow. Rev. 22:12 says, And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 2 Cor. 5:10 says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Approaching the ruins of the main thoroughfare of ancient Corinth, today one can see the bema, the judgment seat, a large raised platform some 8-10 in height. It was a place to which victorious warriors came to be rewarded for their heroism. Also, athletes were crowned there.

5 Though we will not face judgment concerning our salvation, we will stand before Christ and give an account of our lives and service. The day will come when we will stand before Jesus Christ and He will examine every bit of our church work. Paul says that fire will be used to test our work. Fire is often a means of testing. And that fits the illustration. Fire would burn up wood, hay, and straw, but it would not burn up gold, silver, or precious stones. Now since Paul is just using fire as part of a continuing illustration, we can assume that the fire is not literal, 2 just as the wood, hay, and straw is not literal, but represents something else. The main point is that our work will be put to the test to determine its true quality and nature. Our work may appear to pass the examination of men, but God is all-knowing. According to Rev. 1:14 & 2:18, our Lord has eyes of fire. Every action, thought, or motive that is ignoble and unworthy of Him will be incinerated in the penetrating gaze of the Lord, our Judge. And many churches that are considered to be great in the eyes of man will go up in smoke during the testing by fire. Knowing that our life s work will be tested should have a major impact on what we do for Jesus, and what we financially support. We need to ask God to give us the discernment to know the difference between shoddy materials, and lasting, quality materials. Now as we think about this coming judgment, there are two possible results of this examination. You either pass or your fail. First: A. You May Loose All Reward - Paul says in v.15, If any man s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. All to which such a person has devoted his life shall be suddenly swept away. There are going to be some people in heaven who will be there because their foundation is Christ but who will smell as if they had been bought at a fire sale! Everything they ever did will have gone up in smoke. They will not receive a reward for their works. They will be saved, but they will suffer the loss of a reward for all eternity! Is that the way it will be with you? I hope not. It need not. Who wants to spend all his life in church ministry and then end in such a way? In II John 8 we read, Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Likewise, Jesus said in Revelation 3:11 Jesus said, Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. I wonder how many here today used to work for the Lord and have dropped out. What a shame to loose your reward! After spending months writing his book, The French Revolution, Thomas Carlyle took his manuscript to his friend John Stuart Mill for his comments. Mill passed the manuscript on to a lady named Mrs. Chapman, who read it by the fireplace on the evening of March 5, Before she went to bed that night, she laid the manuscript on the fireplace mantel. Early the next morning, the servant girl came to clean the room and to start the fire in the fireplace. Not knowing what the papers were, the servant used the manuscript as fuel to kindle the fire. The work of months was burned up in a matter of seconds. Don t let that be true of your work. Build on the right foundation. Help build God s church with things that last, like evangelism, teaching God s Word, prayer, and loving service in Jesus name. Rely upon God s enabling grace. And if you do, the 2 nd outcome will surely be true of you: B. You May Receive an Eternal Reward In v.14 Paul says, If anyone s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. The word reward in v.14 and v.8 are translated 2 The object of the testing of fire is not the soul but each person s work. This is not the purging of evil (Purgatory) but the annihilation of what is worthless. We are not saved by fire, but some are saved as through fire. This is a judgment of service and not sin.

6 from the same word, which in Rom. 6:23 is translated wages. The Lord will pay you with eternal wages for serving Him well. But keep in mind that the wages mentioned are entirely a gift of grace. Paul does not tell us here in this text what kind of reward we will receive. But based on other Scriptures, I will mention 3 for your consideration: 1. Word of Approval from Jesus - To me, one of the greatest rewards a Christian can receive is to just hear Christ say, Well done, good and faithful servant (Mt. 25:21). Isn t that what you want to hear Jesus say to you at the end of our life? If I preach your funeral some day I will say some nice things about you. But that pales into insignificance compared to hearing Jesus say words of affirmation about you. One thing they teach you in leadership and parenting classes is the importance of giving approval and commendation. People are motivated by that more than just about anything else. That is what I am working for! I want to hear Jesus say those words of approval regarding my work. 2. Crowns (stephanos) will be given as our reward. This is really just a visible expression of affirmation. This comes from the illustration of what happened to the victors of Greek athletic contests. A victor s wreath was place upon their head, and all who saw them that day knew they had received the highest praise for their efforts. 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Will you receive a crown some day? 2 Timothy 4:8 says, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. And so this leads to the 3 rd reward: 3. Future Responsibility - Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25:14ff which clearly implies that leadership or responsibility will be at least part of our reward. If you fail to serve Christ in this life, you will miss out on the opportunity to serve Christ in significant ways in the coming kingdom of God. I want to challenge you to make it your goal in life to receive such rewards from the Lord Jesus. Give your life in faithful service to the Lord Jesus. A missionary who had been in China for many years and a famous entertainer who had been there for two weeks were traveling back to the States on the same boat. When they docked in New York, the missionary saw a crowd of the entertainer's fans waiting at the pier. Lord, I don't understand, the missionary said. I gave 42 years of my life to China, and he gave only two weeks, yet there are thousands welcoming him home and nobody here to welcome me. Then the Lord spoke to his heart and said, Son, you're not home yet. Conclusion: Will you receive a reward for service done during your life? Will you receive that blessed word of approval from Jesus, Well done, good and faithful servant? Well, the day is coming when your life and service will be examined by the Lord soon after the Return of our Lord, and before His Kingdom begins on earth. This will be true of every Christian, and not just leaders in the church. Let me tell you again what you must do [review]. This morning I have made an appeal for Christians to be motivated by the promise of reward to serve Jesus faithfully, and in the right way. But some of you may need to take the first step of trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior. You must first lay the right foundation. Jesus is the foundation upon which a life must be built that will last for all eternity. Then I want to invite Christians to rededicate your lives to service unto Christ. Some may even surrender to the ministry or missionary service. God is calling you, and you want your life to count for God and for all eternity.

7 Then God is calling some here today to join this church, and help us in the work of building a great church that will have a lasting impact for God. If He is leading you to join our church, we will welcome you. Sources: Oliver B. Greene, The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (Greenville: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1965), vv only; R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul s First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1937); John F. MacArthur, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Corinthians (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984); Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Vol. 14 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977 reprint); J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible, Vol. 5 (Pasadena: Thru The Bible Radio, 1983); Paige Patterson, The Troubled Triumphant Church: an Exposition of First Corinthians (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983); Larry Pierce, Online Bible [CD-ROM] (Ontario: Timnathserah Inc., 1996); Jerry Vines, God Speaks Today: A Study of I Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979); Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise: I Corinthians (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1983). Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982).