A building ministry..
What do we think apostles Paul and Apollos and others were planting and watering. Greek philosophy? the teachings of Buddha? Confusionism ? Roman Catholicism? How to get rich quick? How to be financially prosperous?
1 cor 3:6-15
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
What do the apostles have? - Christ
What are they planting? - Christ
What are they watering? - Christ
What is God growing? - Christ
The only thing these apostles knew and had, was Christ -
Phil 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Ministry of Christ
Many are not building Christ but other things. Philosophy, human wisdom, sound doctrine, heresy, how to get rich, how to live a successful life, how to have a long marriage. Evangelism only to see prayer of a sinners prayer, missions only to meet peoples physical needs.
They are building up peoples self, not Christ. The only thing which can withstand the fire of God's judgement is Christ (gold, silver, stones). Anything of ourselves or the world will be burnt up (wood, hay, straw).
1 Cor 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
2 Cor 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Build with Care
Build with care means be careful to build only Christ. It is very easy to not build Christ.
Maybe there is someone lonely, and I cheer them up with comforting verse "God is with you", and I teach them to read that verse and pray it aloud 20 times a day. What have I just done? I've just given them religion, rituals, and regulations, not Christ.
Many time we do it without realizing, by giving our advice and opinions. When someone comes to us for help, we must refrain from giving worldly advice and opinions, "Grandmommas advice" or we may be like Peter who told Christ he must not go to the cross! Many time we do not have God's kingdom or Christ in mind, we only want to meet the person's needs by our own self.
What does it mean to build and minister Christ?
How much growth of Christ is there, are we becoming more like Christ? The only thing which can help us be like Christ is not methods, teaching, doctrines, rituals or regulations, only Christ himself.
Christ is a very complex person. His humanity, his divinity, His human living, his suffering, his crucifixion, his humility, his obedience to the Father, his resurrection, and most importantly his ascension (with the associated sending of the power of the Spirit). These are the things we must learn to build into people. For example, when a person is having a difficult time, they don't need merely advice or comfort, they need to be told about Christs death and resurrection to bring them out of their situation of death and into life.
- is not merely a ministry which builds people up.
- is not merely to make them feel good...or encourages them. No.
- Is a ministry which builds Christ into people.
What do we think apostles Paul and Apollos and others were planting and watering. Greek philosophy? the teachings of Buddha? Confusionism ? Roman Catholicism? How to get rich quick? How to be financially prosperous?
1 cor 3:6-15
6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
What do the apostles have? - Christ
What are they planting? - Christ
What are they watering? - Christ
What is God growing? - Christ
The only thing these apostles knew and had, was Christ -
Phil 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Ministry of Christ
Many are not building Christ but other things. Philosophy, human wisdom, sound doctrine, heresy, how to get rich, how to live a successful life, how to have a long marriage. Evangelism only to see prayer of a sinners prayer, missions only to meet peoples physical needs.
They are building up peoples self, not Christ. The only thing which can withstand the fire of God's judgement is Christ (gold, silver, stones). Anything of ourselves or the world will be burnt up (wood, hay, straw).
1 Cor 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
2 Cor 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
Build with Care
Build with care means be careful to build only Christ. It is very easy to not build Christ.
Maybe there is someone lonely, and I cheer them up with comforting verse "God is with you", and I teach them to read that verse and pray it aloud 20 times a day. What have I just done? I've just given them religion, rituals, and regulations, not Christ.
Many time we do it without realizing, by giving our advice and opinions. When someone comes to us for help, we must refrain from giving worldly advice and opinions, "Grandmommas advice" or we may be like Peter who told Christ he must not go to the cross! Many time we do not have God's kingdom or Christ in mind, we only want to meet the person's needs by our own self.
What does it mean to build and minister Christ?
How much growth of Christ is there, are we becoming more like Christ? The only thing which can help us be like Christ is not methods, teaching, doctrines, rituals or regulations, only Christ himself.
Christ is a very complex person. His humanity, his divinity, His human living, his suffering, his crucifixion, his humility, his obedience to the Father, his resurrection, and most importantly his ascension (with the associated sending of the power of the Spirit). These are the things we must learn to build into people. For example, when a person is having a difficult time, they don't need merely advice or comfort, they need to be told about Christs death and resurrection to bring them out of their situation of death and into life.
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