The Sermon Building The Body Of Christ by David McGee
Mar 25, 2012
Building The Body Of Christ (40:27)
Referenced Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 3:5-17; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Matthew 20:20-28; 1 Corinthians 14-15; Ephesians 2:17-22
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SELECT `line` FROM `faog_bible` WHERE `book`='1Cor' AND `cap`=14-15 AND `version`='WEB'1 Corinthians 3:5-17
5) Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?
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 the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9) For we are God‘s fellow workers. You are God‘s farming, God‘s building.
10) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
11) For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12) But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;
13) each man‘s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man‘s work is.
14) If any man‘s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
15) If any man‘s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.
16) Don‘t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God‘s Spirit lives in you?
17) If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God‘s temple is holy, which you are.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
1) Brothers, I couldn‘t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ.
2) I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren‘t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,
3) for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren‘t you fleshly, and don‘t you walk in the ways of men?
4) For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren‘t you fleshly?
Matthew 20:20-28
20) Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21) He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your kingdom."
22) But Jesus answered, "You don‘t know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to him, "We are able."
23) He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
24) When the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brothers.
25) But Jesus called them to him, and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26) It shall not be so among you, but whoever would become great among you will be your servant.
27) Whoever would be first among you will be your bondservant,
28) even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
1 Corinthians 14-15
Ephesians 2:17-22
17) He came and preached peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near.
18) For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19) So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20) being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
21) in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
22) in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
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On my on them than I thought I was off Buffalo and I kept pushing the button of going the wrong way society back on back on topic, I thought you build a temple. How do you build your house while we call Bob the builder Bob the builder sorry we build our example, we build our house by using designs we build in this case really. Paul uses the blueprint of an architect drive blueprints and then look at. We were doing it with higher contractor. We oversee the project in the work would begin the process of construction would be there so involved is going on it. If we were building a house of building a structure you wouldn't hire me. I believe the worker but not the designer I would be. I don't draw things very well. Why did I I drew a couple of things in the in design, flash, but that what they never built them, but the so young. We were building a new chart shot with one and know how we're going pay for and how big your life if you know so we we do those types of things, but Paul in writing to the church at Corinth, he encounters a problem with the church contractors and the contractors that he is talking about is he's using building a building as an illustration as building themselves individually, and they were and what he's telling there is when you are building your South. Some of you are trying to build on the wrong foundation. So if you are building a house and he put the foundation and an innate, they delivered the structure that they were going to put on there. It wouldn't that because you're trying to put the wrong house on the wrong foundation of us telling the church acquired that that's what they're doing and in verses one through four. He says. But for right now. Friends, I'm completely frustrated with you a three thousand Circuit Court. These people. I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God again dismount. You're not dealing with each other right you see in this limiting house. This living structure that we are part of we. We understand one are where our spiritual process is by how we relate to others and an end of foundation. Of course Paul says is Jesus Christ. Because you're acting like infant stimulation Disney relationship with Christ capable doing nothing more than nursing at the breast while then all nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more than a slamming them to death because these individuals are thinking they are so spiritual, and there is so provided there in their spiritual growth and Paul says you're having, you know better than infants in all and in all nursing at your mother 's breast as long as you grab for what makes you feel good. It makes you look important. Are you really much different than abatement. The breast content only with everything going on going your way, what anyone says I'm on call side. Another¢ for Paulus are to being totally infantile site talking about how that people look at themselves. How do they put things in perspective and how the they are trying to build in South, but not built upon the spiritual principle to descriptive jams that God is given them, and what he's telling them is there arguing over who they are following one group says want following. Paul's teaching on women and other says no, I'm where following the policies teaching and then there was even a third group that says while the Austin fog benefit within the remembrance of aware of Jesus Christ Navy will write and what happened was they were dividing themselves up and telling each other while if you really were spiritual, you would believe the way I think when the way I think and follow Jesus 's teachings of Paul teachings and false teachings about what they were getting was they were using it as a place of division, rather than as a place of coming together and verifies this, Paula. Paula, our sermons fall telling them we are servants who wait on new on cellular trust yourself to our mutual master Jesus Christ, so we are here serving you because of what Jesus Jesus Christ is and what he has done for you. He says I plan to stay a policy water, but God made you grow and this is the visit as we look at our spiritual understanding. It doesn't come from a particular denomination. It doesn't come from a particular pastor or priest or evangelistic teacher what we know about God, God is teaching us that the in the lesson this morning in a Sunday school lesson. Nehemiah was. I built the walls in Jerusalem, and every any and and everyone came together in the center square, and as draw the proper began to read the Scriptures and went after the prophet began to read the book of the law. The book of Moses the book of Deuteronomy, the people became so overwhelmed with what he was reading. They maybe came, they were mournful and they were was then and about their sins, and how a far way that gone from God, and they were anywhere on. They had fallen on their face. They were regretful for their life, but in the same token, it was the word of God presented to them, and they felt this quickening inside of them that their life was really important to God, and how that they had come to fulfill the promises that had been given to them in the book of what they had been reading about Abraham coming to you leaving our localities and come into a promised land, how that the yellow Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph polygon into the to the Egypt, God delivered them from them, and now he had rebuilt the city and they saw Annie felt how God had try to pull all of their life together brought them back from exile in Babylon and now they had rebuilt the city of Jerusalem and what a wonderful experience than had as they were reading through the Scriptures as they read through the word of God began to take on a personal understanding to them that they were. They were part of something that was bigger than just then they were part of something are part of a plan that God had from the very beginning right up into their life, and we see how that as Ezra, Nehemiah, as they took the genealogies, where these people. I come from. These are the genealogies that we would read in Matthew about Jesus Christ being traced back through the genealogies to David and how be traced back to Abraham and Adam and so we find that these genealogies were so important, and they were part of something that was bigger than themselves. Now we are the body of Christ. We are part of the body of Christ and we are building the Jesus inhabits that the descriptors inhabited what we read here, and how that God comes into our life and helps us to understand the perspective of who we are, but it's more than just need be here doing my life doing my thing, and when I'm all done undead and yell yell dust adopts the Nash Susan Jan God. It's more than that is more than what I can get out of life with what I could buy fragrant part of a purpose and part of a mission that God has for us to fulfill an age of us are part of the body of Christ and so we could we get divided up and say while I'm on the right side of the church will while I'm on the middle of the church, and of course, this group over here with similar from the left of the church reports. If you are this way would be to what's going on. We are finding a way to bring division rather than a way to serve together and when they were saying. I am of Paul, I'm about policy alignment. Jesus they were using is the web can send contention as one being better than the other. They didn't see themselves as part of the body of Christ and Paul telling them that they are those one foundation, and that one foundation is Jesus Christ and you have to build on that foundation or your structure is nothing Jesus and the Scriptures talks about how that he is the rock with the well I will rock. We're safe. If you build your life on the sand you build your house on the sand. You're always using these analogies of building and an independent contractors and stuff is using the analogy that if you build your house on the sand in a storm comes, what happens to understand the ocean and stand in the sand and waves demanding allowed waves mingle out what happened same. I move send it. Why is the water washes it out washes that I think about from underneath you and the same thing happens in our life. Whenever we try to build our lives on something that is not eternal. If we try to build our lives on something that is not eternal weekend. Sinking not having a purpose and we become very frustrated with life. It is no direction to but whenever we have Christ as our Savior. The price is in our heart. He becomes the foundation of our life that we have structure is not vital. Not about guilt than in a row not being good enough in your sinful personnel by the hell now work where they are righteous people and were on our way to heaven and we had a relationship with Jesus Christ and he brings his word into our life, and it changes us and we now are building something that is greater than ourselves, and that there will be the eternal reward for, amen. Thank you I saw, we find that we are part of something that is more than lots. It's more than just establish our own little kingdom. It's about doing the will of God, and the purpose of God, and that it are relational experience. There are some things that are just the religious can overlook when God gives us principles to live by. They are principles upon which build our life and those principles, then will support the structure of who we are and whenever we build a life on that is outside of the of the scriptural guidelines know that the Bible says and forgot it was its use forgiveness forever is not as a is an idea, forgiveness is not an option. We must forgive the Bible tells us, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those a trespass against us. In other words, God forgive me as I forgive others, so holiday and I don't raise your hand on this okay how they must not be forgiven because there are people in our life deserve not to be forgiven because of what they've done how they've done it all is that you see when Jesus is hanging on the cross. He says father forgive them for they know not what they do is telling us that they are not taking my life. I'm giving day when I forgive people. Those people are not determining where I'm going with my life. I that's why forgiveness is not an option. I'm not going to go back to that paying that situation, those things I have a different direction in my life, and to the direction I have a life. This one is based on the foundation of Jesus Christ for giving me of my sins and I forgive others, so that foundation, then this is it is a principle that SI that we have one piece joy& and not been in the Scriptures. This morning, Nehemiah says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Here is a pair of these people had never heard the Scriptures and Ezra stands up and reads it to them, and he talked to them about it, and the joy of God become their strength. The joy of hearing the word of God and what God has done for them becomes an underlying joy, joys, not happiness. Happiness depends upon happenings July is that which is part of who we are and our heart and in our life and in that we are. We want again. It's something that God gives to us, not something that we acquire him, we be happy that we bought some things and more. Also, things, and happy about this and go things go up, you know, whatever we do whatever makes whatever makes you happy now that I think it's okay while Joy doesn't go away joys that which is in our hearts in our life, because we haven't principles we have a foundation that our life is built on. So you see the foundation of our life is built upon scriptural principles don't only are perfect thing were not. So God is looking for perfection comes the looking that we need perfect because we are in the process of growing and becoming like a child learning to walk child learning to walk is going to fall down. You will be thinking because he can't walk right if you did. Don't tell me do that turn in your house that I think might generate on a ball down now okay to the walk, how foolish while water we beat ourselves, whenever we fall down in our learning how to go growing in our relationship with Christ. Paul says the things I want to do. I don't do follow that a problem in not being what the foundation of the foundation experience you have in Christ, and had probably doesn't tell us what those problems are earlier problems and was born in the flesh, yet other things, the the problem with there is anyone who doesn't have things they struggle with bonding humanity Jesus on the Mary and a mount, Jesus and the Bible is saying father is another way, let this cup pass from me is like I want to play. I don't want to go to the cross because I know what happened when I get there is good. The pain and is going to be separation. The painful experience goes, we are in this approaching Easter and holy week and and you know next week, and it's a time of self reflection that this Easter with this call pardon went in this Lenten season, now and in some and some faith. They want you to talk about giving something up. No, I know people they gave up chocolate. They gave up thing I gave up skydiving I don't I don't I will skydive during Lent, but the idea is that if we dislike something were giving up something in order to prove something and I'll prove person while I look at it, we should say something on which you take something on like praying more, reading the Bible more, being more self reflective, as in I'll let you know that how the guys in my life and it in disbanding maybe five minutes more. Our five minutes discussing about one Scripture. I was singing about in these next week, which agreed John John twenty one. I paid Matthew Mark Luke John and twenty one years of age and vote right way when voting age to twenty one forty eight so John twenty one begins the time to the end for the crucifixion and in the time of Christ so as you look at this you want to know what to read and read through the rear throw one setting and then come back and let. They read it again. Read apart when a sectional reimbursement to. I began to think about this with the soft reflective type time for us, so we're looking at how that God is building us on the structure of who he is and we are a building they were in a process of being built where I complete you think where I complete this is a this is a building program. It takes a lifetime. However they are still living guys making sure I gave still alive. I saw your process is still becoming your process of building and being built in any talks about don't use bad material was in school and I'm not cheap. Feel what's cheap fuel negative than once cheap feel I can remember cheap fuel and may remember she feels whenever you you you you are other people down in order for you to think you're better, but how bad they are. Look at the outward condemning street feel negative, negative negative thoughts and negative ideas with other people as chief fuel and it doesn't work the burns up concerns that doesn't take you anywhere so what are people of cheap fuel where people are of righteousness and of July a piece in the long-suffering. If these are part of this is part of the character of God, and that character becomes art of us and Jesus Christ becomes part of who we are. Why, because he is dwelling inside of the building. We are building for Paul, saying it is the Corinthians verse nine or to put another way you are God 's house. You are God 's house. So what does God have looked like it looks like you. It looks like you because you are God 's house being built. The only aphasia and finished Noel one hundred and eight years ago in the church. Ladies were not allowed to wear makeup in summary, may never not may not know that. But there was the result is a long time ago in life growing up in church one as a kid. Women were not allowed to wear open toed shoes, man has always have color high quality school finals will be had where tired everyday ladies had to wear dresses. They were never allowed to work pants gay men wear longsleeved dresses and cuffs, and they had a line that him him had to be below the needs and they Lila. They can wear makeup a very minimal, there was a saying back then, says Yahweh. The preachers and say what you know about women wearing makeup of the barn needs painted, painted, so I have a bachelor is as bad as what kind of a slam back to the door and then a lot of rules, you know, no women were not allowed and where the bond funds back there and there's some denominations you see them, that they still wear the clothes like that. And it's because it's part of their tradition and went when I was growing up, that was not a part of our tradition. You are allowed where wireline women were not allowed no I didn't realize in college in the sixties and things were not a while were samples window is really the Maran were sent in one guy said the weather while you learn a lot happier feelings and fears, tears, and outline what will Rhonda the preacher 's wife got her ears pierced with another preacher 's wife and they came home and the and them and the preacher. The other. My friend and he comes in and they both comes in with her ears pierced. I mean, he was Paul is just launching what the Bible says and it's like there is what I do now about that. He says do not defraud tinier loves it was JC is not in a vinyl is nothing if not all the front I love red like they were like oh my gosh I sinned against God. They start laughing. You know there was a lot of all these types of rules and regulations why because people are trying to build the structure of their life that they thought should be on the audio. Jesus Christ is the foundation, but they were trying to fashion the structure that this is how this one a Christian looks like. Again, this electrician looks like the Christian must look like this young prime, but here no long hair, my God, in the sixties, the Beatles alone working with long hair. We were not allowed to have hair the customer, and have cut there was lots rules. Why, because there was a picture that a Christian was supposed to look like and you could tell a Christian by what they look like David whenever he was in school. There were some people a lot about of Missouri. There were some people who know David was out of a nonconformist conformist, but mostly nonconformist of there was a job. They said he couldn't grow your hair long. Now it was boundless, England have a beard. He had a beard, you know, and I just unwillingness to what mother, but the but now I feel he was just out of this nonconformist by person. And but he wouldn't go out and do the things, yell, and whatever teachers, professors says once you get your life of David as much a July cleanup like so-and-so look at their very Christian and Damon. He probably happy with Matt this is that they call me out of class. You now and fully. I wasn't a Christian because I know what they do it night the other lower they go. They look the part, but in their heart they were in a state that's what Paul is telling here is that you are the building of Jesus Christ, you are building, and just because you look for love part doesn't mean you heart is changed, and that's why was we look at our own hearts. We look at what God is doing is building us on the inside how he's building us from our heart and our minds and our perception of life. Yet we can dress a certain way, but it's more than what's in your heart that counts is what's in our heart that makes us and Paul say he was using the gift he has the blueprint that God gave him as a good architect policy. I have a blueprint, Paul Paulus, he started getting some finish work in this building is opening up the drywall in the studs and all that other Canadians that but I is a blueprint to all this, but it is the word of God that is alive in your heart and alive inside of you. The changes you. There is only one foundation that foundation is Jesus Christ. There's only one foundation is not listed. I don't want people down and I was most of them are no patients are terminally ill and one one individual. This week was very sorrowful, for the life they want answered. They said the all the one thing I want to do is relive my life, I can smile visible what is it you like to review and ill. They went through some things and things like that but you know what it doesn't matter what we've done its where were at where you're at right now and how that God has forgiven you. Now, and how the guys at work in your life now. Whether you're a hundred and five, or whether you're five. It's where you're at now and how the crisis in your life. Now to change you from this point forward. We can't change yesterday you want to create good memories start today if you want to create a life worth living. Start today and start changing from today forward, not on our own, but with the help of God, because when we all stand before God that were there is going to be a day we all get there, but it's only what we've done for Christ is going to make the difference. And that's the foundation that we are building on now. It is an impossible foundationalism is assuming it isn't an impossible structure if it weren't possible one of us could do, but each of us, life to live. And God has a plan for each of our lives and he is given each of us talents and abilities that are part of who we are and the Scripture comes to unleash those things in that are hidden in there to unveil the the potential lives inside of us and to bring us to a point where God wants us to know the live our life for him and says, taking particular care in picking out your building materials that a lot of care and building on what material you use no TPL no cheap materials where we use it to build our lives are we using to build who we are as a person. There's a lot of self-help books, and there's a lot of things out there for self-improvement and their good, but the Bible is not a self-help book, the Bible is a God help me book and the principles that God wants to build inside of us are principles of being at peace with ourselves and with God all being open to opportunities that are before us. It's not about guilt and manipulation. It's not about putting people down, it's about building the map is about encouraging and being part of a program. All of that sum that there's a there's a plan for our life is bigger than could ever imagine that God has has a plan for us that is greater than we can ever imagine, and that God wants to take us as we are being built to take us down that road and is alerted to the to the destiny that God has for us but is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. So take particular attention to the building materials we use than that of the text says. Eventually there's going to be an inspection if you use cheaper and very material remotely found out using the story story about wealthy while the individual, and he has this builder that he uses all the time and done, he is now the builder was worked with this wealthy man for years and younger wealthy man had no made very good investments and build things and had whenever in this builder was wanted that. Any help out and work with them for forever. Okay, so the builders going away this wealthy individuals going away any context notices. I want you to build me a house and this is what I wanted to look like and I don't want to despair any cost and expense, just put the best materials that help put all these extras into it. No, make it. I own a house that that's second to none. So the wealthy individual goes away, turns it over to his contractor and whose builder and in the builder starts while the dollars I got some greed in Aronson in the end, no areas building this house, not a place for this. This man it's made billions of dollars off of him and in his work and his not allow you know, I'm not going put this in the month that in them never know it is cutting corners and he's not using everything that he should be using in& it looks just like what he wants, but it's inside a guys know how to cutting corners and down, and he wasn't supposed to be cutting any corners. They didn't care about the cost and the guys got kind of speculative long enough so after the house is furnished about the individual comes back in and they get a tour through the house and as they go through the house and looking at it, and the builders at the other wealthy individuals asking about the house in the materials and in and go into the whole route of things about how beautiful it is, how it is. And you know it all the fact that things been inside the guys they can. I got in this time now and then when they're all done with the tour a wealthy man turns to him and says you're the best thing that's ever happened to me this house is your you know is coming, and you see our life is a gift to us. Our life bus is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, our life is a gift to us. God has given us the gift of life. Please give us the potential of life. The stimulus materials that we need to build this house. This person the way we think the way we think about ourselves when we think about others. When we think the way we act. You see, it isn't based upon making you look like me bald and beautiful. Amen. Thank you there is building out putting up on in your area and no hope without choosing an outside on it. It is in fact it's about building from the inside is not pretending to be something any as being someone being someone who is working with God, not for God. God is working with us, not for us and as we walked with him and he walks with us and he reveals his word to us. It changes us from the inside out. Never hold that when this life and in this life. God is working in me, and God is working through me and what I'm doing is making a difference for eternity. Verse sixteen and seventeen. You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God and God himself is present in you you realize, don't you think you are the temple of God and God himself is present in you, no one will get by with vandalizing God 's temple is to their people who vandalize their own temple. They're destroying all the time we hear of different ways to destroy the temple drugs and alcohol abuse things. Anything you want coming if you destroyed anyway. One knowledge to get away with vandalizing God 's temple, because it's going to catch up to you, and I think you have to dry skin and use of the sacred place and what makes of sacred. Not that it's but that God is God 's temple that he comes to dwell within and he won't come there, unless we ask you, God does not invade the Temple got knocked at the door. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me that God is not in our lives, the Lord says, I would like to come in and be with you partner with you in this endeavor of life, but it's your choice. We choose the members are frustrating, three fourteen and fifty have been up there. If any man's work abide which he had built. Therefore he shall receive a reward. Next, if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved. What it means is that when life is over. This individual is live. We can, and it comes every week to talk to individuals, they pray for a light coming to an end, and at the end of our life where you stand before God and everything we've ever done with our life is going to be there every thought, every word, every action. Everything we've ever done is one of the new again in winter anywhere to live for God, it's like this. I like how I can do going through a little tunnel in a regular little tunnel and bring everything with you. You drag a three to get inside the tunnel dollars fire breaks out and fired his words, everything that you would guarantee everything around and the only thing that makes it through the tunnel on the things we've done for Christ, is that the only things the last forever. You and what we've done for God now what we've done for God is. It's like being a preacher and evangelist for missionary Bible says if you get a cup of cold water. His name is reward for busy being the temple of God is that you pray for someone you help someone you encourage someone not with strings attached, but with an openness from your heart because it's what God would do if he were there, so your encourager, you're wise enough to know when people are trying to destroy you and you back away from them. You're smart enough to know that when people are need that evening. There's things you can do to help them do that. The building of this temple, and God beyond the what makes it sacred is that God lives in here and the things that we do for God being an encourager praying for someone giving a cup of cold water. Those are the things the negative return, and that's what our life is about about doing things for God and Ephesians, Chapter two verse seventeen says this Christ brought us together through his death on the cross case where entering this Lenten season, we are together because of Christ's death on the cross. The cross got us to embrace and that was the end of all hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders into us insiders. He treats us as equals. Christ treats us all the equals and so made us able through him we both share the same spirit and have equal access to the father is none, unless more privileged than the other raw on the same plane that plain enough is in it. You're no longer wandering exiles, this kingdom of faith is now your home country. King buffet is now my home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all, irrespective of how we got here and what he is building his years, the apostles of the profits for the foundation now he's usually give fanning you in brick by brick, stone by stone with Jesus Christ is the cornerstone that holds all the parts together sooner so many analogies of building and structure. The cornerstone is an arch at the top of the Keystone State Pennsylvania Keystone state. If that quarter. That stone right at the top of the art people that stole not everything collapses. Jesus Christ is that cornerstone at the top of an art that holds it all together, we see it's taking shape after day we see you taking shape today is the holy Temple built by God. All of us built into it. All of us pardon example in which God is quite at home. A temple in which God feels quite at home inside the men withOn my on them than I thought I was off Buffalo and I kept pushing the button of going the wrong way society back on back on topic, I thought you build a temple. How do you build your house while we call Bob the builder Bob the builder sorry we build our example, we build our house by using designs we build in this case really. Paul uses the blueprint of an architect drive blueprints and then look at. We were doing it with higher contractor. We oversee the project in the work would begin the process of construction would be there so involved is going on it. If we were building a house of building a structure you wouldn't hire me. I believe the worker but not the designer I would be. I don't draw things very well. Why did I I drew a couple of things in the in design, flash, but that what they never built them, but the so young. We were building a new chart shot with one and know how we're going pay for and how big your life if you know so we we do those types of things, but Paul in writing to the church at Corinth, he encounters a problem with the church contractors and the contractors that he is talking about is he's using building a building as an illustration as building themselves individually, and they were and what he's telling there is when you are building your South. Some of you are trying to build on the wrong foundation. So if you are building a house and he put the foundation and an innate, they delivered the structure that they were going to put on there. It wouldn't that because you're trying to put the wrong house on the wrong foundation of us telling the church acquired that that's what they're doing and in verses one through four. He says. But for right now. Friends, I'm completely frustrated with you a three thousand Circuit Court. These people. I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God again dismount. You're not dealing with each other right you see in this limiting house. This living structure that we are part of we. We understand one are where our spiritual process is by how we relate to others and an end of foundation. Of course Paul says is Jesus Christ. Because you're acting like infant stimulation Disney relationship with Christ capable doing nothing more than nursing at the breast while then all nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more than a slamming them to death because these individuals are thinking they are so spiritual, and there is so provided there in their spiritual growth and Paul says you're having, you know better than infants in all and in all nursing at your mother 's breast as long as you grab for what makes you feel good. It makes you look important. Are you really much different than abatement. The breast content only with everything going on going your way, what anyone says I'm on call side. Another¢ for Paulus are to being totally infantile site talking about how that people look at themselves. How do they put things in perspective and how the they are trying to build in South, but not built upon the spiritual principle to descriptive jams that God is given them, and what he's telling them is there arguing over who they are following one group says want following. Paul's teaching on women and other says no, I'm where following the policies teaching and then there was even a third group that says while the Austin fog benefit within the remembrance of aware of Jesus Christ Navy will write and what happened was they were dividing themselves up and telling each other while if you really were spiritual, you would believe the way I think when the way I think and follow Jesus 's teachings of Paul teachings and false teachings about what they were getting was they were using it as a place of division, rather than as a place of coming together and verifies this, Paula. Paula, our sermons fall telling them we are servants who wait on new on cellular trust yourself to our mutual master Jesus Christ, so we are here serving you because of what Jesus Jesus Christ is and what he has done for you. He says I plan to stay a policy water, but God made you grow and this is the visit as we look at our spiritual understanding. It doesn't come from a particular denomination. It doesn't come from a particular pastor or priest or evangelistic teacher what we know about God, God is teaching us that the in the lesson this morning in a Sunday school lesson. Nehemiah was. I built the walls in Jerusalem, and every any and and everyone came together in the center square, and as draw the proper began to read the Scriptures and went after the prophet began to read the book of the law. The book of Moses the book of Deuteronomy, the people became so overwhelmed with what he was reading. They maybe came, they were mournful and they were was then and about their sins, and how a far way that gone from God, and they were anywhere on. They had fallen on their face. They were regretful for their life, but in the same token, it was the word of God presented to them, and they felt this quickening inside of them that their life was really important to God, and how that they had come to fulfill the promises that had been given to them in the book of what they had been reading about Abraham coming to you leaving our localities and come into a promised land, how that the yellow Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph polygon into the to the Egypt, God delivered them from them, and now he had rebuilt the city and they saw Annie felt how God had try to pull all of their life together brought them back from exile in Babylon and now they had rebuilt the city of Jerusalem and what a wonderful experience than had as they were reading through the Scriptures as they read through the word of God began to take on a personal understanding to them that they were. They were part of something that was bigger than just then they were part of something are part of a plan that God had from the very beginning right up into their life, and we see how that as Ezra, Nehemiah, as they took the genealogies, where these people. I come from. These are the genealogies that we would read in Matthew about Jesus Christ being traced back through the genealogies to David and how be traced back to Abraham and Adam and so we find that these genealogies were so important, and they were part of something that was bigger than themselves. Now we are the body of Christ. We are part of the body of Christ and we are building the Jesus inhabits that the descriptors inhabited what we read here, and how that God comes into our life and helps us to understand the perspective of who we are, but it's more than just need be here doing my life doing my thing, and when I'm all done undead and yell yell dust adopts the Nash Susan Jan God. It's more than that is more than what I can get out of life with what I could buy fragrant part of a purpose and part of a mission that God has for us to fulfill an age of us are part of the body of Christ and so we could we get divided up and say while I'm on the right side of the church will while I'm on the middle of the church, and of course, this group over here with similar from the left of the church reports. If you are this way would be to what's going on. We are finding a way to bring division rather than a way to serve together and when they were saying. I am of Paul, I'm about policy alignment. Jesus they were using is the web can send contention as one being better than the other. They didn't see themselves as part of the body of Christ and Paul telling them that they are those one foundation, and that one foundation is Jesus Christ and you have to build on that foundation or your structure is nothing Jesus and the Scriptures talks about how that he is the rock with the well I will rock. We're safe. If you build your life on the sand you build your house on the sand. You're always using these analogies of building and an independent contractors and stuff is using the analogy that if you build your house on the sand in a storm comes, what happens to understand the ocean and stand in the sand and waves demanding allowed waves mingle out what happened same. I move send it. Why is the water washes it out washes that I think about from underneath you and the same thing happens in our life. Whenever we try to build our lives on something that is not eternal. If we try to build our lives on something that is not eternal weekend. Sinking not having a purpose and we become very frustrated with life. It is no direction to but whenever we have Christ as our Savior. The price is in our heart. He becomes the foundation of our life that we have structure is not vital. Not about guilt than in a row not being good enough in your sinful personnel by the hell now work where they are righteous people and were on our way to heaven and we had a relationship with Jesus Christ and he brings his word into our life, and it changes us and we now are building something that is greater than ourselves, and that there will be the eternal reward for, amen. Thank you I saw, we find that we are part of something that is more than lots. It's more than just establish our own little kingdom. It's about doing the will of God, and the purpose of God, and that it are relational experience. There are some things that are just the religious can overlook when God gives us principles to live by. They are principles upon which build our life and those principles, then will support the structure of who we are and whenever we build a life on that is outside of the of the scriptural guidelines know that the Bible says and forgot it was its use forgiveness forever is not as a is an idea, forgiveness is not an option. We must forgive the Bible tells us, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those a trespass against us. In other words, God forgive me as I forgive others, so holiday and I don't raise your hand on this okay how they must not be forgiven because there are people in our life deserve not to be forgiven because of what they've done how they've done it all is that you see when Jesus is hanging on the cross. He says father forgive them for they know not what they do is telling us that they are not taking my life. I'm giving day when I forgive people. Those people are not determining where I'm going with my life. I that's why forgiveness is not an option. I'm not going to go back to that paying that situation, those things I have a different direction in my life, and to the direction I have a life. This one is based on the foundation of Jesus Christ for giving me of my sins and I forgive others, so that foundation, then this is it is a principle that SI that we have one piece joy& and not been in the Scriptures. This morning, Nehemiah says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Here is a pair of these people had never heard the Scriptures and Ezra stands up and reads it to them, and he talked to them about it, and the joy of God become their strength. The joy of hearing the word of God and what God has done for them becomes an underlying joy, joys, not happiness. Happiness depends upon happenings July is that which is part of who we are and our heart and in our life and in that we are. We want again. It's something that God gives to us, not something that we acquire him, we be happy that we bought some things and more. Also, things, and happy about this and go things go up, you know, whatever we do whatever makes whatever makes you happy now that I think it's okay while Joy doesn't go away joys that which is in our hearts in our life, because we haven't principles we have a foundation that our life is built on. So you see the foundation of our life is built upon scriptural principles don't only are perfect thing were not. So God is looking for perfection comes the looking that we need perfect because we are in the process of growing and becoming like a child learning to walk child learning to walk is going to fall down. You will be thinking because he can't walk right if you did. Don't tell me do that turn in your house that I think might generate on a ball down now okay to the walk, how foolish while water we beat ourselves, whenever we fall down in our learning how to go growing in our relationship with Christ. Paul says the things I want to do. I don't do follow that a problem in not being what the foundation of the foundation experience you have in Christ, and had probably doesn't tell us what those problems are earlier problems and was born in the flesh, yet other things, the the problem with there is anyone who doesn't have things they struggle with bonding humanity Jesus on the Mary and a mount, Jesus and the Bible is saying father is another way, let this cup pass from me is like I want to play. I don't want to go to the cross because I know what happened when I get there is good. The pain and is going to be separation. The painful experience goes, we are in this approaching Easter and holy week and and you know next week, and it's a time of self reflection that this Easter with this call pardon went in this Lenten season, now and in some and some faith. They want you to talk about giving something up. No, I know people they gave up chocolate. They gave up thing I gave up skydiving I don't I don't I will skydive during Lent, but the idea is that if we dislike something were giving up something in order to prove something and I'll prove person while I look at it, we should say something on which you take something on like praying more, reading the Bible more, being more self reflective, as in I'll let you know that how the guys in my life and it in disbanding maybe five minutes more. Our five minutes discussing about one Scripture. I was singing about in these next week, which agreed John John twenty one. I paid Matthew Mark Luke John and twenty one years of age and vote right way when voting age to twenty one forty eight so John twenty one begins the time to the end for the crucifixion and in the time of Christ so as you look at this you want to know what to read and read through the rear throw one setting and then come back and let. They read it again. Read apart when a sectional reimbursement to. I began to think about this with the soft reflective type time for us, so we're looking at how that God is building us on the structure of who he is and we are a building they were in a process of being built where I complete you think where I complete this is a this is a building program. It takes a lifetime. However they are still living guys making sure I gave still alive. I saw your process is still becoming your process of building and being built in any talks about don't use bad material was in school and I'm not cheap. Feel what's cheap fuel negative than once cheap feel I can remember cheap fuel and may remember she feels whenever you you you you are other people down in order for you to think you're better, but how bad they are. Look at the outward condemning street feel negative, negative negative thoughts and negative ideas with other people as chief fuel and it doesn't work the burns up concerns that doesn't take you anywhere so what are people of cheap fuel where people are of righteousness and of July a piece in the long-suffering. If these are part of this is part of the character of God, and that character becomes art of us and Jesus Christ becomes part of who we are. Why, because he is dwelling inside of the building. We are building for Paul, saying it is the Corinthians verse nine or to put another way you are God 's house. You are God 's house. So what does God have looked like it looks like you. It looks like you because you are God 's house being built. The only aphasia and finished Noel one hundred and eight years ago in the church. Ladies were not allowed to wear makeup in summary, may never not may not know that. But there was the result is a long time ago in life growing up in church one as a kid. Women were not allowed to wear open toed shoes, man has always have color high quality school finals will be had where tired everyday ladies had to wear dresses. They were never allowed to work pants gay men wear longsleeved dresses and cuffs, and they had a line that him him had to be below the needs and they Lila. They can wear makeup a very minimal, there was a saying back then, says Yahweh. The preachers and say what you know about women wearing makeup of the barn needs painted, painted, so I have a bachelor is as bad as what kind of a slam back to the door and then a lot of rules, you know, no women were not allowed and where the bond funds back there and there's some denominations you see them, that they still wear the clothes like that. And it's because it's part of their tradition and went when I was growing up, that was not a part of our tradition. You are allowed where wireline women were not allowed no I didn't realize in college in the sixties and things were not a while were samples window is really the Maran were sent in one guy said the weather while you learn a lot happier feelings and fears, tears, and outline what will Rhonda the preacher 's wife got her ears pierced with another preacher 's wife and they came home and the and them and the preacher. The other. My friend and he comes in and they both comes in with her ears pierced. I mean, he was Paul is just launching what the Bible says and it's like there is what I do now about that. He says do not defraud tinier loves it was JC is not in a vinyl is nothing if not all the front I love red like they were like oh my gosh I sinned against God. They start laughing. You know there was a lot of all these types of rules and regulations why because people are trying to build the structure of their life that they thought should be on the audio. Jesus Christ is the foundation, but they were trying to fashion the structure that this is how this one a Christian looks like. Again, this electrician looks like the Christian must look like this young prime, but here no long hair, my God, in the sixties, the Beatles alone working with long hair. We were not allowed to have hair the customer, and have cut there was lots rules. Why, because there was a picture that a Christian was supposed to look like and you could tell a Christian by what they look like David whenever he was in school. There were some people a lot about of Missouri. There were some people who know David was out of a nonconformist conformist, but mostly nonconformist of there was a job. They said he couldn't grow your hair long. Now it was boundless, England have a beard. He had a beard, you know, and I just unwillingness to what mother, but the but now I feel he was just out of this nonconformist by person. And but he wouldn't go out and do the things, yell, and whatever teachers, professors says once you get your life of David as much a July cleanup like so-and-so look at their very Christian and Damon. He probably happy with Matt this is that they call me out of class. You now and fully. I wasn't a Christian because I know what they do it night the other lower they go. They look the part, but in their heart they were in a state that's what Paul is telling here is that you are the building of Jesus Christ, you are building, and just because you look for love part doesn't mean you heart is changed, and that's why was we look at our own hearts. We look at what God is doing is building us on the inside how he's building us from our heart and our minds and our perception of life. Yet we can dress a certain way, but it's more than what's in your heart that counts is what's in our heart that makes us and Paul say he was using the gift he has the blueprint that God gave him as a good architect policy. I have a blueprint, Paul Paulus, he started getting some finish work in this building is opening up the drywall in the studs and all that other Canadians that but I is a blueprint to all this, but it is the word of God that is alive in your heart and alive inside of you. The changes you. There is only one foundation that foundation is Jesus Christ. There's only one foundation is not listed. I don't want people down and I was most of them are no patients are terminally ill and one one individual. This week was very sorrowful, for the life they want answered. They said the all the one thing I want to do is relive my life, I can smile visible what is it you like to review and ill. They went through some things and things like that but you know what it doesn't matter what we've done its where were at where you're at right now and how that God has forgiven you. Now, and how the guys at work in your life now. Whether you're a hundred and five, or whether you're five. It's where you're at now and how the crisis in your life. Now to change you from this point forward. We can't change yesterday you want to create good memories start today if you want to create a life worth living. Start today and start changing from today forward, not on our own, but with the help of God, because when we all stand before God that were there is going to be a day we all get there, but it's only what we've done for Christ is going to make the difference. And that's the foundation that we are building on now. It is an impossible foundationalism is assuming it isn't an impossible structure if it weren't possible one of us could do, but each of us, life to live. And God has a plan for each of our lives and he is given each of us talents and abilities that are part of who we are and the Scripture comes to unleash those things in that are hidden in there to unveil the the potential lives inside of us and to bring us to a point where God wants us to know the live our life for him and says, taking particular care in picking out your building materials that a lot of care and building on what material you use no TPL no cheap materials where we use it to build our lives are we using to build who we are as a person. There's a lot of self-help books, and there's a lot of things out there for self-improvement and their good, but the Bible is not a self-help book, the Bible is a God help me book and the principles that God wants to build inside of us are principles of being at peace with ourselves and with God all being open to opportunities that are before us. It's not about guilt and manipulation. It's not about putting people down, it's about building the map is about encouraging and being part of a program. All of that sum that there's a there's a plan for our life is bigger than could ever imagine that God has has a plan for us that is greater than we can ever imagine, and that God wants to take us as we are being built to take us down that road and is alerted to the to the destiny that God has for us but is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. So take particular attention to the building materials we use than that of the text says. Eventually there's going to be an inspection if you use cheaper and very material remotely found out using the story story about wealthy while the individual, and he has this builder that he uses all the time and done, he is now the builder was worked with this wealthy man for years and younger wealthy man had no made very good investments and build things and had whenever in this builder was wanted that. Any help out and work with them for forever. Okay, so the builders going away this wealthy individuals going away any context notices. I want you to build me a house and this is what I wanted to look like and I don't want to despair any cost and expense, just put the best materials that help put all these extras into it. No, make it. I own a house that that's second to none. So the wealthy individual goes away, turns it over to his contractor and whose builder and in the builder starts while the dollars I got some greed in Aronson in the end, no areas building this house, not a place for this. This man it's made billions of dollars off of him and in his work and his not allow you know, I'm not going put this in the month that in them never know it is cutting corners and he's not using everything that he should be using in& it looks just like what he wants, but it's inside a guys know how to cutting corners and down, and he wasn't supposed to be cutting any corners. They didn't care about the cost and the guys got kind of speculative long enough so after the house is furnished about the individual comes back in and they get a tour through the house and as they go through the house and looking at it, and the builders at the other wealthy individuals asking about the house in the materials and in and go into the whole route of things about how beautiful it is, how it is. And you know it all the fact that things been inside the guys they can. I got in this time now and then when they're all done with the tour a wealthy man turns to him and says you're the best thing that's ever happened to me this house is your you know is coming, and you see our life is a gift to us. Our life bus is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, our life is a gift to us. God has given us the gift of life. Please give us the potential of life. The stimulus materials that we need to build this house. This person the way we think the way we think about ourselves when we think about others. When we think the way we act. You see, it isn't based upon making you look like me bald and beautiful. Amen. Thank you there is building out putting up on in your area and no hope without choosing an outside on it. It is in fact it's about building from the inside is not pretending to be something any as being someone being someone who is working with God, not for God. God is working with us, not for us and as we walked with him and he walks with us and he reveals his word to us. It changes us from the inside out. Never hold that when this life and in this life. God is working in me, and God is working through me and what I'm doing is making a difference for eternity. Verse sixteen and seventeen. You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God and God himself is present in you you realize, don't you think you are the temple of God and God himself is present in you, no one will get by with vandalizing God 's temple is to their people who vandalize their own temple. They're destroying all the time we hear of different ways to destroy the temple drugs and alcohol abuse things. Anything you want coming if you destroyed anyway. One knowledge to get away with vandalizing God 's temple, because it's going to catch up to you, and I think you have to dry skin and use of the sacred place and what makes of sacred. Not that it's but that God is God 's temple that he comes to dwell within and he won't come there, unless we ask you, God does not invade the Temple got knocked at the door. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me that God is not in our lives, the Lord says, I would like to come in and be with you partner with you in this endeavor of life, but it's your choice. We choose the members are frustrating, three fourteen and fifty have been up there. If any man's work abide which he had built. Therefore he shall receive a reward. Next, if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved. What it means is that when life is over. This individual is live. We can, and it comes every week to talk to individuals, they pray for a light coming to an end, and at the end of our life where you stand before God and everything we've ever done with our life is going to be there every thought, every word, every action. Everything we've ever done is one of the new again in winter anywhere to live for God, it's like this. I like how I can do going through a little tunnel in a regular little tunnel and bring everything with you. You drag a three to get inside the tunnel dollars fire breaks out and fired his words, everything that you would guarantee everything around and the only thing that makes it through the tunnel on the things we've done for Christ, is that the only things the last forever. You and what we've done for God now what we've done for God is. It's like being a preacher and evangelist for missionary Bible says if you get a cup of cold water. His name is reward for busy being the temple of God is that you pray for someone you help someone you encourage someone not with strings attached, but with an openness from your heart because it's what God would do if he were there, so your encourager, you're wise enough to know when people are trying to destroy you and you back away from them. You're smart enough to know that when people are need that evening. There's things you can do to help them do that. The building of this temple, and God beyond the what makes it sacred is that God lives in here and the things that we do for God being an encourager praying for someone giving a cup of cold water. Those are the things the negative return, and that's what our life is about about doing things for God and Ephesians, Chapter two verse seventeen says this Christ brought us together through his death on the cross case where entering this Lenten season, we are together because of Christ's death on the cross. The cross got us to embrace and that was the end of all hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders into us insiders. He treats us as equals. Christ treats us all the equals and so made us able through him we both share the same spirit and have equal access to the father is none, unless more privileged than the other raw on the same plane that plain enough is in it. You're no longer wandering exiles, this kingdom of faith is now your home country. King buffet is now my home country. You're no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He's using us all, irrespective of how we got here and what he is building his years, the apostles of the profits for the foundation now he's usually give fanning you in brick by brick, stone by stone with Jesus Christ is the cornerstone that holds all the parts together sooner so many analogies of building and structure. The cornerstone is an arch at the top of the Keystone State Pennsylvania Keystone state. If that quarter. That stone right at the top of the art people that stole not everything collapses. Jesus Christ is that cornerstone at the top of an art that holds it all together, we see it's taking shape after day we see you taking shape today is the holy Temple built by God. All of us built into it. All of us pardon example in which God is quite at home. A temple in which God feels quite at home inside the men with