1 Corinthians 3
August Memory Verse: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Read: 1 Corinthians 3
Who are you following? What is your foundation? Are you living like a temple?
All three of these questions are very important when it comes to evaluating how our relationship with Jesus is going. Paul was trying to get them to refocus. They had divisions because they were looking at themselves… He wanted them to look at Jesus.
Paul shows us that right followship, right foundation, and right identity are all connected. So let’s take a deeper look & ask these questions about our own lives.
1) WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING? (v.1-9)
If you took a look at your life honestly and asked this question, what would the answer be? Emotions? Logic? Success? Pleasure? Material things? Wealth? Maybe a particular leader or tradition? Or would it be Jesus?
None of those things are wrong or bad but when we make them our God and follow them they become bad things. They become distractants.
This is exactly what happened in the lives of the Cointhians. They started out following Jesus but quickly and subtly (as often happens) moved to following human leaders. They forgot the purpose of leaders… to point them to Jesus.
2) WHAT IS YOUR FOUNDATION? (v.10-15)
Paul reminds them of what their foundation truly is… Jesus Christ.
A foundation, by definition is stable, able to hold the weight of the building, secure… so what Paul is telling them is that any other foundation that you build on is weak. It really isn’t a foundation - Matthew 7:24-27. When you look at your life, what is your foundation? What is your source of security? Stability? And is it able to handle the weight?
Too often do we build our lives on foundations that won’t hold up - our performance/success, approval of others, financial security, etc. What steps can you take to ensure that your foundation is Jesus and Jesus alone?
3) ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE AS A TEMPLE? (v.16-23)
Now Paul addresses the why… “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
If you know much about the Old Testament, this was a BIG statement. The temple of God is where God dwelt in a special way. It was a sacred place. It was a holy place. Paul was telling them… THIS IS YOU! So act like it!
It was both an encouragement and a warning. Understanding this about our identity should motivate us to build our lives on Jesus and follow Him well. His Spirit dwells in us in a special way.
So, thinking about your life and about your relationship with Jesus: Who are you following? What is your foundation? Are you living like a temple?
By: Nick Parsons
Read: 1 Corinthians 3
Who are you following? What is your foundation? Are you living like a temple?
All three of these questions are very important when it comes to evaluating how our relationship with Jesus is going. Paul was trying to get them to refocus. They had divisions because they were looking at themselves… He wanted them to look at Jesus.
Paul shows us that right followship, right foundation, and right identity are all connected. So let’s take a deeper look & ask these questions about our own lives.
1) WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING? (v.1-9)
If you took a look at your life honestly and asked this question, what would the answer be? Emotions? Logic? Success? Pleasure? Material things? Wealth? Maybe a particular leader or tradition? Or would it be Jesus?
None of those things are wrong or bad but when we make them our God and follow them they become bad things. They become distractants.
This is exactly what happened in the lives of the Cointhians. They started out following Jesus but quickly and subtly (as often happens) moved to following human leaders. They forgot the purpose of leaders… to point them to Jesus.
2) WHAT IS YOUR FOUNDATION? (v.10-15)
Paul reminds them of what their foundation truly is… Jesus Christ.
A foundation, by definition is stable, able to hold the weight of the building, secure… so what Paul is telling them is that any other foundation that you build on is weak. It really isn’t a foundation - Matthew 7:24-27. When you look at your life, what is your foundation? What is your source of security? Stability? And is it able to handle the weight?
Too often do we build our lives on foundations that won’t hold up - our performance/success, approval of others, financial security, etc. What steps can you take to ensure that your foundation is Jesus and Jesus alone?
3) ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE AS A TEMPLE? (v.16-23)
Now Paul addresses the why… “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
If you know much about the Old Testament, this was a BIG statement. The temple of God is where God dwelt in a special way. It was a sacred place. It was a holy place. Paul was telling them… THIS IS YOU! So act like it!
It was both an encouragement and a warning. Understanding this about our identity should motivate us to build our lives on Jesus and follow Him well. His Spirit dwells in us in a special way.
So, thinking about your life and about your relationship with Jesus: Who are you following? What is your foundation? Are you living like a temple?
By: Nick Parsons
3 Comments
When I was a child growing up in a small Baptist church we faithfully sang hymns every Sunday. As I read today's scripture and commentary an old hymn came to my mind. "How Firm A Foundation" was published in 1787 so Christians have been singing this hymn for over 230 years. I spent some time reading over the lyrics this morning. Our foundation is Christ alone. Our job is to point people to The Foundation and make disciples. Good word to start the weekend Nick.
1: How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled
2: Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not dismayed
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand
3: When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress
4: When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine
5: The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
Thanks for the good words Nick and Mike. I couldn't help but sing along as I read the words to that great old hymn.
A foundation built on Christ the corner stone will never fail!