Continuing to Build on the Solid Foundation, Namely Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 3:1–4:2

2. Continuing to Build on the Solid Foundation, Namely Jesus Christ!1 Corinthians 3:1–4:2 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NIV84)

3. God’s children engaged in God’s process of spiritual maturity with the assistance of God’s servants all under God’s supervision.

4. #1. the parents’ rolein their children’s lives

5. #2. the gardener’s rolein the care and feeding of his crops

6. #3. the builder’s rolein the construction of a building

7. The Challenge from 1 Corinthians 3

9. 1 Corinthians 3:1-4(NIV84)1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly (of the flesh)—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? What right does Paul have to make this assessment of these believers?

10. What right does Paul have to make this assessment of these believers? These people came to believe in Jesus through his ministry.

11. What right does Paul have to make this assessment of these believers? Something is deeply awry in the lives of these Christians in Corinth.

12. What’s the application? Micah will speak to us from God’s word. He is capable of giving us solid food from God’s word. Jesus, will be able to nourish us from the whole of His Word, milk and meat, and do so through His servant Pastor Micah.

13. What’s the application? We, the congregation, have much to say about our own spiritual growth. We can continue to be resolved to ready ourselves and prepare ourselves and equip ourselvesto receive great spiritual meals from our pastor.

14. What’s the application? We, the congregation, have much to say about our own spiritual growth. We can continue to be resolved to ready ourselves (make space in our calendar)and prepare ourselves (read & study in advance)and equip ourselves (practice the lessons)to receive great spiritual meals from our pastor.

15. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9(NIV84)5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants (deacons), through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose (are one), and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

16. #2. God’s children engaged in God’s process of spiritual maturity with the assistance of God’s servants all under God’s supervision.

17. How then does Paul motivate them to grow up?

18. Christians are to have their focus on Christ!

19. The common objective is the growth of God’s field!

20. A competition to faithfulness and to partnership!

21. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV84)24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

22. We servants of God don’t give up on young or old believers even when they get stalled in their growth.

23. We need someone to come along side of us and firmly and gently call us back to fixing our gaze on Jesus.

24. 1 Corinthians 3:9(NIV84)9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

25. 1 Corinthians 3:10-13(NIV84)10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his 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 man’s work.

26. 1 Corinthians 3:14-17(NIV84)14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

27. These people are those who will endure even the severest of tests because God’s ministers have built into them the high quality of God’s word and truth.

28. Whatever is built on Jesus Christ must be rooted in Him and approved by Him if it’s going to survive the test of Judgment Day.

29. Both God’s servants and God’s people need to be working together to see that their lives individually and corporately are being rooted deeply in the foundation of Jesus Christ

30. There is nothing more important that we can be involved in once someone gives his or her heart to the Lord than to participate in helping them grow stronger in Christ.

31. Hebrews 13:17 (NIV84)17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

32. God’s children are to be engaged in God’s process of spiritual maturity with the assistance of God’s servants all under God’s supervision.

33. 1 Corinthians 3:18-23(NIV84)18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

34. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2(NIV84)1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as (stewards) those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

35. Micah, as God’s servant among us, is required by God to prove himself faithful to his calling. We are required to uphold him in our prayers.

36. Let us commit ourselves to continue to be resolved to ready ourselves and prepare ourselves and equip ourselvesto receive great spiritual meals from our pastor.

37. The Commissioning of Micah Adamsonas Senior Pastorof New Heights Christian Church

39. 21 chairs line up on west wall with 4 of them being armed chairs. Place 1 non-arm chair between each of the 4 arm chairs. 13 chairs on both sides of the four tables placed in a straight row with center of table touching one of the two pillars. 17 chairs line up on east wall with 6 of them being armed chairs. Place 1 non-arm chair between each of the 6 arm chairs.

42. The Lord’s Prayer9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:9–13(NIV84)

43. We celebrate Communion with our Lord at His Table

47. www.christnow.com www.christnow.com www.christnow.com