Building A Biblical Church
BRD REFLECTIONS
1 Corinthians 3 and Psalm 65 (NIV)
(Shirley Koo, Chairperson, Wesley GYM)
READ:
1 Corinthians 3:9-17 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In this passage, Paul shares his vision and heart for the Corinthian Church. The message is directed at 2 kinds of saved people in the church in Corinth: mature and immature.
Metaphorically, the Church is the people, who have been saved in the faith.
The foundation of the church (our lives) is Jesus Christ.
The builders are the members of the church.
“Unless the Lord builds the house … “, we build in vain. Christ, who paid with His life at the cross for our sins is our only foundation.
For the Church to have a firm foundation, we need to dig deep into Scripture to discover the hidden gems – gold, silver and precious stones – and build those truths into our lives. Only then will the fruit of His Word take root within us to bear fruits with lasting values and blessings with a rippling effect onto others in our families, circles of friends and the church community.
We destroy God’s church when we use shabby materials like wood, hay and straw. These represent our carnal self – attitudes, possessions and values.
In v10, Paul cautions that each member is responsible and accountable for his work as a builder.
APPLY:
Every member is called to be a builder; that is, everyone who has given his/her life to Jesus Christ and proclaims Him as Lord, must help build the Church to avoid a consumer mentality and reach out to touch lives as the heart of His Church.
Whatever my work, it will be evaluated impartially by God who knows me and judges me with perfect justice. His wisdom will factor in my intentions, limitations, motives, compassions and mercy.
When I do stand before God, my righteousness is not my works but the Lord Jesus Christ.
DO:
In today’s world, the needs are so great, so challenging and overwhelming.
I can serve from my heart if only I do not limit myself mentally but am transformed by His Word.
Prayer is a priceless gift from Jesus to His church. It’s so much needed and made available to all – if only everyone believes that Jesus hears our every prayer, intercedes on our behalf, answers each prayer in His way and His time and is always full of grace and love for all.
Miracles can and do happen when God is involved.
It touched me deeply when someone who was very ill requested if she could hold my hand to say a prayer with me and then for me. On her sick bed, she tearfully apologised to God and told Him what was in her heart and blessed me in closing.
Her prayers deeply impacted me. They were so sincere and humbling.
God knew her needs and I was privileged to be there. That visit ministered to me. What an awesome God we have! Two days later, I realised how much God must have loved her and released her through her prayers. She looked so serene and was finally at peace in His loving arms.
This episode and others remind me that when I serve with my heart, words are hardly ever needed. He can use a smile, a gentle word, a hug, or a listening ear to comfort those in pain and without hope.
As He heals others, He heals me, too.
In small ways, may He continue to use me to be the healing balm to the many He brings my way.
Together, we can help build a true biblical church, demonstrating God’s redemptive love and forgiveness to all in need as well as glorify God, the Father.
PRAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the richness of Your Word in our lives so we can glean from Your Word to know You more intimately, and to grow in faith with a heart to care and love like You.
Check my heart, dear Father. Keep me humble, true and faithful in doing my part in building Your church.
Be my Friend, Teacher and Master in life always. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
