You are a work in process. And believe it or no, you are the builder. We need to be careful how we build.

1. Building on a
Foundation
1 Corinthians 3:10–23

2. 1 Corinthians 3:10–23
10 According to the grace of God which was given to
me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and
another is building on it. But each man must be careful
how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation
other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold,
silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s
work will become evident; for the day will show it
because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire

3. itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any
man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will
receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he
will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as
through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are a temple
of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If
any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy
him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you
are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among
you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become
foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom

4. of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written,
“He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”;
20 and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the
wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.” 21 So then let no one boast
in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or
Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things
present or things to come; all things belong to you, 23
and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

5. Unity in the building process

6. Building on a Foundation
A. The Building Program (3:11–15)
1. Building Materials (3:11–13):
2. Bema building inspection (3:14–15)
a. Reward
b. Loss
B. The warning (3:16–23)
1. Don’t defile the temple (3:16–17):
2. Don’t deceive yourselves (3:18–21):
3. You belong to Christ(3:22–23).

7. Key verse
According to the grace of God which was given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and
another is building on it. But each man must be careful
how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 3:10
Foundation is laid
You are required to build

8. The Building Program
1 Corinthians 3:11-15

9. Building Material
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man
builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become
evident; for the day will show it because it is to be
revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality
of each man’s work.

10. Foundation IS Jesus Christ
 Jesus Christ and
him crucified
 The Church Jesus
established
 The teachings of
Jesus

11. Paul put it another way
…having been built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner
stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted
together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in
whom you also are being built together into a dwelling
of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:20–22

12.  The Word of God
 We are joined
TOGETHER
 For God’s purpose

13. The materials
Now if any man builds on
the foundation with
gold, silver, precious
stones,
wood, hay, straw,
What is what?

14. The good
1. Being built up by the Spirit…Eph 2:22
2. Chosen to be honorable (right use by God)…2 Tim
2:20
3. Spiritual sacrifices, true belief, proclaim God
goodness, pure and excellent behavior, good
works…1 Pet 2:5-12
4. What is good at Corinth is to come

15. Sum it up
Works done in faith to edify the body of Christ

16. The bad
1 Corinthians there is not a
shortage!
Disunity
Pride
Error
Divisions
Going beyond!

17. Bema building
inspection
If any man’s work which he has
built on it remains, he will
receive a reward. If any man’s
work is burned up, he will suffer
loss; but he himself will be
saved, yet so as through fire.

18. The Warning
1 Corinthians 3:16-23

19. Don’t defile the temple
Do you not know that you
are a temple of God and
that the Spirit of God dwells
in you? If any man destroys
the temple of God, God will
destroy him, for the temple
of God is holy, and that is
what you are.

20. Three builders
Wise Master Builder- rewarded
Unwise builder- worked burned up but saved
Destructive builder- God destroys
any man destroys the temple of God
You are the temple of God

21. Destructive Builders
False prophets
False teachers
False brethren
Spirit of antichrist

22. How do you answer?
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and
that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Behave
Build
Believe

23. Don’t Deceive Yourself
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you
thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become
foolish, so that he may become wise.
Foolishness of God
Foolishness of the message
Spirit inspired wisdom

24. You belong to Christ
…whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life
or death or things present or things to come; all things
belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ
belongs to God.

25. So then let no one
boast in men. For all
things belong to you,
All wisdom from God
Freedom in Christ
Spiritual gifts

26. Unity in the building process