1 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:07,120 So we're looking at First Corinthians chapter 3, page 896 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:08,920 in the black. Church Bible, I urge you. 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:13,800 To turn there to follow along, we live in a time of 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,720 unprecedented church shopping, something that our grandparents 5 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,400 would have not known what to do. With the. 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,200 Slogan has become It's not a church, it's a. 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,160 Choice Sad. Isn't it? 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:29,760 Search for the perfect church has. 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,000 Become often times very discouraging. 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,120 It's hard to find a perfect fit in terms of finding your people. 11 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:41,920 And once you find them, if you find them, then the pastor is 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,080 undoubtedly really disappointing. 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,640 But just as we heard, Jesus is the good. 14 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,080 Shepherd. This is Good Shepherd Sunday. 15 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:55,000 Jesus is the Good Shepherd. What is he? 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:59,880 Doing to lead. Us his people to safe pasture, 17 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,519 safe places. Where we can grow, where we can 18 00:01:04,519 --> 00:01:07,160 thrive. That's what Paul wrote. 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,240 First Corinthians chapter. Three to help. 20 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:11,600 Us understand. To trust what? 21 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,280 Jesus has done and what he's doing now with us in the church. 22 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,560 Before we look at the passage together, let's pray we. 23 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,800 Praise and thank you God. That you. 24 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,960 Have given us. Your holy word to. 25 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,280 Guide and teach. Us, we ask that you would fill 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,480 us with your Holy Spirit to. Understand what you're saying 27 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:33,320 today and then give us the courage and the. 28 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:36,680 Faith to. Go out from this place and live 29 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,280 faithfully according to. What you teach? 30 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,360 Us for we pray in Jesus name Amen. 31 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:47,320 So chapter 3 verse one starting page 896 Paul's continuing 32 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:51,880 argument that he began really in chapter 1 and he's cautioning 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:56,600 the church against divisiveness. Paul had planted this church in 34 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,440 Corinth about maybe. Four years before. 35 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,560 And he had spent 18 months. As their pastor. 36 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:08,360 Before moving on and after Paul left, then another missionary 37 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:10,800 named Apollos came and he was their. 38 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,600 Pastor for a. Season, but look at verse one 39 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,160 now. After all of. 40 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:19,880 This time they are still infants in. 41 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:25,720 Christ verse. 2 They still need milk rather than solid. 42 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,720 Food, these are. Very strong words from their 43 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,200 friend and. Pastor the Apostle Paul. 44 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,400 Why would he say this? Because verse 4 they had. 45 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,560 Divided into factions, they were favouring one pastor or another, 46 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:41,680 and this was a. Grave error. 47 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:43,480 Because the unity. Of the church. 48 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,720 Is of paramount importance. Unity was important in Corinth, 49 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:50,560 in Paul. 'S day. 50 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:55,320 It should be for us too. Unity is essential in our life 51 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,240 and mission as an embassy of Jesus Christ on Capitol. 52 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,360 Hill, the House of. Representatives over there may 53 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:07,000 be divided into factions, but not the. 54 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,440 House of God. We must be united, we must be 1 55 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:15,880 and This is why when politics became divisive couple of months 56 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,240 back within our congregation. Your pastors. 57 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,840 Droned on and on and on about unity. 58 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,960 We had to talk about it. When each of us was ordained. 59 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,560 We swore that we would work to protect. 60 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,680 And promote the unity of Christ. Church, it's our job, please. 61 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,880 Don't hate us for it, Paul knew. That the. 62 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,840 Outward mission of the Church depended upon the inward unity. 63 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,680 Of its people. So he prioritized. 64 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,920 Unity as his first concern in this very long letter, 16 65 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,320 chapters long and he. Starts out with. 66 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:56,640 Unity. As his. 67 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,160 First concern, and by the way, First Corinthians is kind of 68 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:05,440 like Paul's foundations class for the new church. 69 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,800 It covers. All of the essentials for living 70 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,640 together as God's people. In a way, it's sort of the New 71 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,200 Testament version of Genesis One through. 72 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:15,720 Three, it's just. Covering the. 73 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,640 Basics of life together over the course of first. 74 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,640 Corinthians. We're taught how to think about 75 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:28,640 gender and sex, how to think about food and drink, worship 76 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,960 and idolatry, sin, death and resurrection. 77 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,600 But the starting place. The first topic that Paul. 78 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,160 Spends. 3 chapters on. Is unity. 79 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,440 That's the most important thing to begin with. 80 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,480 Paul knows that if we don't have unity then it will be very hard 81 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:53,360 to be aligned on anything else. So Paul gives us. 82 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,080 In this chapter. 2. Vivid illustrations to help us 83 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:00,520 remember what unity is to look. Like. 84 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,200 The first illustration. Is verse 6. 85 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,040 Through 9 and it's an agricultural 1 he says you the. 86 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,960 Church are God's. Garden Wonder where we've. 87 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,240 Heard that before. God's garden and you are. 88 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:17,240 The leaders of the church. Are the field hands in the 89 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,320 garden who bear responsibility for different tasks in the 90 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,880 garden like planting and watering and so on? 91 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,960 Pastors. Don't own the garden? 92 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:33,280 It's God's garden. And observe in both 6 and verse 93 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:37,120 6 and verse 7 the. Church leaders don't cause the 94 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:38,920 growth. In the garden. 95 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,360 God gives the growth, Paul. Says it twice and both of those. 96 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,760 Verses he says God gives the growth. 97 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,480 So verse 8, he says church leaders are paid for their 98 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:50,800 labor. Not. 99 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,160 For their produce. Because in some places. 100 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:55,960 Church leaders. Working very hard are going to 101 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,120 see. A lot of fruit other places. 102 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,080 Church leaders working very hard are going to see no fruit the. 103 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,960 Soil is is. Rocky and hard. 104 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:09,080 It is God who gives the growth. And that's why no pastor. 105 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,120 Should be so. Venerated that. 106 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,320 God's glory is. Diminished at some point. 107 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,880 Because it's God. Who does it and This is why. 108 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,160 A party spirit is so. Dangerous within the. 109 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,000 Church, it divides God's. Garden against itself again, 110 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:24,760 where have we? Heard this before. 111 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:27,280 Satan delights in dividing churches. 112 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:30,400 Because it's the. Oldest trick in his book ever 113 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,240 since genesis 3 when he. First fouled up. 114 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:37,120 God's garden, and think again of another garden on the night 115 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:38,680 that. Jesus was betrayed. 116 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:43,040 And handed over to death in another garden Judas partnered 117 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,680 with Satan. To divide the apostles. 118 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,440 And to disrupt God's mission of salvation. 119 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,080 But he didn't succeed. God through through Christ. 120 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,320 Through His immeasurable love in the Lord. 121 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,360 Jesus Christ. We find ourselves in this new. 122 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:04,120 Garden the church where? God is present through the. 123 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,280 Power of the Holy Spirit. This is sacred. 124 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:13,440 Ground where we must not give in to Satan and be divided. 125 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,120 For this reason, our Sunday liturgy, going back for 126 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,520 centuries involves the passing of the. 127 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,320 Peace before we. Come to the Lord's. 128 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,680 Table the liturgy. Liturgy means the. 129 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:26,680 Work of the. People believe me. 130 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,560 This is work. It is work to be at. 131 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:33,240 Peace with one another. These things are connected and 132 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,120 have been connected in in. Church history through. 133 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,600 The centuries because you cannot come and be one with God at the 134 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,360 table until you're one with one another. 135 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,560 That's why we. Pass the peace, and passing the 136 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:45,320 peace is a lot more than just greeting friends. 137 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,360 It's the hard work. Of maintaining unity with one 138 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,240 another. That's Paul's first. 139 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,040 Illustration The garden Illustration. 140 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,720 The second one is an architectural 1. 141 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:58,680 You the church, he says, are God's. 142 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,800 Building. And as we keep reading, it 143 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,080 becomes evident that Paul's not talking about just any old 144 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,680 building, but he's talking. About the Holy. 145 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,640 Temple. Of the Lord. 146 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,840 Not the old one in Jerusalem, the one that the Romans tore 147 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,680 down. He's talking about a new Living 148 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:19,920 Temple made-up. Of God's people, we. 149 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,120 The United. Church are God's holy. 150 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,240 Temple, we are the ultimate fulfilment not only of the Old 151 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,880 Testament Tabernacle, the Old Testament Temple in Jerusalem, 152 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:32,480 but. Every altar. 153 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:35,799 Every. Shrine that's ever been made, 154 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:38,960 and this is such an important concept that we find it 155 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,120 throughout the New Testament in many different places throughout 156 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,960 the New Testament we find. This this topic. 157 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,880 Of us being the new holy eternal temple. 158 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:53,760 Of God Apostle. Peter Peter makes this a key 159 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,800 point in his. First epistle where he says that 160 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,960 we are. Living stones in the House of 161 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:02,120 God. He says as. 162 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:07,720 You come to Jesus, who himself is a living stone, rejected by 163 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:10,120 men, but chosen and priceless in God's. 164 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,360 Sight you yourselves as living. Stones. 165 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:19,480 Are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to 166 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,440 offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through 167 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:28,640 Jesus Christ. Living stones making up a living 168 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,640 eternal temple. Paul makes the same point here 169 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,520 in First Corinthians chapter 3, using the same imagery and for 170 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:43,080 the first time. He says UK oidate do. 171 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,800 You not know every time, he says. 172 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,280 Don't you know? It is like he's. 173 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:53,360 Using bold font, italics, underline, making it larger in 174 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,040 the text he is emphasizing. This is a key point. 175 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,400 Don't you know? He says. 176 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,720 Don't you know what God has done you? 177 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:07,720 Plural y'all are. God's temple and God's. 178 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,720 Spirit. Dwells in you verse 16. 179 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,840 He's not talking about sexual. Purity here, by the way. 180 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,480 He's going to. Use this expression again in 181 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:16,920 chapter 6. Where he'll. 182 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,160 Say you singular. Are God's. 183 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,360 Temple. So be holy, live a holy life, 184 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,920 but here. He's saying y'all second person 185 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,360 plural. Y'all. 186 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,960 Are God's temple. This is wonderful news. 187 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:38,160 Think about the implications in the beginning the first temple. 188 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,160 Was God's. Garden in Eden it was a thin 189 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,160 place where heaven and earth met, and when God and his. 190 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,040 People could fellowship together. 191 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,320 But then, after the serpent tempted Eve, not only were 192 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,240 heaven and earth split apart, not only was. 193 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,400 God separated. From his. 194 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,640 People, but we. Became divided from one another. 195 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,520 Disunity broke into every. Aspect of life. 196 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:08,400 Our rebellion made Unity reunion difficult and. 197 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:10,720 Costly God provided ways through. 198 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,600 The Centuries Altars. Tabernacle Temple. 199 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,920 All rudimentary illustrations. Of the. 200 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,080 Salvation that Jesus would someday bring for God so. 201 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,720 Loved the world. That in the fullness of time. 202 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,640 He gave his. Son to be. 203 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:32,360 Ripped apart so that. We might become one Jesus 204 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,160 nailed. To a cross split by a sword. 205 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:39,200 The ultimate peace offering to reunite God and man and on good. 206 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,520 Friday the. Jerusalem Temple became. 207 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,640 Forever obsolete. And unnecessary, a point made 208 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:51,400 emphatically when God himself ripped the temple veil from. 209 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,560 Top to bottom. Opening the way into the. 210 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:58,280 Holy of Holies for all, all people. 211 00:11:58,280 --> 00:11:59,920 Jews and Gentiles. So. 212 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:02,280 What if the Romans destroyed the temple? 213 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,680 As Jesus predicted would. Happen, and as indeed happened, 214 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:09,360 not one stone left upon another. Who cares? 215 00:12:09,680 --> 00:12:11,400 So what? If they never rebuild the 216 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:15,440 temple, or even if they do, it doesn't matter at all. 217 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:20,240 Because we are God's. Living Temple. 218 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,840 We are the. Ultimate thin place. 219 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,520 The thin place that will. Last forever. 220 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:33,560 And this was done by Jesus himself allowing. 221 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,600 His body to be. Broken And as God raises him 222 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,920 from the dead, he becomes the foundation verse 11 the 223 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:46,560 foundation for this ultimate thin place, God's eternal temple 224 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:51,360 made of living stones. Now if you want to know. 225 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,480 About how Paul set up this. Church you can go and read in 226 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:57,720 Acts chapter 18. About. 227 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,640 How he ended up in Corinth and we get. 228 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,320 A few details that are. Very, very interesting and 229 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:04,680 relevant to this. Chapter. 230 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:07,280 Because when Paul got to Corinth, he met. 231 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:12,080 This Jewish couple. Whose business in Corinth was 232 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,240 tent making. And as it turns out, we learn in 233 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,080 Acts 18 that Paul himself was a tent maker. 234 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:20,280 And so he went into business with them. 235 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,840 And that was how for 18 months, he supported himself. 236 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,280 While he taught. The Corinthian. 237 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:30,760 Church all about Jesus. Now I think it's no coincidence 238 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,080 that. Paul was a. 239 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:35,120 Tent maker. For that's. 240 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:40,400 What he's doing in making this new living Tabernacle, in 241 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,760 establishing a church in Corinth and Ephesus and all the. 242 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,360 Other places. Where he did this thing like. 243 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,800 Bezalel, we heard. This in the Old Testament 244 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:54,280 reading, Paul comes as a master Craftsman making. 245 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:59,960 The House of God. And he's doing it not with with 246 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,720 canvas and thread, but he's doing it with. 247 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:08,160 People. Paul began verse 10 by laying a 248 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,320 foundation, the right foundation, with the gospel. 249 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,040 Of Jesus the crucified. And risen Messiah King. 250 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,800 No other foundation is strong enough. 251 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,560 To bear the weight of what is. To be built upon it, you think 252 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,680 about all of the temples around the world, these great temples. 253 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,640 Think about the Taj Mahal. Think about the cathedrals in 254 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:27,080 Europe. Think. 255 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,400 About the basilica up at. Catholic University or. 256 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:34,480 Our great temple to liberty. Here on Capitol Hill, think 257 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:35,400 about. All of these. 258 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,520 Buildings and and how grand they are above ground, and what must 259 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:44,040 be below them in order. To support all of that weight. 260 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:52,640 Right now, every foundation must be strong enough to bear what is 261 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,840 built upon it in the same way. Only Jesus. 262 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,280 Only the. Biblical, historical Jesus. 263 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:04,880 Died and risen from the dead on. Easter is able to support the 264 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,240 weight. Of this enormous bridge between 265 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:10,000 heaven and earth, between God and humanity. 266 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,680 And that's why, by the way, when churches stop believing in the 267 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,120 historical. Jesus, the Jesus of the Bible. 268 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,480 They their foundation becomes sinking sand, and they begin to 269 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,000 crumble and fall. Their buildings may still stand, 270 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,600 but they're broken on the inside. 271 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:31,000 Verse 12 Paul talks about. What is being built on the 272 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,680 foundation of Jesus and here? He describes the work of. 273 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,480 Pastors, in similar terms to what we read in the Old 274 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:40,800 Testament passages describing the construction of the 275 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:45,360 Tabernacle in the temple, we're being built together into a 276 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:48,680 living, eternal temple that will never. 277 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,840 Ever be destroyed? As I mentioned. 278 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,560 Earlier both Paul. And Peter elsewhere. 279 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:58,480 Describe this process. In terms of living stones being 280 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:00,640 cemented. Together. 281 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,280 Now I want you to think about this for a moment and actually 282 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,000 look around at the people. Who are here? 283 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:10,640 And consider what a beautiful temple. 284 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,720 This is look at all of the people. 285 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:18,080 Gathered in their Sunday finest. Look at you guys. 286 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:19,960 You're amazing and. Beautiful. 287 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,080 Very, very. Impressive. 288 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,000 Each of us a living stone in the temple of God. 289 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:29,640 OK, now look again and think about how each person is really 290 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:36,680 broken by sin, by our own sin, and by the wounds that others 291 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,400 have inflicted upon us. Each of us. 292 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,920 Permanently disfigured in one way or another. 293 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,760 Cracked, if you will, and. Now consider. 294 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:50,640 What God does? He slaps his mortar on us and 295 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:52,160 he. Lays us carefully. 296 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,040 Into the temple. Wall Ugly brick. 297 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,320 Mortar. Cracked brick. 298 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:08,599 Mortar, crooked brick, mortar, ugly brick mortar, over and over 299 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,599 and over again. He's doing it. 300 00:17:10,599 --> 00:17:13,000 He's building this wall. And if you're up close? 301 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:15,839 All you see are the cracks. All you're. 302 00:17:15,839 --> 00:17:20,359 Seeing is the crookedness, but as you begin to step. 303 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,920 Back. You can see. 304 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,640 Beauty there. Because what's happening is with 305 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:31,120 the mortar, all of the imperfections are being 306 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,280 resolved, repairing every crack and blemish. 307 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,800 And if you step back even further, what you see is 308 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,000 breathtaking. It's still a work in progress. 309 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:43,040 It isn't finished yet, but from the looks of. 310 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:44,760 What it? Will be when it's completed. 311 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:48,840 This will be the most amazing and breathtaking architectural 312 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:51,320 masterpiece in all. Of history. 313 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:54,960 It's like the. Japanese art of Kinsuki. 314 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:00,480 This piece thanks Nathan Wienger for loaning it to us. 315 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,240 Made by. Josh Little here. 316 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:08,480 In the church is an example of Konsuki, in which. 317 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,880 A piece of pottery. That was once useful, maybe 318 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:16,320 beautiful, but nevertheless broken. 319 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:21,040 And cracked apart. Now useless is mended. 320 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,680 Together. And then in all of the. 321 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,320 Cracks that show. Where it was mended. 322 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:31,320 Gold is filled. In to those cracks and so it 323 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:35,760 goes back to being useful and it also becomes a thing of much. 324 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:41,800 Greater beauty. And much greater value, Kinsuki. 325 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,720 This is what God has done in picking each. 326 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,880 Of us up. And gluing us together with the 327 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,320 mortar. Of the Holy Spirit, the. 328 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,840 Golden mortar that fills in all. Of our cracks. 329 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:59,920 Poured into every. Old defect. 330 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:02,840 And making us. Sparkle. 331 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:04,440 Yes, I said. Sparkle in a sermon. 332 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:09,200 God's. Living Temple. 333 00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:14,360 Is like this. And it is enormous. 334 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,840 And yet it's not finished. There's still. 335 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:21,240 Room Think about who you would like to bring into this. 336 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,160 They don't have to be. Perfect, they could. 337 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,480 Be very broken, in fact. They all are. 338 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,800 But think about what the. Spirit does. 339 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:38,040 In making us fit and gluing us together and covering our 340 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,040 blemishes. With gold. 341 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,480 And as I. Survey God's. 342 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:46,240 Living Temple What I find most amazing is. 343 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,800 That despite all of the defects, with all. 344 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,920 Of the stones. The walls are. 345 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:53,280 Straight and true. Because the. 346 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,600 Walls are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and 347 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,240 that's what makes everything right. 348 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,320 That's what makes it all fit. He straightens us out. 349 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:06,280 He holds us together so we are beautiful because of what the 350 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:07,680 Lord does to. Us and how? 351 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,240 He sticks us together. I'll just remind you from 352 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,320 chapter 1, we heard it a couple. Of weeks ago. 353 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,040 Consider your calling, brothers and sisters, not many of you. 354 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,200 Were wise. According to worldly standards, 355 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:22,160 not many were powerful, not many were of noble. 356 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,720 Birth, but God chose what is. Foolish in the world to shame 357 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:28,800 the. Wise God chose. 358 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,080 What is weak in the world to shame the strong? 359 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,160 God chose. What is low and despised in the 360 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:35,520 world? Even things that are not to 361 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:39,200 bring to nothing, things that are so that no human being might 362 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,480 boast in the presence. Of God, God. 363 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:48,560 Chose you and brought you in and glued you in and has made 364 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,640 something of extraordinary beauty and value. 365 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,560 Now Paul has a special message for. 366 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,920 Pastors. Here in this section in chapter 367 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:03,320 3 and verses 12 to 15, we will be held accountable for shoddy. 368 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,200 Work. As we are tent makers and 369 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:08,200 temple. Builders too, Paul. 370 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,840 Uses here imagery of the temple sacrifice. 371 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,680 The temple is a place of. Holy fire where? 372 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,240 Sacrificial offerings ascend to the Lord. 373 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:20,040 Some offerings are acceptable, furthering communion with the 374 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,320 Lord. Other offerings are unacceptable 375 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:26,040 and do not accomplish what was intended and in the same way. 376 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:29,600 Church leaders must. Bring their best offerings and 377 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,280 service to the. Lord for our God. 378 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:34,480 Is not a genie in a bottle. He's not a Magic 8 ball. 379 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,840 He's the creator. Of all things, he is holy and 380 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,000 awesome and an all consuming fire. 381 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:45,000 And so it is incumbent upon. Pastors to give it their best. 382 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,760 Like Nadab and Abihu in the Old Testament. 383 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,120 Who pay the? Ultimate penalty. 384 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:55,840 For shoddy work we all. Will be held accountable for 385 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:56,880 how? We. 386 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:02,360 Do the equipping of the Saints. It's a sober warning for 387 00:22:02,360 --> 00:22:04,920 everyone who works in leadership in the Church. 388 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,800 Paul brings us all of this together now, at the very end. 389 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,520 Of Chapter 3. Starting in verse 18 last 390 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:19,080 paragraph and he makes one last call for unity partisanship. 391 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:22,040 He. Says is how the world does it. 392 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,840 And it seems very. Wise out there. 393 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:30,880 Think about 1st century Corinth. With their parties, their 394 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:33,720 philosophical groups, the Stoics, the. 395 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,000 Epicureans, the skeptics, all fighting, jostling for 396 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,360 supremacy. You however. 397 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:47,280 He says must become a fool in order to become wise for verse 398 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:51,160 19 the wisdom of this. World is folly with God. 399 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,960 God's wisdom, on the other hand, flips the script on our 400 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,240 divisions. Look at verse 21 where? 401 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:01,480 Paul says for. All things are yours instead of 402 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,000 the different factions belonging. 1 faction belonging 403 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,520 to Paul, one faction belonging to Apollos, another one to. 404 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,480 Kefos, Peter. Paul says no these. 405 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:20,080 Guys, these pastors. Belong to you, Apostles and 406 00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:23,440 pastors and church leaders. All belong to you, the Saints. 407 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:28,520 Of God instead of. Dividing under pastors. 408 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:32,640 You know the Benedictines, right? 409 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:37,280 The Franciscans and the Augustinians. 410 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,680 Instead of dividing under them, they belong to you. 411 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:47,440 Instead of. Lutherans or Calvinists or 412 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:52,320 Arminius ends. All of these. 413 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:59,120 Guys belong to you. For by the power of the Holy 414 00:23:59,120 --> 00:24:03,480 Spirit, we are the. One holy, Catholic and Apostolic 415 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:07,000 Church, and we in turn belong to someone. 416 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:11,200 Verse 23. We belong to Jesus and he 417 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:16,280 belongs. To God the Father, so Paul's. 418 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:18,600 Finishing this out and he just says. 419 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:20,480 Stop it. Stop. 420 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:24,320 Bickering and jockeying over things of this. 421 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,720 World. Take a look around at our 422 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:30,200 awesome glorious temple. Under construction gets better 423 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,120 and better. Because God just keeps. 424 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:36,440 Pouring gold into all of the. Cracks enjoy it. 425 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:38,160 Pay. Attention to what the. 426 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:40,080 Spirit is. Doing in our midst. 427 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,560 Come into this temple expecting that God is here and is at work. 428 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:46,080 Are you sick? Ask. 429 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,520 Someone to pray for you, anoint you with oil. 430 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,480 Do you have needs say so come expecting the? 431 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:56,520 Lord to work. In our midst come asking, 432 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,960 seeking, and knocking, in other words. 433 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:01,040 Let's. Get on with the Unity. 434 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,560 With the worship. And the mission of being an 435 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,920 embassy of Christ on Capitol Hill? 436 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,120 Nothing could be. Better for us to do for better. 437 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,120 Is one day in. God's house. 438 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,040 Than 1000 elsewhere. Let's pray. 439 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:21,720 We praise and thank you Lord. That you speak to us. 440 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:26,120 Through the centuries, even to today, will you? 441 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:31,160 Put these. Words in our hearts and help us 442 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:37,560 to be one with one another and one with you, for all the glory 443 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,280 belongs to you. For we pray in the name of the 444 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,880 Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.