1 Corinthians 3:9-15, ”Just Another Room on the House”

Or, to put it another way, you are God’s house. Using the gift God gave me as a good architect, I designed blueprints; Apollos is putting up the walls. Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely. – The Message -

This is a powerful metaphor to combat our human tendency for division. “House”.

Actually…just one house…with one foundation…Jesus Christ

The church in Corinth was simply a room in the house. Martin Luther’s followers were another room in the same house. My congregation is a room in that house. So is yours. Rooms can look distinct but the commonality is they all rest on the same foundation.

But there’s always some Christian saying “that’s not MY house!”

Bill Hybels developed a new and unique model for evangelizing at Willow Creek in the early 1970’s. By 2000, 15,000 people were worshipping weekly. The model was designed to attract “seekers”. Programs (such as daycare, sports programs, classes, and contemporary music and worship) were created which attract people from the community to the church. He was roundly criticized by the traditional church.

Just another room on the house…but the traditionalists said he’d moved out of the neighborhood.

I hear Christians condemn Joel Osteen..at Lakewood Church in Houston. Too much “prosperity gospel!” Really? What else could Philippians 4:19 mean?

Just another room on the house…

Rick Warren founded Saddleback in 1980. They now have 20,000 worshippers. It’s different. Rick Warren advocates building people not churches. But, 20,000 people means 20,000 building projects. It might not be quite as precise as my church.

Just another room on the house…

When we criticize these builders we sound like the Corinthians. I suggest we quit looking at the walls, or the ceiling. Forget about the paint or the colors. LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION.  Is it Christ?

Remember, it’s not “them” we’re criticizing. Those people are “us”.

Live boldly out there today…