Text: 1 Cor. 3:10-23
13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
A certain congregation was about to erect a new church building. The building committee, in subsequent meetings passed the following resolutions:
1. We shall build a new church
2. The new building is to be located on the site of the old one.
3. The material in the old building is to be used in the new one.
4. We shall continue to use the old building until the new one is completed.
http://www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-illustrations/845/a-new-building/
We shall build a new church
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
Next weekend is Transfiguration Sunday, and on Transfiguration Sunday, February 3, 1963, Peace Lutheran Mission of South Waterford Township was organized and began serving the people of this community.
At the end of 1963, the membership of Peace was 50 communicant and 104 baptized souls. The Rev. Richard Feucht, Missionary at Large for our Michigan District, was the first pastor of Peace serving the congregation for 5 years from 1962-1967.
In subsequent years 5 other pastors have been called to serve here:
Rev. William Wurm 1967 - 1970
Rev. Darowin Cordes 1970 - 1973
Rev. Bruce Hanson 1973-1980
Rev. William Merrell 1980 - 2013
Rev. Russell Tkac 2013 – Present
Much has changed since February 3, 1963
John F. Kennedy was President of the United States - at least he would be for another eight months before an assassin’s bullet would take his life. It would be another year before in February of 1964 that the Beatles would change the face of popular music. The Vietnam War would cloud the 1960’s and early 1970’s with death of young men and protests. In 1968 and 1984 the Tiger’s would win World Series. 1997-1998-2002-2008 would bring Stanley Cup wins for the Detroit Red Wings and Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, and now Trump would be President of the United States.
Much has changed since February 3, 1963
The new building is to be located on the site of the old one.
But one thing hasn’t changed:
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Those who have been called to serve Peace through the changing times of the last 54 years have had a foundation as Paul writes the Corinthian church that like a Master Builder he laid and now it is being built by another. The foundation is Jesus Christ and that is the foundation that Peace Lutheran Church has been built on over these last 54 years from our beginnings and through two church building projects culminating in the building we now enjoy.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
As we serve and shepherd God’s people we build, using different materials some of which are like gold, silver and precious stones that through fire are refined and made pure … God’s word and sacraments come to mind … and caring for and ministering to those who are in need. But other things we build with wood, hay and straw may have seemed good at the time … will be burned up in the end. (Church softball teams?)
The new building is to be located on the site of the old one.
But one thing hasn’t changed:
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Those who have been called to serve Peace through the changing times of the last 54 years have had a foundation as Paul writes the Corinthian church that like a Master Builder he laid and now it is being built by another. The foundation is Jesus Christ and that is the foundation that Peace Lutheran Church has been built on over these last 54 years from our beginnings and through two church building projects culminating in the building we now enjoy.
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
As we serve and shepherd God’s people we build, using different materials some of which are like gold, silver and precious stones that through fire are refined and made pure … God’s word and sacraments come to mind … and caring for and ministering to those who are in need. But other things we build with wood, hay and straw may have seemed good at the time … will be burned up in the end. (Church softball teams?)
The testing by fire will show what type of work, we as shepherds have done in this place for time and for eternity. Big responsibility; big shoes to fill; and quite a bit at stake when you think of the souls of the people you serve and their eternal destinies.
The material in the old building is to be used in the new one.
14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
We as shepherds are to use what God has given us - which is the word and the pure doctrine given us in the scriptures that simply is God’s teaching (doctrine). We don’t add to the word or burden the people with things that God has not said. It is by the work of the Holy Spirit that the pure word goes forth to those who need to hear gathered in this place. At times the word is received as a burden pointing you to a need for repentance while at other times the shear the joy of forgiveness lifts the burden of guilt off you and comforts a heart broken by sin.
We work towards that end. It is repentance and forgiveness that needs to work in your heart - the heart of the believer. We at times fall short in how we do as pastors, but thanks be to God that God himself is the one who brings forth the growth just like Paul planted and Apollos watered but God brought forth the blessing and growth in his way and in his time. It is comforting to know that just as the wood, hay and straw is burned up we too through failings will emerge like one walking away from car wreck unhurt though the car may be totaled and destroyed … we will survive.
And finally:
We shall continue to use the old building until the new one is completed.
While Paul directs this portion of his letter to those who serve the church the greater picture of what he is saying is for all of us.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him, for God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Dear friends, you are the true church and true building where God dwells.
Pastor Merrell told me once that with the disposition of our former church building on M-59 and the groundbreaking here for this property and new building on Elizabeth Lake Rd. he was able in a very real and tangible way show that the church is not the building but the people … the followers of Christ that make up the church. It is here and in this place that God calls us together to receive his gifts but it is we as his people where his Spirit dwells.
1. We shall build a new church
You are that new creation in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. The new building is to be located on the site of the old one.
By faith in Jesus you are changed from God’s enemies to God’s beloved children marked and redeemed in him.
3. The material in the old building is to be used in the new one.
Though you still inhabit the sinful flesh and this sinful world you are a new creation made new by the blood of the Lamb.
4. We shall continue to use the old building until the new one is completed.
God will continue to work in you to conform you into the image of his son until you receive the fullness of his blessings in your heavenly home.
As such you have been given the gift and you must guard that good deposit – faith looking outward to Christ that give eternal life to all who believe!
21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or [Wurm or Cordes or Hansen or Merrell or Tkac] the world or life or death or the present or the future— [because dear friends]
all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's, now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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