1. In the New Testament God’s people (Christians) are compared to builders.
2. This fact is demonstrated by a special word in the NT. This word is used literally and figuratively.
3. For Christians, the figurative use of this word is the most relevant.
a) Jesus was familiar with the word we are exploring because He used it in the Sermon on the Mount.
b) Mt. 7:24, 26 – READ
2) The third time this word occurs in the New Testament should also be a familiar text.
a) In Mt. 16:18 Jesus made a promise about His church.
b) The Lord said He would “build” His church.
3) We also find this word used in Mt. 21:33.
4) In Mt. 23:29 this word is used to describe the building of tombs.
5) Luke (Lk. 4:29) made use of this word when he described the “building” of a “city.”
6) Luke also used this word in Lk. 7:5 to describe the “building” of a “synagogue.”
7) In Lk. 12:18 this word describes the building of “barns.”
8) All these passages help us realize that people have been building things for a long, long time.
a) Luke 17:28 says people were building things in the time of Lot.
b) Many of the projects built by people were not small, quick, or cheap.
9) John used this word in Jn. 2:20 to say the temple had been under construction for 46 years.
10) If we worked on a building project for about 50 years, this would take most of our life.
LET’S NOW SEE HOW THIS WORD CAN BE RELATED TO THE LIFE OF EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN.
1) We begin with Rom. 15:20.
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b) In Rom.15:20 Paul tells us a little something about his missionary strategy – READ
2) This point is further discussed in verse 21.
3) Today there are some Christians like to start new works rather than work with an established congregation.
4) God’s will for a local congregation is for it to grow (expand).
5) The first part of verse 20 tells us how this expansion is to occur; Paul used the word “preach.”
a) In Rom. 15:20 the primary thought is about growth, outreach, evangelism.
b) In 1 Cor. 14:4 the church is still the subject under consideration, but Paul made a different point.
6) 1 Cor. 14:4 – READ
7) “Edify” is the word which is elsewhere translated “build.”
8) God says the church is a place where people are supposed to be “built up.”
9) Imagine being part of an organization where we are made to feel welcome.
10) Imagine being part of a group that counts us as one of its special members.
a) In 1 Cor. 16:2 some translations rightly say Christians were meeting on “every” first day of the week.
b) Acts 2:46 tells us God’s people were meeting “day by day.”
11) God designed the church to provide a regular boost to people as they go through their lives.
12) Notice verse 3 in this same chapter – READ
13) Let’s also look at verse 17 in this same chapter (this passage also has our special word for “build”) – READ
14) 1 Cor. 8:1 – READ
15) 1 Thess. 5:11 – READ
16) If we are a Christian, we need to be a builder. We need to help promote and strengthen Jesus’ church.
17) If we need to be built up, one of the best resources at our disposal is the New Testament church.
