Day 7: 3:10-17 (Building God’s Church: Foundation of Christ, and Holiness)

- the church is built on Jesus Christ as the foundation. Believers are called to build carefully, using faithful and lasting work, because the quality of their work will be tested. The church is God’s holy temple, and the Holy Spirit dwells within it, so it must be treated with reverence and holiness.

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17
 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. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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. 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.

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.


2. OBSERVATIONS :

•   What did this passage mean to its original audience? 

* In the original Greek, the "you" in verses 16 and 17 is plural. While we often hear that our individual bodies are temples, Paul is talking to the entire community. The church in Corinth was divided into cliques and fighting. By using the plural "you," Paul is saying: "If you destroy the unity of the church with your arguments, you are actually tearing down God’s building."

* They needed to know that their community is God’s temple, not a social club. In the ancient world, temples were treated with great seriousness because they were believed to be the dwelling place of a god. To damage a temple was not a small offense—it was an act of disrespect toward the deity himself.

• What does this passage reveal about God?
   -  God alone establishes the foundation of His Church, and that foundation is Jesus Christ (v. 11).
  - God dwells among His people (v. 16).
  - God takes holiness seriously (v. 17).

What does this passage reveal about people?
 -  We are co-builders with God. Our responsibility is to build carefully on Jesus Christ.
 - We are deeply connected to one another (v. 16).
- We can harm the church through division, pride, or sin (17).

3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?
 
 Attitudes – How I think
This passage corrects how I view the church. The church is not a place built around my preferences, opinions, or comfort. I am reminded that division is not a “small issue.” Pride, gossip, jealousy, or stubbornness are not just personal struggles—they can damage God’s dwelling place. This makes me more careful and humble in how I think about conflict and disagreement in the church.

Affections – What I love
Knowing that God lives among His people deepens my love for the church. I want to love what God loves. Instead of becoming frustrated with the church’s weaknesses, I want to grow in patience, compassion, and grace. I want my heart to care more about unity and holiness than about being right or being noticed.

Actions – How I live
I will remember that I am a co-builder with God. I will ask myself regularly: “Am I helping build God’s temple, or am I unknowingly damaging it?” I will also pray for my church leaders, asking that we collectively build on the foundation of Christ rather than on our own reputations or traditions.
 
4. PRAYER:
  Heavenly Father, thank You for the mystery and beauty of Your Church. Thank You that You don't just dwell in high and lofty places, but You choose to live within us. Lord, Forgive me for any words or attitudes that have caused cracks in the unity of Your Temple. Help me to remember that "we" are Your holy dwelling place.
Give me the wisdom to build your church on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Shape my heart so that I value unity, holiness, and love. 
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.