Living and Moving in the Holy Spirit
Part II: Walking in the Spirit
Study Guide Week Two
Message for Sunday June 3, 2018
This Week Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17 Additional Reading: Matthew 7:24-29
Introduction
Paul in these verses is helping the people at Corinth and us to understand what the church is. As indicated in the previous study guides on 1 Corinthians there are serious issues of jealousy and arguing and many moral issues present in the church. As a result the church has started to drift away and become something that God did not intend it to be. Paul uses the idea or illustration of a building to help us understand. He says that God is building a building. This is the picture of the church as a building. This is also used by Paul in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 21 as well as 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 16. Just to be clear - Paul is referring to the people as the building of God not to a particular physical building. He also uses the metaphor (illustrative description) of the church as a temple. The people reading this back at those times were familiar with the Jewish temple in Jerusalem as well as the many pagan idol temples in the City of Corinth. The idea of a temple is that the temple was the place were the god lived and had his presence. Again Paul is not saying that the church is a physical temple but rather that the church (group of people) is a dwelling place for God by His Spirit.
Paul in these verses is helping the people at Corinth and us to understand what the church is. As indicated in the previous study guides on 1 Corinthians there are serious issues of jealousy and arguing and many moral issues present in the church. As a result the church has started to drift away and become something that God did not intend it to be. Paul uses the idea or illustration of a building to help us understand. He says that God is building a building. This is the picture of the church as a building. This is also used by Paul in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 21 as well as 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 16. Just to be clear - Paul is referring to the people as the building of God not to a particular physical building. He also uses the metaphor (illustrative description) of the church as a temple. The people reading this back at those times were familiar with the Jewish temple in Jerusalem as well as the many pagan idol temples in the City of Corinth. The idea of a temple is that the temple was the place were the god lived and had his presence. Again Paul is not saying that the church is a physical temple but rather that the church (group of people) is a dwelling place for God by His Spirit.
Some Background Information
These verses are not only an instruction about what the church should be but also a warning (see verse 17) that God will take action against any church that builds upon another foundation. The key subjects in these verses are: 1) Laying and establishing the right foundation. This idea is also discussed in Isaiah 28:16, Ephesians 2:19-22 and 1 Peter 2:4-7. 2) Building upon that foundation. This refers to maturity both in individuals and in the church as a group. 3) The big picture of what God is doing. The idea here is that God is building a spiritual building or temple made up of those who follow Him within which he can dwell. The church becomes God's presence in the community or area they are in.
Paul also uses the image of fire that will test what is built. Fire refers to the day of judgement or what is known in the Bible as the Day of the Lord. See other verses where this idea is used most notably 1 Thessalonians 5:2. Paul wants to make sure the people do not make the church something that it is not intended to be. He wants to be sure that the church continues to be God's presence in the community dedicated to accomplishing God's purposes.
Digging Deeper Questions:
1. What types of foundations do people build their lives upon? Why? Discuss what types of foundations other than Jesus can churches be built upon?
6. Discuss verse 13-15.
7. Discuss how your group can be God's presence in your community.
This Week’s Victory Challenge: Implement together a plan to reach other people through your group.
These verses are not only an instruction about what the church should be but also a warning (see verse 17) that God will take action against any church that builds upon another foundation. The key subjects in these verses are: 1) Laying and establishing the right foundation. This idea is also discussed in Isaiah 28:16, Ephesians 2:19-22 and 1 Peter 2:4-7. 2) Building upon that foundation. This refers to maturity both in individuals and in the church as a group. 3) The big picture of what God is doing. The idea here is that God is building a spiritual building or temple made up of those who follow Him within which he can dwell. The church becomes God's presence in the community or area they are in.
Paul also uses the image of fire that will test what is built. Fire refers to the day of judgement or what is known in the Bible as the Day of the Lord. See other verses where this idea is used most notably 1 Thessalonians 5:2. Paul wants to make sure the people do not make the church something that it is not intended to be. He wants to be sure that the church continues to be God's presence in the community dedicated to accomplishing God's purposes.
Paul also uses the image of fire that will test what is built. Fire refers to the day of judgement or what is known in the Bible as the Day of the Lord. See other verses where this idea is used most notably 1 Thessalonians 5:2. Paul wants to make sure the people do not make the church something that it is not intended to be. He wants to be sure that the church continues to be God's presence in the community dedicated to accomplishing God's purposes.
6. Discuss verse 13-15.
7. Discuss how your group can be God's presence in your community.
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