“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Whether the house be made of brick, wood, stucco, or stone… the foundation is the beginning. At the cornerstone of every Christian life and every congregation must be a sincere and deep devotion to follow Jesus.
Many churches spend a lot of time pointing toward the quality of the work they do – impressive worship, large numbers, extensive outreach, exceptional efforts to do good works, or a long vibrant tradition, but these are secondary things. No matter how many rooms a mansion has, if it is sliding off the foundation, I’m not interested. I don’t care about the paint color and the skylights if the house’s foundation has crumbled.
Whether it be a desire to modernize or a desire to hold to long-beloved traditions – a church that forgets the foundation is Jesus and His Word has forgotten the vital cornerstone of growth. Go back to Him; go back to His Word, and whatever be built from there will be sound.
Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:11-23
Questions to ask:
- How is Paul feeling as he writes today’s passage? What is his mood?
- What are the central themes in Paul’s preaching and teaching which are being emphasized, or how are the central themes in this epistle being emphasized in today’s reading?
- How does our reading show Paul’s people skills, especially how he handles conflict?
- What in this passage would change the lives of the believer(s) being addressed? How does it make me a better disciple?
- How does this show the “good news” of the gospel? How can I share that with someone else?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision