March 1, 2020
The Disciple: A Commited Church Builder | Rev Dr Taiye Adeola
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 3: 9 -15
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abides which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
In the next four weeks, we shall be having a Life Commitment Study. The study will run every Wednesday during the midweek service and it will be in groups. This year’s Life Commitment study focuses on The Disciple: A Committed church Builder”. It is to integrate the disciple with the blueprint of the church which consists of truths, commands, principles, and regulations that originate from God himself. The blueprint of the church, which is the Bible, is to help Disciples of Christ build according to pattern.
This year’s study is written by our own pastor – Rev Dr Solomon Olawuyi James and the children section by Esther Jadesola Oladimeji. The book is available for sale with the ushers; all members are encouraged to get copies so we can enjoy the study.
Today I will be introducing the study as I encourage all of us to be a part of it starting this Wednesday by 5 pm.
The Disciple: A Committed Church Builder. The Church is a people who are called out and set apart from the world. They are also called and sent into the world. The goal of a disciple is complete conformity to Christ, and such conformity is both in character and in mission. The task of the church is that of making disciples, and the task of the disciples is to build the church of Christ. The focus of our study is how a disciple can become a committed church builder in such a time as we are in.
Jesus knew that only those who are disciples would be vessels for building His church and thus was committed to raising disciples. Jesus’ life and ministry attracted a great number of people who thronged after him for one thing or the other, Luke 14:25 says “And there went great multitudes with him…” while many simply wanted to see Him, like Zaccheaus in Luke 19:1-4, others desired to be His disciples. Many saw his coming as perhaps the fulfillment of their messianic expectation (John2:23 -25), thus, they desired to follow him. However, unlike several preachers and religious leaders of today who will be fascinated by the crowd and even mitigate (lower) their conditions in order to get more people, Jesus stated clearly what the conditions must be followed to become his disciple. In Luke 14: 25 -30 we read
“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Jesus was not interested in a mere crowd of followers. He even demanded that the volunteers should have a rethink and consider the cost of following him. See what the bible says in Luke 9:57-62
“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
The Christian race is with a price, a cost that demands self-discipline and awareness of the purpose and essence of the calling. Jesus sets these conditions and presented it to men who were with him and attempting to follow him. Thus, Jesus puts a clear distinction between the multitude of followers and those who are his true/real disciples. This truth is crucial as we examine the church today. How many church members are true disciples and God’s vessels for building His church?
Apostle Paul, in our main text – 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 while noting that believers are God’s field, God’s building, accentuated the value of building as an expert builder. He noted the following:
- All disciples, like Apostle Paul, are given the grace to build –v9
- Apostle Paul laid the foundation as an expert builder-v10
- All believers are required to build carefully on the foundation – v10
- Believers should not construct any other foundation but build on the foundation which has been laid. That foundation is Jesus, our Lord –v11
- Disciples are required to build with quality and durable materials that can stand the test of divine judgment –v12. The passage shows both the diversity of materials that can be used and are being used in building (Gold, Silver, Costly stones, Wood, Hay or Straw) as well as the varying quality.
- Our work will be tested with fire and everyone will receive his/her reward accordingly. While works that are built with wood, hay or straw will be destroyed by fire, works built with gold, silver and costly stones will be more refined and stand when they pass through the fire.
God is looking for true disciples who will be committed to building on the true foundation with the purpose-driven by God that will stand the test of fire and consciously and resolutely build according to the divine pattern.
THE IDENTITY OF A COMMITTED CHURCH BUILDER
He is first a disciple of Christ, because it is a disciple haven been with Christ and made to be like him that can understand the mind of the master for the church and build according to his pattern. A committed church builder is a born again child of God who is dedicated to being like Christ. Such has joined the membership of a local church and is wholly dedicated to the healthy growth of and protection of the unity of the church and the fulfillment of his vision and ministry. Committed church builders are not merely worshipers, officers or just church members but those that are loyal and willing to give their time and energy to living the life of Christ as well as the ministry of the church. Although the church seems to be filled with men and women who profess to be Jesus’ followers, but how many are living by Jesus’ terms and conditions of discipleship and are committed to the church building? Being in the multitude in the church should not be misconstrued as being a true disciple and church builder.
Some of the marks of a committed church builder who is a disciple are spelled out by Jesus as he gives us some basic and indispensable conditions for true discipleship in his declaration in Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”.
- A deliberate and Personal Choice
- A definite denial
- Daily cross-bearing
- Following Jesus
- Unrivaled love – Luke.14:26
A COMMITTED CHURCH BUILDER AND DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus clearly presented discipleship as the authentic evidence of being a Christian. It is not a mere profession of Christ or an award after a program. It is a commitment to Christ which will be evident in the life of the believer. Jesus gave their evidence that will clearly show a man as his authentic disciple which J. Oswald Sanders calls the continual (inward view of discipleship) and fruit (upward view of discipleship) principles. The three pieces of evidence are:
- The continual principle – John 9:31-32
- The love principle – John 13:34-35
- The fruit principle – John 15:16
The challenge is this, are you a disciple? you cannot be a committed church builder if you are not first a disciple.
Listen to the sermon below: