How Firm is Your Foundation (April 27, 2025)

One day the fire we face will put everything we have ever built to the test, all of our words, all of our works, all of our worth will be tested. It is good to be saved, it is even better to be saved and lay good works upon our foundation. Word for Him, walk for Him, Worship for Him, do all that you can for Him.

Last Sunday, Easter Sunday, we talked about what I called “Backdoor Christians”. I stated that I created this name, however, someone looked it up and it had already been created. The definition is very close to the same as what I was describing; “a person who, while professing Christian faith, may not actively engage in the practices and behaviors associated with a committed Christian Life.” Also, someone “who may have initially embraced Christianity, but has drifted away from it” and finally, “who may be attending church, but not fully invested in their faith.”

I do not want anyone to continue being a “Backdoor Christian” if that is what you are today. In order to move forward and fully be a Christian and not a Backdoor Christian, we must ask ourselves – “How Firm is Your Foundation?”

Oh but in order to be saved, all I have to do is believe. CORRECT! However, we must move forward in our life with Christ, lest we become stagnant and get thrown out with the wash. The Bible tells us …

Revelation 3:15–16 ~ “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

To that end, we need to build on our foundation and do a work for God. So, let’s look to find out about our foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:10–11 ~ “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. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

The word masterbuilder (archtekton) means the superintendent or architect of the building project. Paul says that he was the one who planned the church at Corinth. He was the one who laid the foundation, who began and superintended the founding of the church. However, note three things:

• Paul was a master builder because of the grace of God, not because of any personal ability or merit. The word “grace” means far more than just being called to found a church; it means to be enabled, empowered, and equipped to do the job. It was God’s power, God’s gifts, God’s abilities that were given to Paul to do the job. Paul was only the instrument through which God built the church.

• Paul was not talking about a building. He was talking about people. The church was not a building; the church was a body of people who truly believed in Jesus Christ. God gave Paul the grace—the strength, power, and ability—to reach people for Jesus Christ and to assemble them together into a body to worship God and to honor His Son, Jesus Christ. Where they met did not matter. They could meet in a home, a hut, a cave, a field, a back yard, a public building, or a church building. What mattered was that they were one in their …
  • trust in the Lord
  • belief and worship of God
  • purpose and mission to reach their neighbors and the world with message of God’s great love

• Paul said he was a “wise masterbuilder.” The word wise means skillful. He did not approach the task and project unthoughtfully. He thought long and hard; he kept his mind upon the task. He did not allow the pleasures of the world to distract him; nor did he allow the desires of his own flesh, which sometimes ached for less demanding work, to interfere. Paul knew what God had called him to do, to plan and establish churches all over the world, so he did it as a “wise” architect and building superintendent.

• Others built upon Paul’s work in Corinth. When Paul left Corinth, God raised up others to labor and to continue building the church. They would include …
  • ministers
  • teachers
  • leaders
  • members who served and carried on the ministry of the church in order to build it. This should include all members of a church, for all members are certainly to be building the church through their witness and service for the Lord. Every member is either building or destroying the testimony and strength of a church.

Think about an amazing thing. Every church has had a person who was the master builder, the architect, the founder of the church. Someone surrendered himself to God and went forth for God. Someone gave himself up to God to become a master builder, an architect, a pioneer, a builder of churches for God.

The all important question is: Where are the men and women today who will surrender their lives to God and be the master builders who go forth and build churches for God? People desperately need to be reached and assembled together under the love and mission of Christ.

Another important question this morning: How many church members are building up the church? Are you as a church member, building or tearing down the church? How many are building wisely and skillfully upon the foundation that has already been laid?