God’s Fellow Workers
TEXT
: 1 Cor. 3:9INTRODUCTION
:A. MANY FIGURES USE IN THE NT TO DESCRIBE OUR RELATION TO GOD.
B. Eph. 2:10. GOD HAS WORK FOR US.
C. OUR TEXT DEALS WITH OUR RELATION TO GOD IN THIS WORK.
I.
WE ARE GOD'S FELLOW-WORKERS.A. SPECIFICALLY, WHO IS HE TALKING ABOUT? PAUL & APOLLOS!
1. Not as apostles. Apollos wasn't an apostle.
2. Not as inspired prophets. No mention of Apollos being inspired( Acts 18:28 ).
3. As teachers of the gospel( Context - 1:17; 3:5; 4:1 ).
B. ALL HAVE THIS RESPONSIBILITY( Phil. 2:15-16; Rom. 1:14 ).
C. GOD WORKS THROUGH HUMAN AGENCY.
1. His pleasure is done through us( Phil. 2:12-13 ).
2. He empowers us( Phil. 4:13 ).
3. He is to be glorified( Matt. 5:16; John 15:8 ).
II.
YE ARE GOD'S HUSBANDRY - HIS "TILLED GROUND."A. THE SOWER( Luke 8 ).
1. Our hearts the soil and the seed his word( Luke 8:11 ).
2. Men's hearts our labor( 2 Cor. 10:3-6 ).
B. ISAIAH'S VINEYARD - GOD'S CARE( Isa. 5:1-2 ).
C. SIMILAR FIGURE TODAY( John 15:1-8 ).
1. Emphasis on "fruit bearing"( John 15:2, 5 ).
a. Fruit bearing is exercising our talents( Matt. 25 ).
b. Different abilities( Rom. 12:2-8 ).
c. Fruit = effort, not success( 1 Cor. 1:17; Acts 20:26-27 ).
2. What if we don't put forth?( John 15:2, 6 ).
3. What if we are like Isaiah's vineyard( Heb. 6:6-8 ).
III.
YE ARE GOD'S BUILDING.A. CONTEXTUAL EMPHASIS - PAUL LAID A FOUNDATION( 1 Cor. 3:10 ).
1. What foundation?( vs. 11 ).
2. What does he mean( 1 Cor. 1:23 ).
B. BUILT BY WORK OF APOSTLES AND PROPHETS( Eph. 2:20 ).
C. MUST BE CAREFUL HOW WE BUILD( 1 Cor. 3:10 ).
1. Refers to teaching and conduct of teacher( 1 Tim. 4:16 ).
2. Materials sometime effect quality( 1 Cor. 3:12-15 ).
D. WHAT SORT OF BUILDING? A TEMPLE( 1 Cor. 3:16-17 ).
1. God's presence( 2 Cor. 6:17-18 ).
2. Priesthood and worship( 1 Pet. 2:5 ).
3. Function of the priest - offer sacrifices( Rom. 12:1 )
CONCLUSION
:A. EACH ONE HAS A PLACE IN GOD'S SERVICE.
B. WE MUST BE DOING GOD'S WORK.
C. WE MUST BE IN JESUS TO DO THE WORK( John 15:5 ).