The Local Church--What It's to Be

The local church is God’s field, God’s building. As believers, we are God's fellow workers who must diligently build upon the Foundation which God laid: His Son, Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11) The Church is holy because it's built on the Foundation of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18, 21, 24; 3:11; 15:3-4; Matthew 16:13-19)

1. Because the Church is His building, it is the responsibility of every believer to be involved in service. (1 Corinthians 3:10)
- Every person in the local church is to be involved in building upon that Foundation.

Two Questions:
- Are you a part of a local church?
- If you are, what are you doing to serve in the local church? 

2. Because the church is holy, we must work diligently and carefully in its building. (I Corinthians 3:10b)

3. Because the church is holy, we must understand our accountability to God. (1 Corinthians 3:13)
- Believer, you are either building with material that will last eternally or be consumed. It will be tried by fire; it will be tested by God’s trial. 
- What is the difference between the building materials? The ones that are consistent with God’s holiness and character will stand God’s judgment.  

3. Because the church is holy, we must have a relationship with one another. (1 Corinthians 3:17)

- We must treasure our fellowship with each other. (Hebrews 10:25) Our times of worship and fellowship are a foretaste of Heaven.
- We have relationships with one another because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

4. Because the church is holy, we must give Him the preeminence. 
- If any man mars the temple (i.e., the fellowship of believers), God will mar that person. God will wreck the church wrecker. (1 Corinthians 3:17) We must protect its purity. 

Dr. Fred Moritz is a member of Community Baptist Church and also serves as a seminary professor at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, WI.