2016.11.6 礼拝

2016.11.6 礼拝

2016.11.6 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 「”Legacy” as seen in the Bible」

To love yourself is to be right in the sight of God. In Tokyo, “legacy” is now a word we hear a lot with regard to building new facilities for the next Tokyo Olympic Games. The issue is whether the new facilities would be become a legacy to the following generations since history has shown negative legacy. Likewise, mission is no different for we want the Word of God to remain in the people we tell to and be relayed onward for generations.

Paul’s intension was to leave something that would last for a long term rather than temporary. He did not mean the building but our faith, the formation of church and our Christian life.

➀　Being God’ fellow workers to build God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:9 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

・”You” = believers of Corinthians = Church (building) = Church (gathering of believers)

・Paul is an expert builder.

・Jesus is the foundation.

・We are God’s building and builders at the same time.

Jesus is the foundation and Paul cultivates the field on which we build the church and we are the church itself as well.

Their common target is to build and leave a building (church) and the same responsibility lies on us. We should not be satisfied with our temporary happiness but we are called to carry on the purpose set forth by Jesus.

Meanwhile, we should not take it for granted that church has existed without any difficulties. The disciples and the believers that followed have held on to the faith despite persecutions and threats of life. That is why we are now able to read the Bible and go to church.

➁ Building a Legacy.

1 Corinthians 3;10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

Paul built a number of churches and possibly experienced as much difficulties. In a way, the foundation of the present church was laid, as a result of his letters to different churches, for us to build on.

We should help our children to be able to believe in Jesus by their own choice and to worship God at church. We are this “someone”. We are called to build the church, but we should be careful how we build.

1 Corinthians 3:13　His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

Each person’s work will eventually be evaluated. Five years have passed since Life Church was founded with much help and guidance from missionaries and visiting mission teams. Whether we are able to continue the work of God is being tested.

1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

Why do we have to take care of “church”? Why is “church building” important?

We can leave “church” as “legacy” to the next generation.

Church in Japan faces aging and shortages of pastors which would eventually lead to closing down of churches. It is necessary to build the church so that there would be pastors to succeed.

At the same time, “church building” becomes important so that there would be more churches being built rather than those closing down and leave the “legacy” to the following generations.