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The Foundation of the Church

Text: Ephesians 2:19-22
5 June 2005

(I) REFERENCES TO THE CHURCH

1. The household of God Ephesians 2:19

a) Not as strangers

b) Not as foreigners

c) Fellow citizens

d) Members of the household

2. The Temple Building Ephesians 2:21

a) Whole building in mind

b) Many parts

c) Fitted together

d) Growth

3. The Dwelling Place of God Ephesians 2:22

a) The special work of the Holy Spirit

b) Built together

c) Blueprint- “For a dwelling place of God”

(II) THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH

“Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” Ephesians 2:20

1. The Chief Cornerstone

a) Concept derived from Messianic Psalm

b) Stone rejected by man Psalm 118:22

c) Made chief cornerstone by the Lord Psalm 118:22

2. Chief Cornerstone associated with the Foundation

a) Pride of place- Cornerstone

b) Foundation- Laid with the Cornerstone

3. The “apostles and prophets”

a) Reference to their work (Cf. Book of Acts)

b) Reference to their writings (Cf. New Testament Epistles)

4. No other foundation

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 3:11

(III) BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw; each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare I, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
If anyone’s work is burned he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

1. Personal Challenge to build on the Foundation

2. Personal Choice of building material to be used

3. Proof of work- Tested by Fire

CHURCHES

Thank God for the sight of them;

The beauty, the dreams, and the right of them,

Churches that silently testify

With spires and crosses reared to the sky,

That makes us think every time we look

Of God, and right, and the Holy Book.

– Chauncey R. Piety –