Message Notes

Title: “According to the grace of God given to me”
Text: 1 Corinthians 3

INTRODUCTION

Theme of the Youth Conference: “A Wise Master Builder”

1. Inspiration:

a) An example of one who was a wise master builder

i) Of his faith

ii) Of his life

iii) Of his ministry

b) A challenge:

i) To acquire knowledge of how to be a wise master builder

ii) To seek wisdom on this subject

iii) To cultivate and apply skills

2. Important Insights:

a) Why would we want to be a master builder?

b) How may we become a master builder?

c) What does it take to be a master builder?

A DOMINANT WORD: “GRACE”

1. The existence of “grace”

2. Closely related words and concepts

a) Grace and mercy

b) Grace and compassion

c) Grace and love

3. The discovery of “grace”

a) The grace of God/ the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4)

i) The Giver of grace

ii) The Mediation of grace

iii) The gift of grace

b) In Salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)

i) Distinguished from works

ii) Discerned, applied and appreciated

c) In life

i) Gifts of grace (1 Corinthians 1:4-5; 12-14)

ii) Grace in times of affliction (2 Corinthians 12)

iii) Grace in the challenge of being a master builder (1 Corinthians 3:10)

AN IMPORTANT CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE PLACE OF GRACE IN LIFE AND MINISTRY

1. Grace to become a good servant of God

a) Grace given to Paul

b) Grace not given in vain

c) Grace applied consciously in Paul’s life

2. Consciousness of grace in becoming a master builder

a) By the grace of God given to me (1 Corinthians 3:10)

b) As a wise master builder

c) Grace not given in vain

COMMON PROBLEMS

1. We depend on ourselves instead of on the grace of God

2. We are not conscious of applying God’s grace in life and ministry

A NEW APPRECIATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD

1. Re-visit our understanding of Grace and salvation

2. Paul’s testimony

a) As recorded (Acts 9)

b) As shared

i) Context of a riotous situation in Jerusalem (Acts 22)
ii) Context of Paul before Governor Felix (Acts 24)
iii) Context of Paul before King Agrippa (Acts 26)

3. Re-visiting our understanding of having Grace as a wise master builder

a) Jesus: On the subject of being a master builder

i) A wise man who builds his house on a rock

ii) A foolish man who builds his house on sand

b) Paul as a wise master builder

i) Believer

ii) Preacher/ Pastor/ Teacher

iii) Missionary

iv) Evangelist

v) Founder of churches

vi) Apostle

vii) Writer

viii) Defender of the faith

ix) Disciple-Maker

x) Fruitful in every ministry