Psalm 127:1a Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…

I. Build With God’s Word

A. Diligently Learn How To Build 2 Timothy 2:15

1. Diligent- to make effort, be prompt or earnest, endeavor, labor, study.
Rightly dividing- orthotomeō- to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly. (As opposed to hacking or chopping repeatedly)

a. Paul was a tent maker. He knew the importance straight cuts.
b. What parts of the fabric needed to be cut away and discarded.
c. How to piece together the good portions so that they would endure.

2. Without straight cuts, pieces don’t join together properly. There are gaps.

a. W/o straight cuts, he would be ashamed of his finished product.
b. The tents would be weak, less effective, and not pleasant to look at.
c. They would not provide the protection that was needed.
d. Not long lasting; seams pull disproportionately against one another.
e. Everyone would know what the tent should look like, but didn’t.

3. APPLICATION- We need to decide to study God’s word.

a. Building w/only a vague familiarity of God’s Word will be evident.

i. There will be gaps. We will be weak and less effective.
ii. Our lives may be less pleasant to look at.
iii. Things will pull disproportionately against one another.
iv. Priorities will be wrong.
v. People will know what our lives ought to look like.
vi. We may hide in shame

4. A builder that glances at the blueprints will make many mistakes.
5. A builder that studies the blueprints recognizes problems before they develop.

a. He knows how to quickly and effectively repair problems.
b. He knows how to build a building that will endure and bless all within it.

6. The time to study the blueprints is before you start, and constantly as you build.
7. We will benefit greatly if we diligently study God’s word.
8. Our Bible reading & study needs to be more than reactionary; rather-proactive.

B. Build More Than A Foundation Hebrews 6:1, 2

1. Leaving…elementary principles: learn but then go one from elementary truths
2. Let us go on to perfection: “move ahead to maturity”

a. A house begins w/ a foundation, but then builds up, so our lives.
b. We must be proactive in building our house.

3. Foundations provide only one kind of benefit, our lives have many needs.
4. Imagine living in a house that only had a foundation, and a couple of walls!
5. Yet many of us never go further than the foundation. That affects our loved ones

C. Understand The Nature Of Your Building Material Acts 20:32

1. Word of His grace- God’s word which speaks of His grace & divine friendship
2. Able to build you up-construct, confirm, embolden, edify. (Opposite of world)
3. Give you an inheritance-Reminds us of promises & blessings, present & future.
4. A builder needs to use quality building materials
5. Most building materials need to be maintained; God’s word maintains us!
6. How great to build w/materials that don’t need maintenance. Just apply it!
7. God’s building materials (His Living Word) does more than we could do alone
8. What a blessing for us to be able to build people up. God’s word builds us up!

II. Be A Faithful Builder Hebrews 3:1-6

A. Jesus- The Faithful Builder Of A House; Moses- A Servant

1. A house built of people from every tongue tribe, and nation. (Revelation 5:9)
2. Jesus is called the Foundation. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
3. Jesus-Chief Cornerstone, in whom His people are joined together. (Eph. 2:20-22)

B. Jesus Faithful To Build In Spite Of Opposition

1. Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

2. We have each been given some house to build, though there is opposition.

a. We are called to build our own lives, our marriages, our families, our friends, our community.
b. If we follow Jesus, we too need to be faithful to build.
c. Like Jesus, we must be pro-active.
d. So many good reasons to be pro-active; no good reasons to be negligent.

III. Build For Eternity

A. The Christian Builds For Eternity 1 Corinthians 3:9-15

1. Paul spoke of himself like a master builder who laid a foundation.
a. It was a church which he started.
b. He left, & other pastors who built on it.

2. Some pastors built with wood, hay, and straw.

a. Their work would not endure the discerning eye of God at the Bema Seat judgment, where believers are rewarded.

3. Other pastors built with gold, silver, precious stones. Their work would endure.
4. All those pastors would be saved

a. How and with what they built would be judged.
b. Some would receive rewards in heaven, other would not. (Build well!)

5. As you build, build for eternal purposes and for eternal rewards.

B. The Unbeliever Builds Only For This Life Luke 12:16-21

1. Some people only thinking of building for this present life.

a. Some of their building projects are honorable. (Family, charity, etc.)
b. Some projects are selfish, hurtful, and damaging

2. The most important thing is to consider eternity.
3. This man is admirable in many ways: works hard, wise, industrious, etc.
4. He has neglected preparing himself and others for eternity.