OASIS CHURCH of Arlington, TX

Sorry about last week's blog post.

Most will recognize this phrase “that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.”  That line comes from Shakespeare’s play “Romeo & Juliet”.  In the dialogue Juliet is bemoaning Romeo’s last name.  You know the story- Romeo & Juliet loved each other but couldn’t be together because their families, the Capulets & the Montagues, were in a feud.  So the meaning of the phrase is that it doesn’t matter what one CALLS something, what matters is what it IS.

So it may seem a little ironic that the title for this Sunday’s sermon is “A Grace Temple”.  (For those who don’t know, Oasis is a replant of the former Grace Temple Baptist Church.)  I’m not trying to be facetious by calling the sermon this.  I really think the text bears out this name as a good description of what the church should be.  What you call your church doesn’t matter nearly as much as what it is; & what it is supposed to be is A GRACE TEMPLE.  Here’s the text we’ll be looking at this week, 1 Corinthians 3:10-17-

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.  11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 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.  14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.  16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?  17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.  

The text follows an analogy of the church as God’s Field  (3:6-9) & describes for us what it means that the church is God’s Building.   In this week’s sermon we will try to develop the idea of the Church as God’s Building by talking about its foundation, the work that builds upon the foundation, & then the finished product- which I am calling “A Grace Temple.”  This is another sermon in our Church-Builders series.

So be sure to join us this Sunday & bring your family and friends.  It is vitally important that we continue to focus on the idea that while we are building a building, God is building us into who He wants us to be.  Are you a suitable “Temple” for the Lord?

If you would like to further prepare your heart for Sunday’s service, here is the playlist for songs to help you as you contemplate who we are to be as the Church.

All Because of Jesus     (4882903) 

The Church’s One Foundation     (4700456)

Give of your Best to the Master     (57485)    

We are the Body of Christ     (2220206)

All to Us     (5869860)

RESPONSE:  Have Thine Own Way     (28225)

I hope you have a good rest of the week & I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. 

God Bless,

Pastor Jeremy

The song numbers correspond to Song Select by Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI).