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This week, Pastor Shawn zooms out from personal identity and zooms in on corporate identity—what the Church looks like when we all wear Grace Glasses. Yes, you’re a new creation, but you’re not alone. God’s plan was never just to save individuals, but to knit together a family of misfits who learn to love like Jesus—together. The Church is the grace classroom, love laboratory, and spiritual farm where our new life gets tested, refined, and multiplied.
Paul starts with the source of division: leaders. People often get hurt by pastors, but Paul reminds us: leaders are just servants, not saviors. They're tools God uses to help others believe—some plant, some water, but only God gives the growth. Every pastor is just part of the farm crew, and the Church is God's field. So stop idolizing or criticizing leaders as if they’re the point—they’re not. The grace of God is.
Then Paul switches metaphors: the Church is a building, and the only solid foundation is Jesus. That means ministry must be done by grace—not law, not hype, not human cleverness. You can build with granite (truth) or straw (flesh), but a refining fire is coming, and only the grace-built things will last. This isn’t about salvation—Paul is clear—we’re saved by grace. But our work will be tested, and real, Spirit-led love will stand forever.
Finally, Paul gives a third image: the Church is a temple. Not a physical building, but a holy people where God’s Spirit dwells. That’s why purity matters. That’s why unity matters. That’s why love matters most of all. Because this isn’t a club, it’s a living, breathing Body of Christ. And every little act of grace and love, even unseen ones, are building something eternal.
Takeaways:
- The Church is not a stage, school, or system—it’s a family farm, a grace-built house, and a holy temple.
- Ministry must be built on grace or it won’t last.
- Leaders are servants—not the foundation, not the focus.
- You’re holy because Jesus made you holy. Now live out that identity together.
Next week: we dig deeper into what it means to be God’s temple and how grace makes us holy from the inside out.
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