Most of us have heard of the children’s TV character Bob the Builder:

Bob the builderGarry spoke last night, however, on God the builder:

God the builderAs we celebrate 50 years of this church having its own building and have looked at how the church has grown, developed and changed over the years, we are reminded of Hebrews 11:8-10, and the fact that there is a constant need for growth in building. Abraham lived in tents and was always journeying on in faith, looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder was God.

God builds with individuals, for Jesus said He would build His church (Matt 16:18) and He does this with people: His legacy was the disciples He left behind, not a marvellous architectural construction! We are the living stones who are being built into a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:4-5) and we are all broken stones initially. Sin has marred us all in some way, but God does not simply patch us up; He transforms us into reconstructed stones. However. we also have a corporate responsibility for each other. Rom 15:1-7 reminds us of the need to bear with each other, to accept each other and to endure with each other. We are urged to be eager for spiritual gifts which will build up the church (1 Cor 14:12) and 1 Cor 12:7-11 reminds us that these gifts are for the common good of the church collective, not for personal glorification.

Eph 4:16 (a key verse in our studies this year) reminds us that the whole body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. All are needed and vital, placed in this church by God to serve His purposes in our generation. God’s desire is for growth and for fruitfulness; there is always more to possess. God uses other people to promote growth, for people are God’s building. (1 Cor 3:9) God has done much with our church already and is still at work with us. As long as Jesus remains the cornerstone (Matt 21:42), we can be sure that the building which is grown by Him will be sound, for in Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple to the Lord. (Eph 2:21) Just as we have seen how God has worked in and through the church over the past fifty years, we can be sure that He will be faithful to help us to continue to grow, with God the Builder at the centre.