Building on the Solid Foundation: What It Means to Stand on Christ

Watch the whole service and sermon from 1 Corinthians 3:10-17: "A Firm Foundation: Built on Christ, Our Firm Foundation." The sermon draws from 1 Corinthians 3:10-17, and outlines that the church is only as strong as the foundation it is built on—and that foundation is Jesus Christ alone.

There's something profoundly reassuring about a solid foundation. When storms rage and winds howl, what keeps a structure standing isn't its beautiful facade or impressive height—it's what lies beneath, unseen but essential. This truth resonates deeply when we consider what it means to build our lives, our families, and our churches on the right foundation.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church with a clear and unshakable message: "For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). This isn't merely religious language or spiritual poetry—it's the fundamental truth upon which everything else rests.

But what does it actually mean that Jesus Christ is our foundation? It means we believe in and stand upon the person of Christ—the Messiah, the anointed one of God, the Son of God who is fully divine. We build our lives on the truth that Jesus is the incarnate God, our Savior, and the head of the church. No human leader, no religious system, no personal achievement can take His place.

We also stand on the work of Christ. His perfect life, His sacrificial death on the cross, His victorious resurrection—these aren't just historical events to acknowledge. They're the very ground beneath our feet. Christ lived the perfect life we couldn't live and died the death we deserved so that we might have eternal life. When He rose from the grave, He defeated death itself, offering us the promise that everyone who believes in Him will also rise.

This is where our confidence comes from. Not from our own goodness, not from religious activity, not from our efforts to earn God's favor. Salvation is a gift received by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Jesus Himself illustrated this truth powerfully in Matthew 7:24-27. He described two builders: one wise, one foolish. The wise person hears Christ's words and acts on them, building their house on the rock. When storms come—and they always do—the house stands firm because its foundation is secure.

The foolish person also hears Christ's words but doesn't act on them, building instead on sand. When the same storms arrive, that house collapses with a great crash.

Life will test us. Disease, loss, disappointment, spiritual attack—these are the inevitable storms. The question isn't whether we'll face them, but whether we'll stand when they come. Building on Christ means that when the rivers rise and winds blow against our lives, we will not collapse. Our foundation is secure.

But building on anything else—our own strength, worldly wisdom, human approval, material success—guarantees eventual collapse. These are foundations of sand, unable to bear the weight of life's challenges.

If Christ is the foundation, how do we build upon it? Paul provides guidance: we build by God's grace, with wisdom, and with great care.

Everything begins with grace. We were saved by grace, we live by grace, and we serve by grace. Grace is God's unmerited favor—His power working in us to accomplish what we could never do on our own. When we feel like giving up, when we're exhausted or overwhelmed, grace reminds us that our ability comes from Him, not from ourselves.

We also build wisely. God equips every believer with spiritual gifts—unique abilities given by the Holy Spirit to contribute to the body of Christ. Discovering and using these gifts is essential to building wisely. This requires involvement in the life of the church, studying Scripture, and actively participating in ministry. We need each other; the body of Christ functions best when every member contributes their God-given gifts.

And we must build carefully. Our methods and motives matter. Are we serving for God's glory or our own recognition? Are we building with materials that have eternal value—gold, silver, and precious stones—or with worthless materials like hay and straw? The difference lies in our hearts.

One day, every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ—not to be condemned for sin (that was dealt with at the cross), but to have our works evaluated. Second Corinthians 5:10 tells us we will be repaid for what we've done in the body, whether good or worthless.

This isn't meant to frighten us but to motivate us. Christ will reward faithful service with crowns—the imperishable crown, the crown of righteousness, the crown of life, the crown of glory. Everything we do in His name with right motives and a servant's heart is never in vain. It has eternal significance.

But works done for self-promotion, with wrong motives, or without faith will be burned up. We won't lose our salvation—that's eternally secure in Christ—but we will lose rewards. This reality should shape how we live each day, how we treat one another, and how we serve.

Finally, we must remember that the church is God's temple. "Don't you yourselves know that you are God's temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). We're not just another building or religious organization. We are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

This truth demands reverence, holiness, and obedience. Without the Spirit, we're powerless. But with the Spirit dwelling among us, we become a powerful force for the gospel, characterized by righteousness and holiness that comes from Christ within us.

Building on Christ means living like we belong to Him. It means allowing His Word to shape our decisions, His Spirit to empower our service, and His love to flow through us to others. It means pursuing holiness not through our own effort but by walking in step with the Spirit.

The foundation has been laid. The question is: what are you building upon it? Are you constructing something that will last until the day of Christ returns, or something that will burn up in the fire of His judgment?

Build with faith. Build with love. Build for eternity. And remember—on Christ the solid rock we stand; all other ground is sinking sand.

Through this sermon, God reminds us that Jesus is the foundation of our faith and church. How will you respond to His calling to build wisely with eternal values and work diligently for His kingdom?

Take a few minutes of silence for each person to reflect on these questions:

• Am I building my life on Christ alone, or am I relying on other foundations?
• What spiritual gifts has God given me, and how am I using them to build His church?
• Are my motives in serving Christ pure, or am I seeking recognition or self-promotion?
• How can I live more fully as a holy temple where God's Spirit dwells?

Choose one or more of the following action steps to apply this sermon to your life:

1. Foundation Check: Examine one area of your life where you may be building on something other than Christ (worry, control, materialism, etc.). Commit to surrendering that area to Christ this week.
2. Discover Your Gifts: If you haven't discovered your spiritual gifts, commit to:
   • Reading about spiritual gifts in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4
   • Trying a new ministry opportunity in the church
   • Asking mature believers what gifts they see in you
3. Motive Examination: Before serving or making decisions this week, pause and ask: "Am I doing this for God's glory or my own recognition?"
4. Build Each Other Up: Identify one person in the church who needs encouragement and reach out to them this week with a call, text, or visit.
5. Holiness Commitment: Choose one area where you need to grow in holiness (thought life, speech, relationships, etc.) and ask a trusted friend to hold you accountable.

1 Corinthians 3:11 
"For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ."