Weekly Sermon Insights: Building on the Foundation of Christ 1Corinthians 3:9-17

Wood, hay, and straw will burn up

April 26, 2026

Greg Johnson

Message Notes

1 Corinthians 3:9–17 (with emphasis on building on the foundation of Christ).

Main Theme

• We are God’s fellow workers; believers are God’s field and God’s building (temple).

• The only foundation is Jesus Christ.

• What we build on that foundation matters: some materials will survive the fire (gold, silver, precious stones) and bring reward; others will burn up (wood, hay, straw), resulting in loss (though the person is still saved “as through fire”).

• Focus: Identify and prioritize durable materials (things that will last into eternity/heaven) over temporary ones.

Key Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:9–17

• v. 9 — “We are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

• vv. 10–11 — Paul laid the foundation (Christ); others build on it. No other foundation can be laid.

• vv. 12–15 — Materials:

  • Gold, silver, precious stones → survive the fire → reward.

  • Wood, hay, straw → burned up → suffer loss, yet the builder “will be saved, but only as through fire.”

• The Day (judgment) will disclose the quality of each person’s work by fire.

• vv. 16–17 — “You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you.” Destroying God’s temple brings destruction; God’s temple is holy.

Building Materials — Interpretation & Application

Gold, silver, precious stones (durable, survive fire):

• Represent works that are pure, valuable, and eternal.

• Possible meanings (from sermon and group input):

  • Prayer — Revelation 5:8 (prayers of the saints = golden bowls of incense).

  • Love (agape) — 1 John 4:16–18; God is love; perfect love casts out fear.

  • Faith — 1 Peter 1:3–7 (tested genuineness of faith, more precious than gold, results in praise/glory/honor at Christ’s revelation).

  • Fruits of the Spirit — Galatians 5:22–23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).

  • Gifts of the Spirit — 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, etc.), empowered by the same Spirit who will be prominent in heaven.

  • Witness / turning others to righteousness — Daniel 12:3 (“those who turn many to righteousness [shall shine] like the stars forever and ever”).

  • Godly wisdom — Daniel 12:3 (“those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky”).

  • Praise, thanksgiving, singing, acknowledging God’s holiness.

  • Good deeds done in the name of the Lord.

Wood, hay, straw (temporary, burn up):

• Not necessarily evil, but inferior / perishable.

• Examples:

  • Confidence in human education or Bible knowledge mixed with pride.

  • Boasting in financial giving to missions (the act may be good, but self-focused motivation may not endure).

  • Other self-reliant or fleshly efforts.

Supporting Scriptures

• Daniel 12:3 — Wise and those who turn many to righteousness shine like stars forever.

• Revelation 5:8 — Prayers as incense in heaven.

• 1 Peter 1:3–7 — Tested faith results in praise, glory, honor.

• Galatians 5:22–23 — Fruit of the Spirit.

• 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 — Varieties of gifts from the same Spirit.

• 2 Corinthians 1:12–14, Philippians 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 — Paul’s hope/joy/crown in the fruit of his ministry in believers’ lives at the day of Christ.

Applications & Takeaways

• Evaluate what we are building: Is it lasting (gold/silver/precious stones) or temporary (wood/hay/straw)?

• Prioritize eternal things: prayer, love, faith, fruit/gifts of the Spirit, godly wisdom, witness.

• The foundation (Christ) is secure — our salvation is not in question, but our reward depends on the quality of our building.

• At the judgment seat of Christ (“the Day”), fire will test our works.

• Encouragement: Even if much burns, the believer is saved “as through fire.”

• Challenge: Decrease wood/hay/straw; increase durable materials that will endure into eternity and bring reward/glory to God.

Closing Prayer Emphasis

• Thanks for the privilege of building on Christ.

• Prayer for discernment to recognize and reduce wood/hay/straw while increasing gold/silver/precious stones.

• Thanks for the Holy Spirit’s help in this process.