God Makes It Grow, Kevin Albright
YOU ARE GOD'S TEMPLE
Passage: 1Corinthians 3:16~23  
Key verse: 16
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple(A) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?(B) 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise(C) by the standards of this age,(D) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(E) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a];(F) 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b](G) 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!(H) All things are yours,(I) 22 whether Paul or Apollos(J) or Cephas[c](K) or the world or life or death or the present or the future(L)—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,(M) and Christ is of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
- 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
- 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 : 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:21, 22; Heb 3:6
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 : S Ro 8:9
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 : Isa 5:21; 1Co 8:2; Gal 6:3
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 : S 1Co 1:20
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 : ver 18; Ro 1:22; 1Co 1:20, 27
- 1 Corinthians 3:19 : Job 5:13
- 1 Corinthians 3:20 : Ps 94:11
- 1 Corinthians 3:21 : 1Co 4:6
- 1 Corinthians 3:21 : Ro 8:32
- 1 Corinthians 3:22 : ver 5, 6
- 1 Corinthians 3:22 : S 1Co 1:12
- 1 Corinthians 3:22 : Ro 8:38
- 1 Corinthians 3:23 : 1Co 15:23; 2Co 10:7; Gal 3:29
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The real temple of God (16-17)
The church in Corinth was not a building; it was a community of forgiven sinners who believed in Jesus and worshiped God. When believers accept their mission from God and obey his word, his Holy Spirit dwells in them. Each person is a living stone in God's building (1Pe 2:4-10). Anyone who sows unbelief and mistrust among believers and tries to destroy God's temple will be destroyed by God.
2. All things are yours (18-23)
It is easy to fool ourselves if we measure ourselves and others by human standards. Pride, ambition and a competitive spirit can destroy the unity of believers. God's wisdom is foolishness to worldly people, but man's wisdom is foolishness to God. God knows our thoughts. He wants to rule our hearts. When we belong to Christ and affirm his Lordship, we have everything.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Spirit who dwells in me. Help me to be a fool to the world, and full of spiritual wisdom.
One Word: God dwells in his people