Building A Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-27-2026

1 Kings 6:1-14

 

Introduction:

1 Kings 6:11-12  And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,  (12)  Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

 

A. Here in the Book of 1 Kings, we find the building of King Solomon’s Temple, possibly the greatest and most expensive structure ever built by man.  It was dedicated in app. 953 BC. 

 

1. The gold alone that went into the building was 108,000 Talents of gold or, at today’s prices, app. $509,000,000,000.00.  Not including the silver and other precious metals and materials that went into the building.  An astronomical figure! 

 

2. No building has ever come close to that value either before or since.  The most expensive building built in our times was the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong at an estimated 1.5- 2 billion dollars.  About 1/250^th of the cost of King Solomon’s Temple. 

 

B. I said that to say this, that expensive building was destroyed by army of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonish Army in 586 BC. 

 

1. Though God honored the building of this glorious Temple, He eventualy forsook it and it was brought down by human hands just as it was built by human hands. 

 

2. It is not the size, beauty, or worth of the church that matters to God as virtually every New Testament church met in the house of a poor family. It is what goes on inside the church that pleases Him!

 

3. The same with churches in our day.  Great, beautiful, edifices that once held the glory and approval of God are no longer filled with the glory of God.  They are a disappointment to me when I see them because they once stood for something and preached the Word, but today they are dead or dying. Built by men and torn down by the same.

 

C. I want to look at this passage this morning and draw some spiritual truths concerning building a church.  Not a church building, but a church.  The church is made up of people working together for the glorification of the Son of God and the advancement of the gospel. 

 

D. At the completion of Solomon’s Temple, the Lord was pleased and filled it with His glory.  That is the desired end-result of the church today. 

 

E. What kind of church should we desire? What kind of church will God bless with His presence?

 

1. A church where God is glorified instead of man.

 

2. A church where the Word of God is magnified.

 

3. A church where the preaching of the Word is loved and heeded.

 

4. A church where sinners are loved and evangelized.

 

5. A church where families are unified and strengthened.

 

6. A church where lives are built up in the faith and made useful in the lord’s Service.

 

7. A church where sin is hated and holiness is exalted.

 

8. A church where apostasy is detected and liberalism is rejected.

 

9. A church where unity is prevalent and encouragement is offered.

 

10. A church where the end result is that, above all things, God is both preeminent and pleased.

 

F. The story of the building of the greatest Temple, church in our day, has a tremendous message withing the process. I want to notice three things found in these verses about the building of the Temple that are necessary for the building of a church that still apply today.

 

1. The Purpose Of The Church Must Be Right – vs. 1-2  “of the Lord … for the Lord”

 

1 Kings 6:1-2  And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. (God’s Possession) (2)  And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD (God’s Presence), the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

 

a. The Purpose Of The Word Being Preached – Faithful Preaching.

 

b. The Purpose Of His Son Being Praised – Fervent Worship.

 

c. The Purpose Of His Salvation Being Propagated – Faithful Soul winning and Missions.

 

 

2. The Preparation Of The Church Must Be Right – “made ready before”  As we sit in church this morning, we are not building the church! 

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

a. We are building believers so as to come to a place of spiritual maturity, encouragement, and excitement about living for God outside the church! 

 

b. They will then go into the highway, hedges, streets, and lanes carrying both a visual and vocal gospel to a lost world, bring them in and the church will grow and flourish. 

 

c. The material for building the church is done out of the church! The Church are normally silent during the week.  People pass by but only see a structure, not see and hear the people. 

 

d. But God’s people are in their “Prayer Closets,” doing one-on-one soul winning, handing out tracts, being salt and light, family altars, raising their children for the Lord, and spending time in God’s Word.

 

e. Churches are also torn down by their members as they slowly are enticed by the things of the world, their love of and for God cools, holiness turns to worldliness, their homes began to come apart at the seams, and they sleepwalk through life.  Their joyful worship wanes and the churches begin to crumble.

 

f. What you were this last week, you brought to church this morning, good or bad, worldly or holy, thirsting or as dry as last year’s bird nest.

 

3. The Plan Of The Church Must Be Right – vs. 7

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

a. It Is A Unified Work – “brought thither” Cooperation is a necessity in building a church.  Unity is a necessity in building a church.  It is “our elephant” instead of “my elephant!” Every saint is special to the building of the local church and essential to the body of Christ!

 

b.  It Is A Varied Work – “hammer…axe…tool” Churches are not built by one man but by everyone doing their part during the week.  The results are only manifest on church days. Everyone here has a part or works to do in the completion of the building of the church.

 

c. It Is A Silent Work – “nor any tool of iron heard”

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

1) During the week, I pass by or drop in at the church, and it is silent.  Nothing goes on unless one of the precious people who clean or a Sunday School teacher is here. 

 

2) Building a church is not the shouting, the praise of worship, or offerings, but rather the day-by-day labor that is not in vain in the Lord.  Churches are built while the building is silent and empty!

 

3) No one hears the noise of the work done somewhere else.  These people only saw the results of the work.

 

d. The Precision Of The Church Must Be Right – “made ready” Everything must be built to the Lord’s specifications!

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

1)  Bringing the Ark of the Covenant home on a new cart in King David’s day might have looked impressive, but it was not God’s way!

 

2) God is not interested in the “new carts” of religion and tradition. He is not interested in denominational rituals. God is only interested in “due order,” God’s way instead of man’s way.

 

4. The People Of The Church Must Be Right – vs. 12

 

1 Kings 6:12  Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

 

a. A Purposed People - Adhering To God’s Walk  – “thou wilt walk in my statutes”  A purposeful people.  God’s Word hold for us the “Old Paths” wherein lies the good way. The Bible is right and obedience to it brings blessings. Living for the Lord is both right and good.

 

b. A Submissive People - Submissive To God’s Will – “execute my judgments” Salvation is not just talk; it is a walk.  It is salt and light that allows others to see that we do the Word of God as well as share it.

 

c. A Holy People – Obedient To God’s Word – “keep all my commandments” 

 

5. The Promise To The Church – “then will I perform my word with thee”

 

Matthew 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

Conclusion: Vs 14 – Then it becomes a finished work.  God’s people doing God’s will in God’s way gets the job done.

Fables And Endless Genealogies

Temple Baptist Church - 10-4-2026

1 Timothy 1:4

 

Introduction: Preachers, “Keep the main thing the main thing.”

A. As Paul began his letters to young Timothy concerning the proper running of the church, he began with the imperative of sound doctrine. Doctrine is defined as “a principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief.” The biblical definition of doctrine is “instruction to be received or believed” so biblical doctrine must be bible based in order to have a right foundation.

 

B. Here, we find one of several such warnings, two in Timothy and one in Colossians. These three warnings expose the errors of those who choose extra-biblical revelations along with gross misinterpretation of the Scriptures. All these gender questions instead of giving answers.

 

C. Here are the things that Paul said to avoid.

 

1. False doctrines. Paul said no other doctrine was to be taught other than the sound doctrine he taught Timothy. Sound doctrine is given in the Bible, not by a denomination, local church, or preacher. Every denomination has its own doctrines. Some right doctrines and some false doctrines. Doctrine: a set of beliefs, principles, or teachings that a group, school, or government accepts and promotes.

 

1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

 

2. Fables. A fable is defined as “a fictitious narrative or statement.” Two good illustrations are the Gap Theory of Genesis chapter one and the Angel Theory in Genesis chapter 6.

 

1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

 

a. The Gap Theory says, without any biblical standing, that there was a gap of millions or billions of years between verses one and two. Also called Theistic Evolution. In every day of creation, the Bible says that the evening and the morning was a 24-hour day as we know it.

 

b. The Angel Theory says that angels mated with women which would produce half man/half angel beings. Angels were not mentioned in the Bible up to that point but the context is genealogy of the Messianic Line of Seth and the Ungodly Line of Cain.

 

3. Endless Genealogies. Also commanded to Titus in Paul’s third Pastoral Epistle. The Bible has many genealogies in both Old and New Testaments. To show descent from Adam to Christ in the New Testament and show descent of the Twelve Tribes of Israel and the Levitical Priesthood.

1 Timothy 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (So do! A direct command.)

 

The Jews kept complete records of genealogy from generation to generation that were so involved as to gender questions of the accuracy and worth.

 

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

 

4. Profane and Vain Babblings.

 

a. “Profane” (bebēlos) means common, worldly, or spiritually irreverent. The basic picture is something that is outside the sacred—something that treats holy things as ordinary. To get caught up into conversations that become ungodly. Paul says in his second epistle to Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

 

b. When we think of the word “vain,” we say “to no avail.” Literally “empty sounds” or “empty talk.” It refers to speech that sounds intellectual or religious but has no spiritual substance or value. Now, Paul is talking to a young pastor. When you talk with others about the Bible, they will always pull away to another conversation that has nothing to do with what you were talking to them about. Too much information is a phrase we use when someone goes beyond their biblical knowledge with unprofitable talk.

 

c. Babbling. Jabbering or making no sense. Paul exhorted Timothy to preach the word, not entertain, debate, or put on a show of articulation or oratory. Keep the main thing the main thing.

 

5. Oppositions of science falsely so called. Evolutionists believe that the Bible is not scientifically correct, though it is the Word of God.

 

1 Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (21) Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

 

a. All true science agrees with the Bible while false science tries to disprove the Bible. The evolution and creation do not mesh biblically. Not here tonight to argue science and science false so called.

 

b. That is what God called it. God created the universe and the earth. He created science! Now men disagree with the science found in the Bible. True science belongs to God.

 

6. Where God is silent, man needs not speculate. God would have recorded more in the Bibleif it were necessary. As one old preacher said, “Don’t mess with God’s toys!”

 

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

1. The secret things belong to the Lord! He knows all things while we know what He wants to know.

 

2. The revealed things belong to us that we may do what God requires.

 

7. God was perfectly clear in the Bible on things that He wanted us to know, follow, and perform! Questions open the door for speculation or supposition, which leads to extra-biblical revelation, which is man’s way of thinking instead of God’s.

 

Conclusion: All the above things cause God’s people to err concerning the faith instead of contending for it. I do not argue nor do I debate the Bible. My work is to contend for the faith and give the glorious gospel of Christ to the world. Just preach and teach the Bible for what it says and not for what it does not say.