Building to last

Having spent many years disparaging blogs and those who read and write them, my old minister Andrew Katay has repented and started one of his own. It is on church leadership and ministry and is called Gold, Silver, Precious Stones?, a reference to 1 Corinthians 3.12:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.

- 1 Corinthians 3.11-15

Paul is here speaking about his apostolic work of building Christian communities and the judgement that "builders" like him will face on the basis of their work and hence of the importance of taking care how we build.

Rev Katay is a Anglican rector in Sydney's inner west and has spent many years reflecting on his experiences of pastoral, leading and teaching ministry and has some interesting suggestions. Go over and have a read, especially if you are in vocational Christian ministry or care about how it is done.