The wording of 1 Corinthians 3:11-14 has been confusing for many Christians.  Especially the part about if your works are consumed by fire you’ll be preserved.  So what is Paul talking about here?  If we analyze the text in the context in which it was written it will start to make more sense.

1. The building, the builders, and the foundation - 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 - First we must identify what works are being talked about here.  Who are the builders, what are they building and upon what.
   1. Building = The Church
      1. v.9 and v.16 - Both before and after our passage Paul identifies the “work”.  It is the construction of the Temple of God.  (the body of Christ)
   2. Builders = If the work in question is building the Church, who are the workers?Evangelizing members of the Church
      1. v.6-7
   3. Foundation = The foundation for the building is Jesus Christ
      1. v.11
2. Types of materials that make up the building - 1 Corinthians 3:12
   1. Defining the works
      1. We’ve been talking about builders in this chapter.  The works of the builders is the Church which is made exclusively of people.  We are the Church, so then we are the works that are mentioned.
   2. Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones
      1. These are members made from resilient material.
      2. Acts 17:11 - Proactive and devout
      3. Planters and Seeds - v.6-7 - To tie into Paul’s analogy of planters, look to:
         1. Matthew 13:23 = These are the Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones
   3. Wood, Hay, and Stubble (straw)
      1. These are members made from lesser materials.
      2. Corinthian brethren in v.1-3 - At this point Paul puts the readers of the letter in this category in the accusations at the first of the chapter.
      3. Planters and Seeds - v.6-7 - Again we can tie into the planter model:
         1. Matthew 13:20-21 = These are the Wood, Hay, and Stubble
3. Trial by Fire - 1 Corinthians 3:13 - Christians will encounter two types of fires:
   1. Earthly Flames - These are trials on Earth.  These type of fires can burn up members of the Church, if we aren’t prepared.  Again remember Matthew 13 when the sun scorches some seeds.
      1. James 1:12
      2. Matthew 10:22
   2. Judgment Flames - This is more likely the type of fire that Paul is referring to.  God’s eternal judgment is a flaming fire.  Some members will not know that they are made of hay until judgment.
      1. Matthew 7:22-23
      2. Matthew 3:11-12
4. After the Fire - 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 - Those that remain will be rewarded
   1. Surviving materials and rewards
      1. The Materials - Matthew 7:24-25
      2. The Builder - v.8
   2. Loss of materials but still alive
      1. The Materials - Matthew 7:26-27
      2. The Builder - Loses his work but lives.  This reinforces the whole concept from v. 5-7 that the planters job is to plant and the waterers job is to water.  That is all they can do and they are not responsible for the hearts of the weak.  They feel loss over the consumed works, but still have comfort in their own salvation.
5. Conclusion - Converting materials into Gold
   1. Note:  Baptism and conversion is not the goal line.  It is the starting block.  Growth must be encouraged to make the building out of sturdier material.  Some people are content to be made of wood, because it is sturdier than hay.  But without a desire for growth, we will become weak and weather worn.  When that happens, can you endure the fire?