Lesson 1: Sent to Build
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.” (1 Corinthians 3:10)
At a glance
- The word apostle means “sent one.” Apostles are sent by God with an assignment to build.
- Jesus is the first Apostle, and He is building His Church.
- Apostles have an expansion mindset: they take new territory for the Kingdom.
- Their focus is broader than one church: cities, regions, and nations.
- The apostolic call is confirmed by fruit, character, and suffering, not by a title.
1. What an apostle is
The Greek word apostolos means “one who is sent” with a message and authority. Hebrews calls Jesus “the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1). The Father sent Him, and He said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).
After praying all night, Jesus chose twelve “whom He also named apostles” (Luke 6:12–13). Later, others were also called apostles, like Paul, Barnabas, and James (Acts 14:14; Galatians 1:19).
In summary:
- An apostle is a sent one with an assignment.
- Jesus is the first and greatest Apostle.
- God still sends apostles to build His Church.
2. Apostles are builders
Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). He uses apostles as master builders. Paul said, “As a wise master builder I have laid the foundation” (1 Corinthians 3:10).
Their assignment is to build what God has shown them:
- They see the blueprint God reveals.
- They lay the foundation, so others can build on it.
- They establish order, structure, and leadership.
- They strengthen what has been built so it lasts.
In summary:
- Apostles build according to God’s blueprint.
- They lay foundations that others build on.
- Their goal is a work that lasts.
3. An expansion mindset
Apostles conquer territory for God. They are always looking to gain new ground and to expand what has already been gained.
Isaiah declared, “Enlarge the place of your tent… lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left” (Isaiah 54:2–3). Notice that expanding (lengthening cords) and securing (strengthening stakes) go together.
Paul had this mindset. He aimed “to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you” (2 Corinthians 10:16) and “not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation” (Romans 15:20).
In summary:
- Apostles take new territory for the Kingdom.
- They expand and secure at the same time.
- They reach places the gospel has not gone.
4. A broader focus
Apostles are no longer focused on just one church or one person. They think citywide, nationwide, and across many churches at once. Paul carried “the deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). He wrote letters to churches in many cities and sent leaders to care for them.
This is one way to recognize an apostolic call: God gives you a burden for a city, a region, or a nation, not only for one congregation.
In summary:
- Apostles carry a burden for many churches, cities, and nations.
- Their vision reaches beyond one congregation.
- A wide burden is often a sign of the apostolic call.