Introduction
Well, thank you for allowing me to come and preach. I’m excited to be here. I didn’t realize when I was first invited that this was going to be Charter Sunday, so what an exciting time to be able to witness a church as it’s just opening up. I’m thrilled to see a work starting here in Louisville. There’s a big need for a church in this area, and I’m thankful that Brother Tapp has taken on the pastorate. Praise the Lord for that.
The Context of 1 Kings 5
In 1 Kings 5, starting in verse 2, the Bible says:
“And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father…”
Let’s pray.
Opening Prayer
Lord, I thank You so much for this church. I thank You for the opportunity to be here and to witness another work starting. We need more churches, not fewer. We need more people serving You, not less. I pray that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit tonight and help me to preach with Your words, not my own. I pray that You would use me despite my faults and imperfections. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our Calling to Serve
My name is Ricky, and this is my wife, Lauren. She has a beautiful voice, and I’m thankful for her ministry in music. We’ve been married for about three years, and from the beginning, we’ve had a desire to serve the Lord wholeheartedly.
Shortly after our wedding, we attended a missions conference in North Carolina. I felt the Lord calling us to do something more. Though I was faithful to church and soul winning, I sensed something was missing. We began praying and seeking God’s direction in ministry.
Eventually, we took several missions trips, including five to Spanish-speaking countries. That’s when the Lord began to open doors, especially in Paraguay. A pastor there needed someone to help continue the work. In January, I reached out—and it turns out he had been praying just days earlier for God to send someone. I don’t believe that was a coincidence.
Building a Work for God
The title of my message is “Building a Work for God.” Whether it’s in Paraguay or Louisville, Kentucky, building something for the Lord takes effort, obedience, and the right foundation. Let me share with you four things we need in order to build a work for God:
1. We Need God on Our Side
That might sound obvious, but many people try to do the Lord’s work without the Lord’s help. In 1 Kings 5, Solomon states that God had given him rest on every side—this was the right time, and God was behind the work.
David, Solomon’s father, had the desire to build the temple, but God said no. In 2 Samuel 7, we see that although David’s desire was noble, it wasn’t his place to build. God chose Solomon to carry out that task.
Even good desires must be in line with God’s will. As Jesus said in John 15:5, “For without me ye can do nothing.” We must have God’s blessing or our efforts are in vain.
2. We Need Some Hand-Me-Downs
In 1 Chronicles 29, David prepared all the materials Solomon would need to build the temple—gold, silver, stones, and wood. These were hand-me-downs passed to the next generation.
We don’t need new doctrines. We don’t need new strategies that reinvent the wheel. What we need is to continue in the old paths—faithful preaching, soul winning, the King James Bible, and sound doctrine.
Preserving Doctrine
Even respected leaders like John R. Rice warned against modern doctrinal errors, especially concerning the nation of Israel and Zionism. Many today accept doctrines that contradict centuries of Bible teaching.
As Galatians 3 and Matthew 3:9 teach, blessings don’t come from lineage—they come from faith in Christ. Let’s continue to hold to the faith once delivered to the saints.
Preserving the Bible
We also don’t need a new Bible. The King James Version has served English-speaking believers faithfully for over 400 years. The words are not hard to understand—it’s often the seminary professors who struggle with them, not the children.
God promised to preserve His Word (Isaiah 59:21), and 2 Corinthians 2:17 reminds us not to corrupt it. We have a more sure word of prophecy in Scripture (2 Peter 1:19)—more sure than even seeing Jesus transfigured!
3. We Need Leadership
Back in 1 Kings 5:5, Solomon said, “I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God.” He took initiative. He stepped up to fulfill what God desired.
In the same way, we need leadership today. Churches need pastors who are willing to lead. 1 Timothy 3 gives the qualifications for a bishop: blameless, husband of one wife, sober, apt to teach, and so on.
These aren’t just requirements for pastors—they’re examples for all believers. The pastor is the example to the flock, the one who gives account for the church. But the church belongs to Christ, who is the foundation.
Isaiah 58:1 commands, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression.” Leadership means not being afraid to preach the truth.
4. We Need Workers
Now I’m preaching to the choir—you’re here on a Sunday night—but we still need workers. The work is just beginning, and it’s exciting, but the devil will try to attack it.
1 Kings 5:6 talks about workers from both Solomon’s people and Hiram’s people. It was a team effort.
Likewise, we need everyone in the church to step in. Some of you can teach, some can organize, some can help with soul winning or setup. This is your church—take ownership!
Nehemiah 4:6 says, “So built we the wall… for the people had a mind to work.” A church can grow fast, but it can also fall apart fast. Don’t let pride or offense take you out of the work.
Closing Thoughts
Pray, but also do. As James 2 says, don’t say “be warmed and filled” and not help. Don’t just pray that your church grows—go soul winning, knock on doors, serve where you can.
Look around and ask your pastor, “Where can I help?” Whether it’s with nursery, cleaning, teaching, or outreach, find your place and make it your ministry.
Satan will attack a church like this. He’ll try to divide it over little things. But if we keep our eyes on Christ, if we work together, and if we guard our hearts, this work can be a lasting one.
Solomon’s temple took 40 years to build and was destroyed quickly. Don’t let that be your church. Build it. Protect it. And give it your all.
Final Challenge
There are many things needed for a new church to succeed:
✅ We need God on our side.
✅ We need hand-me-down doctrines and beliefs.
✅ We need leadership.
✅ We need willing workers.
Where do you find yourself in this ministry? How will you contribute to what God is building here?
Praise the Lord. Thank you all.
Leave a Reply