9  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
10  By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
11  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12  If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
13  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
14  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
15  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
16  Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
17  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1.  What are the parallels between people and buildings?

Christians are like a building where God is present.  The Holy Spirit lives in each believer like a companion.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

2 Timothy 1:14
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

2.  Discuss the concept of free will and consequences.

We'll each live the lives that we make for ourselves.  We build our lives by what we think and do.  We affect the lives of those around us in positive and negative ways.

3.  What is the foundation?

Jesus is the only basis for salvation.  Salvation is the starting point for our spiritual development.

4.  What are three types of builders referenced in the text?

Expert (v. 14), the unwise (v. 15), and the destructive (v. 17).

5.  Compare good and bad materials with personal development and the things we involve ourselves with.

6.  Why is the illustration of fire used?

It's a severe test that will expose flawed construction.  The test demonstrates the quality of materials and workmanship.  It's a threat that must be anticipated like protecting a house from fire by adding safety features and eliminating hazards.

7.  Is verse 14 a test to see who gets saved and who doesn't?

Salvation is a gift (Rom 6:23) given after an expression of faith in Christ.  It's not something in exchange for certain individual deeds (Eph 2:8-9).  Quality of life is what's at risk for believers who make poor choices.  Salvation remains even if a person's quality of life is destroyed.  Once saved, always saved as in 1 Cor 3:15 above where bad choices have caused unnecessary problems.  God won't abandon or give up on us.