Corinthians 2: Foundation, Not a Throne

Single piano only, just piano, piano, solo piano

[Instrumental — 4–6 bars]
[Low bass pulse, clean guitar arpeggios, toms building]

[Verse 1 — spoken, rhythmic]
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,
but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat—
for ye are yet carnal.

For whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

For while one saith, I am of Paul;
and another, I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed?

I have planted, Apollos watered;
but God gave the increase.

For other foundation can no man lay
than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.

[Band stays restrained—groove under, not over.]

[Instrumental Turn — 2 bars
Drums open, guitar lifts.]

[Bridge]
We crowned the messengers
And missed the message
We built our little empires
On borrowed leverage

We turned the servants into heroes
And the cross into a stage

[Chorus]
We're not the cornerstone
We're standing on grace
You don't build a kingdom
By taking His place

No throne made of titles
No power we can own
We're living stones together
On Christ and Christ alone

[Verse 2 — spoken, rhythmic]
But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble—
every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Therefore let no man glory in men.
For all things are yours;
whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas—
all are yours;
and ye are Christ's;
and Christ is God's.

Let a man so account of us,
as of the ministers of Christ,
and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Therefore judge nothing before the time,
until the Lord come,
who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness,
and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts:
and then shall every man have praise of God.

[Short Breakdown — 4 bars
Drums + bass only, sparse guitar stabs.]

[Bridge (reprise/variation)]
We crowned ourselves as kings
On borrowed ground
Sat on the scaffolding
And called it a crown

But stewards don't sit higher
Than the One who sends them out
We are only carrying
What we could not live without

[Chorus (double, slight variation on repeat)]
We're not the cornerstone
We're standing on grace
You don't build a kingdom
By taking His place

No throne made of titles
No power we can own
We're living stones together
On Christ and Christ alone

[(repeat, with last line held:)]
You can't build a kingdom
On anyone but the Son alone

[Outro — half-spoken/sung]
Not reigning yet as kings,
But trusted with a word.
The foundation holds forever—
Whether or not they know our names.

[Fade on "names" over sparse instrumental.]

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[Instrumental — 4–6 bars] [Low bass pulse, clean guitar arpeggios, toms building] [Verse 1 — spoken, rhythmic] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat— for ye are yet carnal. For whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [Band stays restrained—groove under, not over.] [Instrumental Turn — 2 bars Drums open, guitar lifts.] [Bridge] We crowned the messengers And missed the message We built our little empires On borrowed leverage We turned the servants into heroes And the cross into a stage [Chorus] We're not the cornerstone We're standing on grace You don't build a kingdom By taking His place No throne made of titles No power we can own We're living stones together On Christ and Christ alone [Verse 2 — spoken, rhythmic] But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble— every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas— all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. [Short Breakdown — 4 bars Drums + bass only, sparse guitar stabs.] [Bridge (reprise/variation)] We crowned ourselves as kings On borrowed ground Sat on the scaffolding And called it a crown But stewards don't sit higher Than the One who sends them out We are only carrying What we could not live without [Chorus (double, slight variation on repeat)] We're not the cornerstone We're standing on grace You don't build a kingdom By taking His place No throne made of titles No power we can own We're living stones together On Christ and Christ alone [(repeat, with last line held:)] You can't build a kingdom On anyone but the Son alone [Outro — half-spoken/sung] Not reigning yet as kings, But trusted with a word. The foundation holds forever— Whether or not they know our names. [Fade on "names" over sparse instrumental.]

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