V.1-9 “Carnal” means to be worldly — like the unsaved people of the world. This must have been a shock to these proud people when they heard what Paul was saying to them! They had a very good opinion of themselves, and this was the very reason why they could not understand what Paul was saying.
V.10-23 Very, very important. There are two buildings which are being built. The church of God, and the house of God. Christ only builds the first (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)). Against His work the gates of hell cannot stand (Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)). Men build the second. The house of God is something like the kingdom of heaven. Everyone who says he is a Christian is in these latter two. True believers and mere professors are both in the house of God and kingdom of heaven. Only true believers are in the church of God — kingdom of God. An unsaved minister can be building the house of God. If he tells his listeners to do the best they can so they can go to heaven, he is using wood, hay and stubble. But if we tell the truth about God’s Word, we are using gold, silver, precious stones.
V.15 A believer might build badly, by saying things about the Scriptures which are not correct. He is using wood, hay and stubble. All this will be burned up, but he won’t be. Fire is a picture of the searching judgment of God.