Building up the Temple Part II
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor John’s sermon from September 13, 2026
Let’s Break it Down
Gathering together is not just about receiving encouragement but about giving it. The presence of God is what sets the church apart from every other gathering, and that presence is the whole point.
Key Takeaways
Everything done in the church gathering should be aimed at edification, which means building up believers and the body of Christ, not drawing attention to individual gifts or experiences.
Prophecy, encouragement, and exhortation are not optional extras in church life. They are tools God uses to strengthen, comfort, and build up His people.
Believers are called to approach God with bold humility, coming confidently to His throne of grace to receive mercy and help, because His throne is a throne of grace, not condemnation.
Gathering together as a church is not just about receiving encouragement but about actively giving it. We are called to consider how to stir one another up to love and good deeds.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit belong to God, and believers are stewards of them. They must be used with order, humility, and a heart focused on serving others rather than showcasing oneself.
Tap to watch Pastor John’s full sermon on YouTube
5-Day Devotional
Day 1: Built to Build
Devotional
There is something powerful about a community that genuinely lifts each other up. It is not accidental. It is by design. In 1 Corinthians 14, the word edify shows up seven times. It is a construction term. Think of it like building a house, brick by brick, beam by beam. That is exactly what God intends for His church. Every teaching, every gift, every conversation in the body of Christ is meant to add something to the structure, not tear it down. This matters because life has a way of wearing people down. People walk through your church doors carrying things you cannot see. Grief. Doubt. Exhaustion. Fear. And what they encounter when they arrive should leave them stronger than when they came in. You are part of that. Not just the pastor. Not just the worship team. You. The way you greet someone. The way you listen. The way you show up consistently. All of it contributes to something being built. Encouragement is not passive. It is a deliberate choice to be part of the building rather than a reason for its decay. That is a high calling, and it starts with simply deciding to show up with that intention.
Bible Verse
"The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation." - 1 Corinthians 14:3
Reflection Question
When you walk into a room, are you more focused on what you will receive or on what you might contribute to someone else?
Quote
"Encouragement is not passive. It is a deliberate choice to be part of the building rather than a reason for its decay."
Prayer
Lord, make me someone who builds others up wherever I go. Help me to show up with intention and to see the people around me the way You see them. Amen.
Day 2: Bold Enough to Draw Near
Devotional
There is a posture that God responds to, and it is not perfection. It is bold humility. Hebrews 10 calls believers to approach God with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith. Not a timid, half-hearted shuffle toward Him, but a confident, humble drawing near. The kind that says, "I know I do not deserve this, and I am coming anyway, because He said I could." That is not arrogance. That is faith. So many people keep God at arm's length because they feel too broken, too inconsistent, or too far gone. But His throne is described as a throne of grace, not a throne of judgment. He is not waiting to condemn you. He is waiting to meet you. Bold humility is what closes the gap between where you are and where He is. It is the posture of someone who knows they need grace and fully believes it will be given. That combination, honesty about your need and confidence in His character, is exactly what draws you into His presence. You do not have to clean yourself up first. You just have to come.
Bible Verse
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6
Reflection Question
Is there an area of your life where fear or shame has been keeping you from drawing near to God?
Quote
"Bold humility approaches God, knowing that he's alive and that He hears us."
Prayer
Father, I come to You just as I am. Give me the boldness to draw near and the humility to receive what only You can give. Amen.
Day 3: He Has Not Forgotten You
Devotional
You are not invisible to God. Psalm 139 makes this breathtakingly clear. He knows when you sit and when you rise. He is familiar with all your ways. Before a word is on your tongue, He knows it completely. There is nowhere you can go where He is not already there. And yet, in the middle of hard seasons, it is easy to feel overlooked. Like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. Like everyone else seems to be moving forward while you are stuck. Here is what is true: He has not forgotten you. He has not overlooked you. 1 Peter 5:7 is one of the most tender invitations in all of Scripture. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. Not some of it. All of it. And the reason you can do that is not because He is obligated to listen. It is because He genuinely cares. That is personal. That is relational. That is a God who is not distant or distracted but fully present and fully attentive to you, right now, in whatever you are carrying today. You can let it go. He has you.
Bible Verse
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7
Reflection Question
What is one worry you have been holding onto that you have not yet fully handed over to God?
Quote
"He's not forgotten you. He's not overlooked you."
Prayer
God, I trust that You see me and that You care. I give You what I have been carrying, and I choose to rest in Your faithfulness today. Amen.
Day 4: Strength in the Broken Places
Devotional
Nobody signs up for weakness. But weakness might be one of the most important places God does His best work. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul describes a thorn in his flesh, something painful and persistent that he begged God to remove. Three times he asked. And three times God said no. Not because He did not care, but because He had something better in mind. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul's response is remarkable. He stopped fighting it and started boasting in it. Because he understood something that takes most of us a long time to learn: when we are at the end of ourselves, we are finally in the right position to experience the full strength of God. This is not a call to enjoy suffering. It is a call to stop pretending you have it all together. The cracks are not disqualifying. They are often exactly where the light gets in. You do not have to be strong to be used. You just have to be willing. God has a long history of doing extraordinary things through ordinary, broken people who simply said yes.
Bible Verse
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
Reflection Question
Is there a weakness or struggle in your life that you have been hiding from God instead of surrendering to Him?
Quote
"When I'm weak, then I'm strong."
Prayer
Lord, I stop pretending I have it all together. Meet me in my weakness and let Your strength be what people see. Amen.
Day 5: Show Up for Each Other
Devotional
Community is not a bonus feature of the Christian life. It is central to it. Hebrews 10 does not just tell us to gather together. It tells us to think ahead about how we might encourage one another in love and good deeds. That word consider is intentional. It means being deliberate. Planning for it. Showing up with someone else in mind. And it does not always require a speech. Sometimes it is a hand on a shoulder. A text that says, "I was thinking about you." A moment of genuine eye contact that tells someone they are seen. Small things carry more weight than we often realize. This same principle extends beyond Sunday morning. There are people in your life, maybe even scrolling through their phones right now, who are quietly falling apart. A word of genuine encouragement from you could be exactly what they needed to keep going. Where two or more are gathered in His name, He is there. That is not a small thing. The presence of God is what sets the gathering of believers apart from every other gathering on earth. When you show up for each other, you are participating in something far bigger than a meeting. You are part of what God is building.
Bible Verse
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25
Reflection Question
Who in your life right now could use a simple, deliberate act of encouragement from you this week?
Quote
"Not only do we come to be encouraged, but we come to encourage one another in love and good deeds."
Prayer
Father, open my eyes to the people around me who need to be seen and encouraged. Help me to show up for others the way You have shown up for me. Amen.