Being the Living Temple: Hosting God's Presence
Summary
What a joy it is to gather together as God’s people, celebrating His faithfulness in our lives and in our church family. Today, we reflected on the incredible truth that we are not just attendees of a service or members of an organization—we are the very temple of God, the place where heaven meets earth. God’s desire has always been to dwell among His people, and now, through Christ, He has chosen to make His home within us, both individually and corporately. This is not about buildings or traditions, but about being a living, breathing house for His presence.
We looked back at the journey of the church as described in Scripture. The church is not a building, but a people called out from the world, summoned by the King to represent His kingdom. We are the body of Christ, intricately connected, each part essential and alive. We are the bride of Christ, set apart and dearly loved, preparing ourselves in purity and devotion for His return. And today, we see that we are also the temple of God—living stones, carefully shaped and placed by the Master Builder for His glory.
God’s process of shaping us often happens in the hidden places, in seasons that feel quiet or obscure. Just as the stones for Solomon’s temple were prepared in the quarry before being set in place, God refines us in private so that we fit perfectly into His eternal design. Our quiet seasons are not wasted; they are preparation for something glorious.
Christ is our cornerstone—the foundation and alignment for everything in our lives. If we build on anything else, the structure will not stand. Our identity, beliefs, and unity must all be measured against Him. When we align ourselves with Jesus, everything else finds its rightful place.
As God’s temple, we are called to holiness—not perfection, but a readiness to host His presence. What we allow to remain in our lives matters, because we are carriers of His Spirit. God is not looking for a perfect church, but a pure one—a people who make room for Him, who hunger for His presence more than hype or production. We are sent into the world as His temple, carrying His presence everywhere we go, empowered to be His witnesses and to make disciples.
Key Takeaways
- God shapes us as living stones in hidden seasons, preparing us for our place in His eternal house. The times that feel silent or obscure are often the very moments when He is doing His most precise and loving work, refining us for a purpose we may not yet see. Trust that your quiet seasons are not wasted, but are essential to the beauty and strength of what God is building in and through you. [57:04]
- Christ alone is the cornerstone of our lives and our community. Every aspect of who we are—our character, relationships, and mission—must be aligned with Him. When we build on anything else, even good things like tradition or zeal, we risk misalignment and instability; but when Jesus is our reference point, everything becomes secure and enduring. [01:05:34]
- Holiness is not about achieving perfection, but about being prepared to host the presence of God. God’s glory demands purity and honor, and He lovingly calls us to surrender anything that pollutes His temple. The process of cleansing is not condemnation, but an invitation to deeper intimacy and usefulness in His service. [01:15:45]
- The presence and power of God within us is not diluted by our diversity or our number. Each believer is a full carrier of the Spirit, empowered to do the works of Jesus and even greater. This truth should embolden us to step out in faith, knowing that God has chosen and equipped us to be His witnesses in every sphere of life. [01:22:30]
- Our calling as the temple of God is not just to gather, but to go—to be the church in the world. We are sent as carriers of His presence, bringing light, healing, and the good news of Jesus wherever we are. Our effectiveness is not measured by our programs or productions, but by our hunger for God and our willingness to make room for Him in every area of our lives. [01:18:55]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[43:11] - Celebrations & Announcements
[45:27] - Community Outreach Highlights
[49:12] - Ekklesia: What Is the Church?
[51:13] - The Church as the Temple of God
[52:38] - Living Stones: Built for God’s Dwelling
[54:51] - God’s Process: Shaping in the Hidden Places
[57:04] - Preparation in the Quarry
[01:00:18] - The Church: God’s Mobile Dwelling
[01:03:30] - The Master Builder’s Vision
[01:04:17] - Christ the Cornerstone
[01:07:14] - Alignment and Foundation
[01:12:23] - A Holy Temple: Set Apart for God’s Glory
[01:15:45] - Holiness: Prepared to Host His Presence
[01:18:55] - Making Room for God’s Presence
[01:22:30] - Empowered as Carriers of God’s Spirit
[01:24:01] - Prayer and Response
[01:35:41] - Closing & Sending Out
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Church as God’s Temple
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### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 2:19-22
_“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”_
2. 1 Peter 2:4-5
_“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”_
3. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
_“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”_
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 2, what is the foundation of the church, and who is described as the cornerstone?
(see [01:04:17])
2. In 1 Peter 2, what does it mean for believers to be called “living stones”? How is this different from being just “bricks in a building”?
(see [54:51])
3. What does Paul say about the church being God’s temple in 1 Corinthians 3? Who is included in this temple?
(see [01:12:23])
4. The sermon described how the stones for Solomon’s temple were shaped in the quarry before being set in place. What does this detail reveal about God’s process in preparing His people?
(see [57:04])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says that God often shapes us in “hidden seasons” or “quarries” before placing us in His house. Why might God choose to work in us during quiet or obscure times, and how does this relate to our usefulness in His kingdom?
(see [57:04])
2. Christ is called the cornerstone, and everything in our lives is supposed to align with Him. What are some things (even good things) that can become our foundation instead of Jesus, and what happens when we build on those?
(see [01:05:34])
3. The idea of holiness is described as being “prepared to host the presence of God,” not about being perfect. How does this understanding of holiness challenge or encourage you?
(see [01:15:45])
4. The sermon says that the presence and power of God within us is not diluted by our diversity or our number. What does it mean for each believer to be a “full carrier” of the Spirit, and how should this affect the way we see ourselves and others in the church?
(see [01:22:30])
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about God shaping us in hidden seasons, like stones being prepared in the quarry. Can you think of a time in your life that felt quiet, obscure, or even frustrating, but now you see how God was preparing you? How can you trust God in your current “quarry” season?
(see [57:04])
2. Christ is the cornerstone, and everything in our lives should be aligned with Him. Is there an area of your life—maybe a relationship, a habit, or a belief—that you sense is out of alignment with Jesus? What would it look like to realign that area this week?
(see [01:05:34])
3. The sermon said, “Holiness is not about being perfect. It’s about being prepared to host the presence of God.” What is one thing you need to surrender or let go of so that you can make more room for God’s presence in your life?
(see [01:15:45])
4. The church is not a building, but a people called out to represent God’s kingdom. How can you be the “temple of God” in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? What is one practical way you can carry God’s presence into those places?
(see [01:18:55])
5. The sermon challenged us to hunger for God’s presence more than hype or production. Are there ways you have been distracted by “church activities” or routines, and missed making room for God Himself? How can you shift your focus this week?
(see [01:18:55])
6. The presence and power of God is not diluted in you. Is there a step of faith or obedience you feel God is calling you to take, knowing that you are fully empowered by His Spirit? What is holding you back, and how can the group pray for you?
(see [01:22:30])
7. The sermon ended with a call to go and be the church in the world, not just gather. Who is one person God is putting on your heart to reach out to, encourage, or share Jesus with this week? What will you do about it?
(see [01:18:55])
---
Close in prayer, asking God to shape each person as a living stone, align every area of life with Jesus the cornerstone, and fill the group with His presence and power to be His witnesses in the world.
Devotional
Day 1: We Are Living Stones Built for God's Dwelling
God has uniquely crafted each of us as living stones, not mass-produced or lifeless, but individually shaped by His grace and mercy to be part of a spiritual house where His presence dwells. Even in seasons that feel hidden, quiet, or frustrating, God is at work refining and preparing us for our place in His eternal design. Just as the stones for Solomon’s temple were shaped in the quarry before being set in place, so too does God do His deepest work in us away from the spotlight, ensuring we fit perfectly into His purpose. Your quiet seasons are not wasted; they are God’s way of preparing you to carry His glory and presence into the world. Trust that the Master Builder sees the final picture and is shaping you for something glorious. [57:04]
Ephesians 2:21-22 (ESV)
"In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel “unfinished” or overlooked? How might God be shaping you in this season to prepare you for His purpose?
Day 2: Christ Is the Cornerstone and Our Alignment
Jesus is not just a part of our lives—He is the foundation, the chief cornerstone upon which everything else must be built and aligned. Just as ancient builders measured every stone by the cornerstone to ensure the stability and direction of the entire structure, our lives, beliefs, and relationships must be measured and aligned with Christ. When we build on anything else—popularity, tradition, or personal preference—cracks of compromise and confusion appear. But when Christ is our reference point, everything finds its perfect place, and our lives become stable, secure, and enduring. Let every area of your life come into alignment with Jesus, the cornerstone, so that you can stand strong and unshaken. [01:05:34]
Ephesians 2:20 (ESV)
"Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."
Reflection: Is there an area of your life that you’ve built on something other than Christ? What practical step can you take today to realign that area with Him?
Day 3: We Are a Holy Temple Set Apart for God’s Glory
As the church, we are not just individuals but a unified, holy temple where God’s Spirit dwells. This calls us to live with reverence, unity, and purity, knowing that our lives are both the dwelling place and the offering to God. Holiness is not about being perfect, but about being prepared to host God’s presence—allowing Him to cleanse and purify us so that we can carry His glory wherever we go. What we allow to remain in our hearts—our thoughts, motives, and hidden habits—matters deeply, because we are the temple of the living God. Let us surrender anything that does not honor Him and make room for His Spirit to fill us afresh. [01:15:45]
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV)
"Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."
Reflection: What is one hidden habit or attitude you need to surrender to God today to make more room for His presence in your life?
Day 4: God’s Presence Is Not Confined—You Are the Church Everywhere You Go
God’s desire has always been to dwell within His people, making us His mobile, global, holy habitation. The church is not a building or a place we invite people to; we are the church, sent into the world to carry His presence and reveal His glory. Whether at work, in your neighborhood, or among friends, you are a carrier of the full power and presence of God. This means you can be His witness, bringing hope, healing, and the love of Jesus wherever you go. Remember, your calling is not limited to Sunday gatherings—God has chosen you to be His hands and feet every day, everywhere. [01:00:18]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: Where is God sending you this week to be His church outside the walls? How can you intentionally carry His presence into that place?
Day 5: Purity and Surrender—Letting Jesus Cleanse His Temple
Jesus desires a pure, undefiled temple where His presence can abide, and He still walks through His church today, longing to cleanse and restore us. Sometimes, we allow things like anger, unforgiveness, or compromise to settle into our hearts, but Jesus calls us to surrender these things and let Him purify us. Holiness is not about perfection, but about making room for God and allowing Him to flip the tables on anything that doesn’t belong. The more we let go of what hinders us, the more usable we become for God’s service and the more His glory can shine through us. Let Jesus do His work in you today—repent, realign, and become a vessel fit for His presence. [01:17:37]
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
Reflection: What is one thing you need to let go of or repent of today so that Jesus can purify His temple in you?
Quotes
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