Building a Legacy: Faith, Growth, and Community

 

Summary

In the heart of our sermon today, we celebrate the remarkable progress of our church's expansion, a testament to God's faithfulness and our community's dedication. We stand in the soon-to-be-completed gymnasium, a space that promises to be more than just a place for physical activity. It will be a sanctuary of fellowship and growth, equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system and an LED scoreboard, ensuring that our environment matches the excellence we strive for in all we do. For a decade, we have rented spaces, but now we are blessed with our own, a place where our teams can thrive and our community can gather.

Ascending to the second floor, we find a hub of learning with eleven classrooms, two science labs, and an art studio. These spaces are not just rooms; they are vessels of knowledge and discovery, over 12200 square feet of potential, ready to be filled with the curiosity and creativity of our students. The infusion of natural light through planned skylights will create an atmosphere that encourages learning and reflects the light of God's truth in our educational endeavors.

One of the most poignant features of our new building is the beam signed by our church and school families. This beam, inscribed with prayers, scripture, and blessings, is a physical representation of our spiritual foundation. As our students and faculty ascend the staircase, they will be reminded of the love and support that surrounds them, a community united in Christ, uplifting them in their academic and spiritual journey.

This expansion is not just about the physical growth of our facilities; it is a symbol of our spiritual growth as a body of Christ. Each brick laid and each beam erected is a testament to our commitment to serve God, educate our young, and be a beacon of His love in our community.

Key Takeaways:

- The new gymnasium is a symbol of God's provision and our community's unity. It represents a space where physical training and spiritual growth go hand in hand, reminding us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we should honor God with our physical and communal activities. [01:44]

- The classrooms and labs on the second floor are not merely educational facilities; they are sanctuaries of learning where knowledge meets divine purpose. As we educate our children, we are shaping future leaders who will carry the light of Christ into every field of study and profession. [02:22]

- Natural light in our educational spaces is a metaphor for the illumination that God's truth brings into our lives. Just as the sunlight brightens our rooms, so does the Son's light guide our hearts and minds, leading us to deeper understanding and wisdom.

- The signed beam is a powerful reminder of the spiritual legacy we are building. Each signature represents a prayer and a commitment, a collective blessing that will continue to speak over the lives of those who walk beneath it for years to come.

- This building project is more than an expansion of our physical space; it is an expansion of our mission field. With every new facility, we are provided with fresh opportunities to minister, to educate, and to serve our community in the name of Jesus Christ.

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 (NIV)
> "For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

2. Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)
> "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."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the features of the new gymnasium mentioned in the sermon? ([01:44])
2. Describe the educational facilities on the second floor of the new building. ([02:22])
3. What is the significance of the signed beam in the new building? ([02:22])
4. How does the natural light in the classrooms serve as a metaphor in the sermon?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the new gymnasium symbolize God's provision and our community's unity? ([01:44])
2. In what ways do the classrooms and labs serve a divine purpose beyond just education? ([02:22])
3. What does the signed beam represent in terms of spiritual legacy and community support? ([02:22])
4. How does the natural light in the educational spaces reflect the illumination of God's truth in our lives?

#### Application Questions
1. The new gymnasium is a place where physical and spiritual growth go hand in hand. How can you honor God with your physical activities and communal engagements? ([01:44])
2. The classrooms are designed to be sanctuaries of learning. How can you incorporate the pursuit of knowledge and divine purpose in your daily life? ([02:22])
3. The natural light in the classrooms is a metaphor for God's truth. What steps can you take to allow more of God's light to guide your heart and mind?
4. The signed beam is a reminder of our spiritual foundation. How can you contribute to building a spiritual legacy in your community?
5. The expansion of the building is also an expansion of our mission field. What new opportunities do you see in your life to minister, educate, and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ?
6. Reflect on a time when you felt the support of your community in your spiritual journey. How can you offer similar support to others?
7. How can you actively participate in the growth and unity of our church community, both physically and spiritually?

Devotional

Day 1: Honoring God in Body and Community
The new gymnasium stands as a beacon of God's provision and the unity within the community. It is a reminder that physical training and spiritual growth are intertwined. As believers, the call to honor God is not limited to spiritual acts but extends to physical and communal activities. The gymnasium is not just a place for exercise but a space where the community can engage in fellowship, support one another, and grow together in faith. It is a testament to the belief that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such, it should be cared for and used to glorify God. The state-of-the-art facilities, including the sound system and LED scoreboard, reflect the excellence that the community strives for in all aspects of life, mirroring the excellence of God's creation. [01:44]

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

Reflection: How can you use physical activities this week as an act of worship and a means to foster community within the church?

Day 2: Sanctuaries of Learning and Divine Purpose
The second floor of the new building is a hub of learning, featuring classrooms, science labs, and an art studio. These spaces are designed to be more than just rooms; they are sanctuaries where knowledge is pursued with a divine purpose. The educational process is seen as a sacred endeavor, shaping future leaders who will carry the light of Christ into every field of study and profession. The infusion of natural light through skylights serves as a metaphor for the illumination that God's truth brings into our lives. It is a physical representation of the spiritual light that guides hearts and minds, leading to deeper understanding and wisdom. [02:22]

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." - Habakkuk 2:14 ESV

Reflection: In what ways can you integrate your faith into your professional or academic pursuits to reflect God's truth and glory?

Day 3: Illumination of God's Truth in Our Lives
The planned skylights in the educational spaces are not just architectural features; they are a metaphor for how God's truth illuminates our lives. Just as natural light brightens a room, the light of God's Son guides our hearts and minds. This light leads us to a deeper understanding and wisdom, allowing us to see the world through the lens of faith. The presence of natural light in these spaces is a constant reminder of the spiritual light that should permeate every aspect of our lives, enlightening our path and decisions.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." - Psalm 119:105 ESV

Reflection: What area of darkness in your life needs the light of God's truth, and how can you seek His illumination today?

Day 4: Spiritual Legacy and Community Support
The beam signed by church and school families is a poignant feature of the new building. Each signature on the beam represents a prayer, a scripture, a blessing—a physical manifestation of the spiritual foundation upon which the community stands. As students and faculty ascend the staircase, they are reminded of the love, support, and unity that surrounds them. This signed beam is a testament to the spiritual legacy being built, a legacy that will continue to speak over the lives of those who walk beneath it for generations to come.

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18 ESV

Reflection: How can you contribute to the spiritual legacy of your community, and what tangible action can you take this week to support someone in their spiritual journey?

Day 5: Expansion of Our Mission Field
The building project represents more than just an expansion of physical space; it is an expansion of the mission field. With every new facility, there are fresh opportunities to minister, educate, and serve the community in the name of Jesus Christ. Each brick laid and each beam erected is a testament to the commitment to serve God and be a beacon of His love. The physical growth of the facilities is a symbol of the spiritual growth of the body of Christ, as the community reaches out to serve and share the gospel with others.

"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 ESV

Reflection: What new opportunity has God provided for you to serve in your community, and how can you take the first step towards that service this week?

Quotes

"For the last 10 years, we've had to rent gym space, but with this new amazing gymnasium, we're going to be able to host our own games in just an awesome environment for our teams to play." [01:44] (Download | )

"Making the climb all the way to the second floor, this is the floor where we have all 11 classrooms, two science labs, and an art studio, equipped with everything our kids need." [02:22] (Download | )

"This hallway has eight more classrooms, all of this wood is going to pop out and it's going to be skylights, so lots of natural light flowing in." [02:22] (Download | )

"One of the things we're really excited about is today we just started installing glass into our classrooms." [02:22] (Download | )

"This is the beam that our church and school families signed all the way back during a groundbreaking in September of 2022, and so every time that they're walking up this staircase, they're going to be walking under prayers, scripture, and blessing that was left for our students by our church and our school." [02:22] (Download | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?