Buildiing with Jesus - Gospel - Part 1 (Gospel Announced) - Gareth Brown

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation and Cornerstone of Our Faith

The church is built not merely of brick and mortar, but of living stones—the people of God. This spiritual house finds its strength and unity in its foundation, laid by the apostles and prophets, and its cornerstone, which is Christ Jesus Himself. In Him, every part is joined together and grows into a holy temple, a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. This is the true structure we are called to build upon and inhabit. [02:25]

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 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.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)

Reflection: As you consider your place within the family of God, what does it mean for you personally that your identity and belonging are founded on Christ, the cornerstone, rather than on your own efforts or achievements?

Day 2: The Gospel as a Transformative Announcement

The good news of the gospel is not merely helpful advice for better living; it is a powerful declaration of what God has already accomplished. It is the announcement that a new King has taken His throne, that the long exile of human separation from God is over, and that His kingdom is now within reach. This news transforms everything, shifting our focus from what we must do to what has been done for us in Christ. [11:43]

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you most tempted to treat the gospel as good advice to be followed, rather than as good news to be received and celebrated?

Day 3: Living in the Now and Not Yet of the Kingdom

We live in the tension between the decisive victory of the cross and the final fulfillment of all things. Like the period between D-Day and V-E Day, we know the ultimate outcome is secure, yet fighting continues. We can grasp the kingdom now—experiencing healing, forgiveness, and glimpses of God’s presence—even as we await the day when every tear will be wiped away and all things will be made new. [13:54]

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Isaiah 52:7 (ESV)

Reflection: Where have you recently experienced a tangible ‘glimpse of glory’ or a foretaste of God’s kingdom in the midst of your daily life?

Day 4: The True Meaning of Repentance

Biblical repentance is far more than feeling sorry or trying to change behavior; it is a complete change of allegiance. It is the realization that we have been navigating life with the wrong map and making a decisive turn to follow the true King, Jesus. This metanoia—a transformation of perspective—results in a new way of life governed by the rules of His kingdom, where power is found in service and status is found in invitation. [29:15]

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:15 (ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific allegiance in your life—perhaps to a philosophy, a cultural value, or a source of identity—that God might be inviting you to reassess in light of His kingship?

Day 5: Seeking the Shalom of Our Exile Home

As citizens of heaven, we are called to live as faithful exiles in our communities. Our primary ethic is not to retreat or dominate, but to seek the welfare, the shalom, of the places where God has placed us. This means working and praying for the peace, wholeness, and flourishing of our cities and neighborhoods, trusting that as we seek their good, we will find our own. [20:06]

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical, tangible way you can actively seek the peace and flourishing of your neighborhood or city this week?

Sermon Summary

Building with Jesus frames the church’s life as a construction project whose true materials are living people and whose master-builder is Christ. The narrative situates local histories of faithful labor—forty and one hundred twenty-three year milestones—alongside a sober reminder that buildings are secondary to the living stones who worship, witness, and welcome others. Drawing on Ephesians, the foundation is traced back to apostles and prophets, but Christ Himself is named the living cornerstone in whom the whole structure grows into a holy temple. The gospel, then, is not a set of moral tips but an announcement: a regime change has come in Jesus, the kingdom is at hand, and God’s presence is accessible now.

Scripture from Mark 1:14–15 anchors the claim that Jesus’ ministry begins with declaration—“the time is fulfilled”—combining prophetic hope and political reality. The good news echoes Isaiah’s proclamation that God reigns, signifying the end of exile and inviting people into a restored relationship with God. Yet the preacher refuses sentimental triumphalism: the kingdom’s arrival inaugurates a tension between “now” and “not yet.” Like D‑Day before VE Day, victory is decisive but not exhaustive; glimpses of healing and wholeness exist amid ongoing suffering.

Practical implications follow. Christians are called to accept the announcement of salvation rather than pursue self-made schemes of worth or status. Citizenship is redefined: believers are resident aliens who work for the shalom of the city where God has placed them, echoing Jeremiah 29’s summons to seek communal welfare. Repentance receives careful unpacking as metanoia—a genuine turn of allegiance to Christ, not mere remorse. True repentance produces demonstrable change over time; restoration often requires patient oversight, not instant reinstatement of prior platforms. The closing insistence is pastoral and doxological: the church must behold what Christ has done, build with Him as cornerstone, and live out the kingdom’s realities in word and deed.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus the living cornerstone Christ is more than foundation; He is the joining stone that shapes community identity and purpose. Building with Jesus means placing allegiance, worship, and mission around His person so corporate life coheres into a holy dwelling. This realigns memory, practice, and aspirations around Christ rather than institutions or traditions. [02:25]
2. Gospel is a bold declaration The gospel functions as proclamation, not corrective advice; it announces a regime change—the kingdom has arrived through Jesus. Hearing the gospel is receiving a report of what God has already accomplished, freeing people from performance-driven attempts to earn acceptance. This shifts salvation from task to gift, reception to response. [08:21]
3. Live between the now-and-not-yet The kingdom’s presence produces present fruit and future hope; Christians inhabit the gap where victory is assured but not yet complete. That tension calls for persistent faithfulness: labor for healing, offer mercy, and expect glimpses of restoration without denying pain. Living faithfully in this interim shapes witness and patience. [13:19]
4. Repentance requires a new allegiance Repentance (metanoia) is a decisive turn of mind and loyalty toward Christ, not mere remorse or quick fixes. Genuine turnaround changes patterns, priorities, and public fruit, and restoration must be evidenced over time before full reinstatement into influence. Repentance reorders kingship in a life—Jesus as Lord, not platform or power. [29:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Building with Jesus: local context
[01:48] - Prioritizing worship and the altar
[02:25] - Ephesians: Christ the cornerstone
[05:16] - Defining the gospel
[08:21] - Mark 1:14–15: the declaration
[10:56] - Isaiah and the end of exile
[13:19] - Now and not yet: D‑Day analogy
[15:17] - Practical life: build with Jesus
[20:06] - Jeremiah 29: seek the city’s shalom
[26:57] - Repentance: meaning and warnings
[34:43] - Beholding the gospel and closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

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Observation questions

According to Mark 1:15, what two specific actions does Jesus call people to in response to the announcement of the kingdom?
The sermon described the gospel as an announcement rather than advice. What is the difference between an announcement and advice? [11:43]
What Old Testament prophecy (book and chapter) does the sermon connect to Jesus’ declaration of good news? [10:56]
How does the sermon use the D-Day analogy to explain the tension between the “now and not yet” of the kingdom? [13:19]

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Interpretation questions

Jesus says “the time is fulfilled.” What Old Testament hopes or prophecies might He be referring to, and why is this significant for His audience?
The sermon warns that repentance is more than feeling remorse—it involves a “change of allegiance.” [29:15] What might keep someone from making this kind of deep turnaround even if they feel sorry for their actions?
How does the idea of being “resident aliens” [17:21] shape the way believers engage with their communities, governments, and cultural values?
Why might someone be tempted to treat the gospel as a self-help message or moral advice rather than a declaration of what God has already done? [35:07]

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Application questions

In what area of your life are you most tempted to seek worth or identity through performance, status, or achievement rather than receiving God’s acceptance as a gift? [15:44]
The kingdom of God is described as “at hand”—accessible now even amid struggle. Where do you need to reach out and grasp God’s presence, healing, or peace in your current circumstances? [24:46]
How can you actively “seek the shalom” (the peace, wholeness, and welfare) of your neighborhood, workplace, or city this week, as Jeremiah 29:7 encourages? [20:06]
Repentance involves turning from self-rule to Jesus’ kingship. Is there an area where you’ve said sorry to God but haven’t truly surrendered control? What would it look like to change allegiance in that area? [30:26]
The gospel is meant to be beheld, not just used. How can you regularly pause to gaze on Christ’s finished work rather than rushing into “doing” for God? [35:20]
How can we, as a group, support one another in living as “resident aliens”—people whose primary loyalty is to Christ’s kingdom and not to any earthly power or identity? [17:21]
What would it look like to extend patience and seek evidence of genuine repentance in relationships where trust has been broken, rather than rushing to restore things to how they were? [31:19]

Sermon Clips

You know, repentance is not saying sorry and then expecting everything to go back to normal or the way it was before you engaged in your sin. And I think that's particularly true when it comes to a couple of things, relationships and church leadership. Now I've dealt with people as a leader and a pastor who fallen into sin, and they want to go back to what they were before. They wanna make this change, and They want to go back into a relationship or back into a ministry. And I might sound very harsh and say this, but I would say no, not immediately. [00:30:41] (35 seconds) #RepentanceIsNotAQuickFix

We know that modern society loves to give advice. Lots of self help books, lots of things about productivity hacks, they're called now, aren't they? Productivity hacks, things that will make you do things quicker and faster and fitness regimes and all sorts of things. Lots of things to give you advice. But the good news that we have through Jesus is the relief that the most important work, your worth, your rescue, your belonging, your identity, your salvation, your purpose, all of that has already been achieved by the king whose name is Jesus. [00:14:38] (35 seconds) #WorthFoundInJesus

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Buildiing with Jesus - Gospel - Part 1 (Gospel Announced) - Gareth Brown - Sunday February 8th 2026