Building Together: Christ the Cornerstone of Mission

Global Mission Sunday 2026 gathers a worldwide church around a single call: build together. The church clarifies a simple vision—a healthy church changing lives through Christ—and frames a threefold mission: develop purpose-filled Jesus followers, cultivate healthy church communities, and create sustainable social impact in cities and nations. Global snapshots highlight growing venues from Manila to Nairobi, Germany to Latin America, illustrating practical ministry, church planting, and creative local teams partnering to serve vulnerable people.

Scripture anchors the year’s theme. Ephesians presents the church as a spiritual home built on apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone, and Nehemiah models the posture of lament, prayer, and deliberate rebuilding when walls lie in ruins. Those texts drive six practical convictions for 2026: God gives the vision and prayer aligns hearts to it; builders must anchor work on Christ the cornerstone; every person has a role to play, not only leaders; humble participation matters more than status; opposition should meet prayerful perseverance; and what gets built houses God’s presence and aims at future glory, not nostalgia.

Concrete examples make theology practical: teams constructed accommodation for disabled children in Gugulethu, leaders serve refugees in Europe, new venues in Latin America adapt to fragile infrastructure, and a facility in Portugal demonstrates how a gathered people invite God’s presence to bless families. The narrative rejects prestige without work—leadership must serve—and warns that momentum invites ridicule, threats, and spiritual attack. The response remains steady: pray, keep building, and stand firm on Jesus. The call closes with an open invitation to commit life to Christ, an offered guidebook for new believers, and a corporate prayer to begin the journey of faithful contribution. The overall tone invites confidence in God’s master-building, urgency to take positions in the rebuilding, and hope that present efforts will yield a richer dwelling of God’s Spirit in the seasons ahead.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God gives the vision to build Prayer aligns desire to divine purpose. Vision originates in God’s heart, not human ambition, so building begins with listening, mourning what’s broken, and asking for direction. Prayer filters out short-term fixes and prepares communities to act on what God already prepared. [30:26]
• 2. Build on Christ the cornerstone Foundation shapes everything else; Christ sets alignment and strength. The rejected stone became the pivot of stability, making humble sacrifice the axis of lasting work. Trusting the cornerstone sustains labor when critics disparage appearances or power. [32:39]
• 3. Everyone has work to do Community advances when all contribute, not just a few. Nehemiah lists families and trades who each repaired a section, proving proximity to need often equals the place of calling. Titles cannot substitute for hands-on service; humility multiplies progress. [35:54]
• 4. Persevere through opposition, keep praying Momentum provokes mockery, plots, and fear meant to distract builders. Recognize spiritual dimensions behind practical attacks and respond with prayerful persistence rather than retreat. Strengthened hands hold tools and weapons—prayer equips continued rebuilding. [42:12]
• 5. God's presence makes work glorious God dwells in what faithful people build, and divine presence transforms modest structures into true glory. The temple’s future glory exceeded memory because God intended to dwell more fully among a restored people. Focus on dwelling, not appearances, and anticipate greater spiritual impact. [52:54]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:20] - Opening and Worship Notes
• [01:53] - Vision: Healthy Church, Changing Lives
• [03:10] - Three Pillars of Mission
• [05:00] - Global Highlights and Testimonies
• [24:47] - Biblical Foundations Introduced
• [29:56] - Theme: Build Together (2026)
• [32:39] - Build on Christ the Cornerstone
• [35:54] - Everyone Participates in Building
• [41:23] - Opposition, Prayer, and Perseverance
• [49:54] - God Dwells in What We Build
• [54:09] - Call to Build Together
• [59:34] - Invitation: Prayer of Surrender
• [60:10] - Corporate Prayer and Response

1. According to Ephesians 2:19, what is our new identity and status in relation to God’s people?
2. What two groups are named as the foundation of what God is building, and who is identified as the cornerstone in verse 20?
3. What is the ultimate purpose of this building project described in verses 21-22?
4. In the story from the sermon, what was the dual purpose—both practical and spiritual—of building accommodation for disabled children in Gugulethu? [31:27]

1. Why is it significant that Christ, who was rejected, is now the cornerstone that holds everything together? What does this say about the nature of God’s work versus the world’s values? [33:32]
2. The nobles of Tekoa refused to put their shoulders to the work. What does this story reveal about the relationship between status, humility, and genuine participation in God’s mission? [37:45]
3. Nehemiah responded to opposition with prayer and a refusal to come down from the wall. What does this teach about the connection between spiritual perseverance and practical progress? [41:23]
4. When the new temple foundation was laid, some wept while others shouted for joy. Why would people have such different reactions to the same event, and what was God’s perspective through the prophet Haggai? [50:44]

1. God gives the vision to build, and prayer aligns our hearts with His purpose. What is one area in your life, family, or community that you feel broken down and in need of rebuilding? What would it look like to begin by sitting down, weeping, and praying about it before taking action? [30:26]
2. Everyone has a part to play, not just leaders. Considering the various roles listed in Nehemiah 3—priests, merchants, guards, families—what is one practical, hands-on task you can do this week to help build up your local church community, moving from being a spectator to a participant? [35:54]
3. Momentum often provokes mockery and spiritual attack. When you face criticism or discouragement for trying to do something good, what is your typical reaction? How can you implement the strategy of “pray and keep building” the next time opposition comes? [42:12]
4. The glory of God’s house is found in His presence, not its impressive appearance. Are you ever tempted to compare your current season, your church, or your efforts to a “former glory” from the past? How can you shift your focus from appearance to anticipating God’s dwelling presence in what is being built now? [52:54]
5. Building requires having one hand on the work and the other on a weapon. What is one specific way you can “stay strong spiritually” this week—like reading Scripture, worship, or fellowship—to ensure you are equipped to build and stand firm against discouragement? [43:06]
6. What we build houses God’s presence and aims to bless others, like little Tiago and his family. Who is one person in your sphere of influence that God might want to bless through your faithful, practical service? What is one simple step you can take to be a conduit of that blessing? [43:53]