Embracing Revival: A Call to Love and Action
Summary
As we gather during Matariki, we are invited into a sacred pause—a uniquely Aotearoa moment to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward with hope to what God is doing among us. Just as the stars of Matariki signal a new season, we are called to align ourselves with God’s rhythms, recognizing that there is a time for everything: a time to reflect, to celebrate, to hope, to build, and above all, a time to love the house God has given us.
Looking back, we give thanks for those who have gone before us—faithful saints, friends, and family who sowed seeds of prayer and faith. We celebrate the growth and maturity of our Harmony family, not just in numbers but in unity, diversity, and reach. Ministries have flourished, and our influence now stretches across nations, woven together into a beautiful tapestry of God’s grace.
We are living in a season of expansion and activation. God is building something new in us, even when the process feels inconvenient or we feel unqualified. Every “yes” we give to God, no matter how small, is met with His faithfulness. Old mindsets and insecurities may try to trip us up, but God gently realigns us, reminding us of our true identity and calling us to love—love for Him, for ourselves, and for one another, especially across our differences.
Harmony is not just a church; it is a movement, a kingdom kaleidoscope of more than 35 nations and all generations. God calls us not to merely coexist, but to co-labor, reflecting the beauty of every culture while carrying His kingdom DNA. Kingdom culture is not about sameness or religious rules, but about radical love, honor, hospitality, and Spirit-led transformation. We are called to be a house that loves deeply, celebrates diversity, and pursues unity as family.
Revival is not something we wait for; it begins in us. God is moving powerfully across the globe, and we are invited to participate, not as spectators but as active builders and carriers of His presence. Whether it’s serving, forgiving, showing up, or stepping out, our “yes” matters. We are called to enlarge our vision, strengthen our community, and go global—partnering with God’s advancing kingdom.
Let us value what God is doing here, honor one another, and declare together that Harmony will be a well of refreshing, a training ground, a sending base, and a refuge. Let’s love the house, be the revival, build together, and go global—here we are, Lord, send us.
---
Key Takeaways
- Gratitude for the Journey and Those Who’ve Gone Before
Pausing to reflect on the past is not just about nostalgia, but about honoring the prayers, sacrifices, and faithfulness of those who have paved the way. Their unseen prayers and acts of faith have become the foundation upon which we now stand. As we remember, we are invited to cultivate gratitude for God’s leading, even through wilderness seasons, and to recognize that our present fruit is often the result of seeds sown by others. [59:20]
- Embracing Kingdom Culture Over Church Culture
True kingdom culture transcends the limitations of tradition and religious rules. It is not about uniformity or rejecting the richness of our backgrounds, but about redeeming and celebrating the unique beauty God has placed in every culture. Kingdom culture is marked by radical love, honor, hospitality, and Spirit-led transformation, calling us to love beyond our understanding and to see difference as a gift, not a threat. [01:08:49]
- Revival Begins With Our Personal “Yes”
Revival is not a distant event to be awaited, but a present reality that starts within each of us. Every time we say “yes” to God—especially when it’s inconvenient or costly—we make room for His power to move through us. Our willingness to serve, forgive, and step out in faith is the spark that ignites transformation in our community and beyond. [01:12:49]
- Active Participation Builds True Community
Being part of God’s house means moving from spectator to participant. True connection and belonging are found not just in attending services, but in serving, showing up, and investing in relationships. When we take responsibility for the culture we desire—by being friendly, inviting, and present—we shift from a victim mindset to a victorious, family-oriented posture that reflects God’s heart. [01:17:53]
- God’s Global Move Invites Us to Enlarge Our Vision
Despite global turmoil, God is moving powerfully in unexpected places, bringing revival, unity, and transformation. We are called to partner with this move, stretching our vision from local to global, and preparing to be a sending base for revivalists. Our house is to be a well of refreshing, a training ground, and a refuge, as we join in God’s advancing kingdom and declare, “Here we are, Lord, send us.” [01:22:11]
---
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[56:34] - Matariki: A Time to Reflect and Align
[57:51] - Inviting the Holy Spirit and God’s Activation
[58:26] - Celebrating Growth and Diversity at Harmony
[59:20] - Honoring the Past and Giving Thanks
[01:01:02] - Revival Starts Here: You Are Revival
[01:02:13] - Embracing the Construction Process
[01:03:24] - Overcoming Old Mindsets and Saying Yes
[01:04:45] - Building a Kingdom Kaleidoscope
[01:06:19] - The Power of Culture: Church vs. Kingdom
[01:08:49] - Redeeming Culture and Embracing Transformation
[01:10:56] - Loving Beyond Differences and Pursuing Unity
[01:12:49] - Revival Begins With Us: The Power of Yes
[01:14:51] - Serving, Forgiving, and Showing Up
[01:17:53] - Moving From Spectator to Participant
[01:18:59] - God’s Global Move and Our Call
[01:23:11] - Enlarge Your Vision: Upcoming Events
[01:25:50] - Loving the House and Going Global
[01:27:37] - Declarations and Sending Out
Study Guide
Harmony Church Small Group Bible Study Guide
*Matariki: Loving the House, Living the Kingdom*
---
### Bible Reading
1. Ecclesiastes 3:1
*“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”*
(Referenced at [56:34])
2. Deuteronomy 8:2
*“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”*
(Quoted at [59:20])
3. Ephesians 2:19-22
*“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. And you are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.”*
(Quoted at [01:04:45])
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Ecclesiastes 3:1, what does the writer say about the different seasons in life? ([56:34])
2. In Deuteronomy 8:2, what was the purpose of God leading the Israelites through the wilderness? ([59:20])
3. How does Ephesians 2:19-22 describe the identity and unity of believers in God’s family? ([01:04:45])
4. What are some of the ways the sermon described Harmony Church’s growth and diversity over the past year? ([58:26])
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God asks us to pause and remember the past, as seen in Deuteronomy 8:2? How might this shape our gratitude and perspective today? ([59:20])
2. The sermon talks about “kingdom culture” versus “church culture.” What do you think is the difference between the two, based on the examples given? ([01:06:19])
3. Ephesians 2:19-22 says we are “carefully joined together” as God’s family. What does this mean for how we relate to people who are different from us in the church? ([01:04:45])
4. The speaker said, “Revival isn’t magic. It starts in us.” What does it mean for revival to begin with our personal “yes” to God? ([01:12:49])
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon encouraged us to reflect on the past year and give thanks for what God has done. What is one specific thing from the past year that you are grateful for, and how can you express that gratitude this week? ([59:20])
2. The idea of “kingdom culture” is about radical love, honor, and hospitality, not just following religious rules. Is there a cultural difference or personality in our church family that you find challenging? How could you take a step toward honoring or celebrating that difference this month? ([01:08:49])
3. The speaker challenged us to move from being spectators to participants. What is one practical way you could say “yes” to serving or showing up in the life of our church this season? ([01:17:53])
4. Sometimes old mindsets or insecurities hold us back from stepping out. Is there a specific fear or insecurity that’s stopping you from getting more involved? What would it look like to bring that to God and take a small step forward? ([01:03:24])
5. The sermon mentioned that sometimes our “yes” to God is costly or inconvenient. Can you think of a recent time when you said “yes” to God even though it was hard? What happened as a result? ([01:12:49])
6. Harmony is described as a “well of refreshing, a training ground, a sending base, and a refuge.” Which of these do you most need right now, and how can the group support you in that? ([01:25:50])
7. The speaker shared stories of God moving globally and called us to “enlarge our vision.” What is one way you could pray for or support God’s work beyond our local church this month? ([01:18:59])
---
*Let’s close by praying together: “Here we are, Lord, send us.”*
Devotional
Day 1: Reflecting with Gratitude on God’s Faithfulness
Taking time to reflect on the past allows us to see God’s hand guiding, humbling, and shaping us through every season. As we pause, we remember those who have gone before us, the prayers sown in faith, and the growth God has brought in our lives and in our church family. Gratitude for the journey—both the challenges and the victories—deepens our trust in God’s ongoing work and invites us to celebrate His faithfulness. What are you thankful for from this past year? What has God done in you? [59:20]
Deuteronomy 8:2 (ESV)
“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.”
Reflection: What is one specific way God has led or provided for you in the past year that you want to thank Him for today?
Day 2: Embracing Our Identity as God’s Family
God calls us not just to attend church, but to become a true family—diverse, united, and carefully joined together as His holy temple. In Christ, we are no longer strangers or outsiders; we are citizens and members of God’s household, each with a unique part to play. Embracing this identity means celebrating our differences, co-laboring in love, and carrying the DNA of God’s kingdom culture into every relationship and ministry. [01:04:45]
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)
“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.”
Reflection: How can you intentionally build deeper connections with someone in your church family who is different from you this week?
Day 3: Living Out Kingdom Culture—Radical Love and Unity
Kingdom culture is not about sameness or religious rules, but about radical love, honor, hospitality, and Spirit-led transformation. God redeems every culture, bringing out its unique beauty while aligning it with His ways. Loving the house means loving people beyond our understanding, celebrating differences, and choosing unity even when we disagree. Are we the kind of people who love beyond what we understand, who celebrate others not in spite of their difference, but because of it? [01:09:58]
Romans 12:11 (ESV)
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Reflection: Who is one person in your church or community you find difficult to love or understand? What is one practical way you can show them honor or kindness this week?
Day 4: Saying “Yes” to God—Participation Over Spectatorship
God is not looking for performance but for participation—He calls us to say “yes” to Him, even when it’s inconvenient or costly. Loving the house means stepping forward, serving, forgiving, and showing up, rather than hiding or waiting for others to act. When we give God our “yes,” He moves powerfully through us, connecting us to community and purpose. No more spectators; we are called to be the change we want to see. [01:16:48]
James 1:22 (ESV)
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Reflection: What is one area where you have been a spectator rather than a participant in your church or community? What step can you take this week to get involved or serve?
Day 5: Partnering with God’s Global Vision
God is moving powerfully across the nations, bringing revival, unity, and transformation in unexpected places. We are invited to enlarge our vision, stretch our faith, and partner with what God is doing both locally and globally. To love the house is to value what God is doing here and to be willing to go, give, pray, or send as He leads. The kingdom of God is advancing—let’s build together and say, “Here we are, Lord, send us.” [01:23:11]
Isaiah 54:2-3 (ESV)
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.”
Reflection: What is one way you can pray for, support, or participate in God’s work beyond your immediate community this month?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jun 21, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?