In the Flow of God's Grace and Welcome

Nov 09, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: You are God’s temple; God’s Spirit dwells in you.

Each believer is not just a member of a congregation, but a living temple where God’s Spirit chooses to dwell. This truth calls for reverence in how we treat ourselves and one another, recognizing the sacredness of every person. When we remember that God’s presence is within us, it transforms our actions, our words, and our relationships, urging us to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ and to honor the holiness God has placed within us. [27:15]

1 Corinthians 3:9-17 (ESV)
"For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 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: In what ways do you honor the presence of God’s Spirit in yourself and in others today, especially in your words and actions?

Day 2: Jesus is the true temple, and His resurrection brings new life.

Jesus’ cleansing of the temple and His declaration that He would raise it up in three days reveal that He Himself is the true dwelling place of God among us. His resurrection is the ultimate sign that God’s presence is not confined to a building, but is alive and active in Christ and, through Him, in us. This calls us to center our faith on Jesus, trusting that He brings new life and hope even when things seem broken or beyond repair. [29:22]

John 2:13-22 (ESV)
"The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, 'Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.' His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' So the Jews said to him, 'What sign do you show us for doing these things?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken."

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to trust Jesus to bring resurrection and new life, even when you feel things are broken?

Day 3: God’s grace flows outward from the center to all people.

God’s presence is not meant to be contained or hoarded, but to flow like a river from the center—His temple—out into the world, bringing life, healing, and hope to all. Just as the vision in Ezekiel describes water flowing from the temple to renew the land, so too are we called to let God’s grace flow through us, reaching those who are hurting, divided, or in need. This flow of grace is meant to break down barriers and bring unity, justice, and love wherever it goes. [34:23]

Ezekiel 47:1-12 (ESV)
"Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen this?' Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, 'This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.'"

Reflection: Who in your life or community needs to experience the flow of God’s grace through you today, and how can you reach out to them?

Day 4: Love God and love your neighbor—especially across divisions.

The call to love God and love your neighbor is not just a commandment, but the very heart of what it means to be God’s people. This love is meant to cross boundaries of background, politics, and personal comfort, reaching out to those who are different, divided, or in need of reconciliation. When we put God at the center and allow His love to shape our actions, we become agents of healing and unity in a world that is often fractured and hostile. [32:29]

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)
"'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"

Reflection: Is there someone you are divided from or find difficult to love? What is one step you can take today to reach out in love or seek reconciliation?

Day 5: Welcoming others is the essence of God’s flow through us.

To be in the flow of God’s grace is to be a welcoming people, reaching out beyond our comfort zones to embrace those who are lonely, marginalized, or different from us. True Christian community is marked by openness, acceptance, and a readiness to include all, just as Christ welcomed us. Welcoming others is not just a sign on a door, but a way of life that reflects God’s heart and transforms both us and those we encounter. [38:47]

Romans 15:7 (ESV)
"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

Reflection: Who is someone in your neighborhood, workplace, or church who may feel unwelcome or alone? How can you intentionally reach out to them this week with Christ’s welcome?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the profound truth that we are God’s building, God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God dwells within us. This identity is not just a theological statement but a call to action—a summons to examine the foundation upon which we build our lives. The only true foundation is Jesus Christ, and everything we construct—our relationships, our communities, our acts of service—must be built upon Him. The readings remind us that God’s presence is not confined to a building or a ritual, but is alive and active within each of us, calling us to be living temples that radiate His love and grace.

Looking back to the time of Ezekiel, we see a divided people, once united under David, now split and hostile toward one another. Their failure was not just political but spiritual: they had forgotten the two great commandments—to love God and to love their neighbor. This ancient division mirrors the fractures we see in our own society today. The prophetic call is as urgent now as it was then: to put God at the center and to let that centrality shape how we treat one another, especially those who are different, marginalized, or in need.

Ezekiel’s vision of water flowing from the temple is a powerful image of God’s grace. The water does not remain within the temple but flows outward, bringing life and healing to all it touches. This is a picture of what our lives are meant to be: not reservoirs of grace, but channels through which God’s love flows into the world. The question for each of us is, “Are we in the flow?” Are we allowing God’s grace to move through us, or are we caught in the currents of hostility, indifference, or exclusion?

A key aspect of being in the flow is being a welcoming people. God’s very nature is hospitality—reaching out, embracing, and including. We are called to reflect that same openness, especially to those who feel lonely, isolated, or unwelcome. The story of a visitor who found a home in our community because of its warmth and welcome is a testament to the transformative power of hospitality. Our challenge is to ensure that “all are welcome” is not just a sign on our door, but the reality of our hearts and actions.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Grace Flows Outward, Not Inward God’s grace is never meant to be hoarded or contained. Like the water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel’s vision, it is designed to move outward, bringing life and healing to all it touches. We are called to be channels, not reservoirs, of this grace—allowing it to flow through us into the lives of others, especially those on the margins. [35:03]
2. Welcoming Others Reflects God’s Heart True hospitality is at the core of God’s character. To welcome the stranger, the lonely, and the different is to participate in God’s own outreach to humanity. When we open our hearts and communities to others, we become living signs of God’s inclusive love, and we help heal the divisions that so often plague our world. [37:36]
3. Love God and Neighbor—Even When It’s Hard The ancient command to love God and neighbor is not just a moral ideal but a spiritual necessity. It challenges us to move beyond comfort and preference, reaching out to those we might otherwise avoid. This love is the foundation of a life that is truly built on Christ, and it is the measure of our faithfulness in a divided world. [32:29]
4. Hope Is Active, Not Passive Christian hope is not wishful thinking or passive optimism. It is a dynamic force that motivates us to act, to reach out, and to believe that change is possible. When we trust in God’s hope, we refuse to settle for the status quo and instead become agents of transformation in our communities. [38:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:15] - You Are God’s Temple
[28:06] - Gospel Acclamation and Reading
[29:22] - Jesus Cleanses the Temple
[29:58] - The Temple of Christ’s Body
[30:38] - Relevance of Ezekiel’s Prophecy
[31:16] - Division in Ancient Israel
[32:29] - The Call to Love God and Neighbor
[33:47] - Ezekiel’s Vision of Flowing Water
[35:03] - God’s Grace Flows Outward
[36:19] - Competing Flows: Grace or Hostility
[37:00] - The Call to Be Welcoming
[38:10] - Addressing Loneliness and Isolation
[39:27] - A Story of Welcoming Community
[41:23] - Practical Ways to Welcome
[42:21] - Profession of Faith
[43:39] - Prayers for the Church and World
[44:59] - Closing Prayer and Hymn

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 3:9-17 (ESV)
> For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 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.

John 2:13-22 (ESV)
> The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Ezekiel 47:1-12 (ESV) [selected verses]
> Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east... And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

Observation Questions

In 1 Corinthians 3, what does Paul say is the only true foundation for our lives and communities?
According to the sermon, what was the main reason for the division between the northern and southern kingdoms in Ezekiel’s time? ([31:16])
In John 2, what did Jesus do in the temple, and what did he mean when he said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”?
What does Ezekiel’s vision of water flowing from the temple symbolize, according to the sermon? ([35:03])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in us? How does this change the way we see ourselves and our purpose?
The sermon connects the ancient division in Israel to divisions in our society today. What are some modern examples of these kinds of divisions, and why is it important to address them? ([31:16])
The water flowing from the temple in Ezekiel’s vision is described as bringing life and healing wherever it goes. What does it mean for us to be “in the flow” of God’s grace, rather than keeping it to ourselves? ([35:03])
The sermon says that true hospitality is at the core of God’s character. Why is welcoming others—especially those who are different or marginalized—so central to living out our faith? ([37:36])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to examine the foundation of our lives. What are some things you have built your life on besides Jesus, and how can you shift your focus back to Him? ([27:15])
Think about a time when you experienced division or hostility in a community (church, family, workplace). How did you respond, and what would it look like to respond with love for God and neighbor instead? ([31:16])
The sermon asks, “Are we in the flow?” In what areas of your life do you tend to “hoard” God’s grace instead of letting it flow outward to others? What is one step you can take this week to be a channel of grace? ([35:03])
The story of the visitor who found a home in the church because of its welcome was powerful. Have you ever felt truly welcomed somewhere? What made the difference? How can you help create that same experience for others in our church? ([39:27])
The sermon mentions that loneliness is a major issue in our society. Who in your life or neighborhood might be feeling isolated or left out? What is one practical way you can reach out to them this week? ([38:10])
“All are welcome” is more than a sign—it’s a way of life. What are some barriers (personal, cultural, or otherwise) that might keep you from welcoming others? How can you overcome them? ([40:44])
Christian hope is described as active, not passive. What is one area where you feel tempted to give up or settle for the status quo? How can you act in hope and become an agent of change in that situation? ([38:47])

Sermon Clips

“More than likely not. That's why we have Bible study or why even in a homaly try to give some sort of context to a reading and find out that it may be way more relevant than we recognize when we look at the situation. Yeah. Ezekiel was a prophet speaking to the people 600 years before Christ. But the situation is this and there are some similarities to who we are today.”

“At this point in time they're divided. At this point in time they're critical toward one another. At this point time, they're hostile. At this point in time, they just want to be apart, not wanting to have anything to do with each other. We have to watch about that today in our own country, don't we?”

“Both kingdoms had learned that the two great commandments that Jesus then later spoke were love God and love your neighbor and Ezekiel as a prophet as many of the prophets was there to say we're not doing that we're not doing that loving God are we putting God at the center those two kingdoms were not they were caught up in their own political and and other go goings on and And God was not a central focus.”

“We know that Jesus when he talked about the neighbor that the neighbor was anybody in need or anybody hurting or anybody we're divided from that we need to come together and be healed and reconciled. And they weren't that either. Love God and love your neighbor. They weren't doing very well at it even though they were chosen by God to take that covenant of love to the world.”

“Ezekiel speaks powerfully to them and obviously is meant to speak to us today because in any generation including even our own moment in time do we really in all that we're about and how we treat one another and how we communicate and relate uh with those poor among us or those needy among us or those in our world community.”

“Are we so influenced that God is the center of who we are and why we do what we do and reaches out to a loving neighbor even when uh the neighbor may not be our color, may not be our background, may not be our political persuasion, may not be the whole way that would want to be buddies with. Hey, love is meant to be inclusive.”

“The vision he's speaking of first of all is calling people to judgment. That and always in God's presence, it's a saving judgment. It's a judgment that says, "Hey, wake up. This is who we're called to be. This is the direction we're supposed to be going in. This is what it means to put God at the center. And of course then showing it in the way we treat each other.”

“It's water flowing from the temple. The temple being the symbol of God's presence in their midst. the temple being the very source of their faith, their church if you will. And in the image, the vision he's using, that flowing water is to flow from the center from God and flow out into the surrounding area, the entire surrounding area.”

“You notice it talks about the flowing water going from the e east, the west, the north, the south. In other words, God's amazing grace, the flow of God's goodness, I is meant not to be held within, but to be shared. And a reminder that that's what God calls us to. And maybe a way we can look at it today.”

“Are we in the flow? Are we in the flow of God's guidance and and God's way that we're called to be about? And here there's a song that I know I think it's probably even in our himnil that says this. I thought about singing it but be glad that I didn't. And it says love light love is flowing like a river flowing out of you and me flowing out into the desert setting all the captives free.”

“In other words, God is not some static object that we just kind of worship or put somewhere in some building. God's very nature. God is flowing whether it's in the cosmos itself, in our planet earth or in our own personal lives. The flow of God's grace, God's grace does not want to be bottled up.”

“God's grace flowing in and through us as temples of the spirit is not meant to be hoarded to us. It's meant, that flow is meant to reach out and touch others and recognize that's what we're called to be. We're called to be in the flow of God's amazing grace as opposed to, we see it too often today, in the flow of hostility, of negativity, of indifference to the poor, of injustice, of lack of love.”

“That from the very nature, even God sending his son Jesus to be welcoming to humanity and say, "Here I am. I\'m with you and I\'m for you. I\'m not some far distant uh being and the and and are and even back as I said 2600 years ago they weren't welcome of each other as two nations that really had one faith but were divided and so how welcoming are we we know the issue whether we're talking about immigrants whe whether we're talking about other people who are poor or vulnerable do we reach out”

“He talked about one of the ways we need to welcome it and especially his church is that that he said one of the major epidemics out there is loneliness that there's a lot of people feeling very lonely and isolated from any for any reason and even Mother Teresa mentioned that few years ago she said this country has a great poverty and its loneliness and we church above all called to be that reaching out beyond our doors.”

“All the more that outreach because that's the essence of who God is that flow out into the goodness and love especially for those people who maybe need to know that goodness and love and healing and hope and that that that call to hope that Isaiah had. The hope being that not just some pious pie in the sky, oh, it'll all be better. No, a hope that motivates us.”

“Hey, we can be different. We can be better. We don't have to settle for this. Whatever it's going to take, we individually and together need to take our steps, trusting in the God, in the hope he has for us, but wants to work in us and through us. So that hope is realized more deeply because of the difference we make.”

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St. Vincent de Paul Parish - Akron, OH This sermon · AI assistant

What does flowing water symbolize in spiritual renewal?

How can believers actively promote inclusivity and welcoming?

In what ways does the temple represent God's presence today?