One Living Church

The focus is clear: God is moving His people forward. With the new year approaching, the call is to step boldly into a God-ordained destiny—one of growth, courage, and purposeful building. Scripture anchors the vision: God marks new beginnings (Exodus 12:2), makes people new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), invites them to forget the former things for the “new thing” He is doing (Isaiah 43:18–19), and ultimately dwells with His people, wiping every tear as He makes all things new (Revelation 21:1–5). This is not about hype; it’s about aligning with God’s trajectory and embracing a forward-leaning faith—even in the waiting—as genuine progress in Him.

A striking framework emerges from the numbers themselves. The composite “2026” corresponds in Greek to epokadomio: to build up, to edify, to construct upon a foundation—language that matches both spiritual formation and the practical breaking ground on a new sanctuary. The call is to let God form a sturdy foundation in Christ while a physical house of worship rises—two build-outs, one purpose: to gather people and make disciples.

There is also a priestly thread. The number 20 evokes the transfer of priesthood, illustrated powerfully in Numbers 20:26 with Aaron’s garments placed on Eleazar. In Jesus, the veil is torn and access to God is open; those who belong to Christ share in a true priesthood, not because of religious pedigree, but because Yahweh Himself confers it. The number 26 ties to the divine Name—Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh—signaling that God Himself establishes and sustains this transfer. The invitation is to receive that mantle, be set ablaze with devotion, and serve as priests who proclaim the name of the Lord.

Practically, the year opens with Baptism Sunday and baby dedications—public acts of alignment with God’s newness and household faith. The charge is to enter 2026 with hearts set to be built up in discipleship, strengthened in foundation, and ready to expand territory for the gospel. With prayer for healing, a summons to daily communion with the Father, and a unified gathering to stoke the fire on January 4, the path is set: build the house, build the people, and lift high the name of Jesus.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Forward movement is God’s pattern God’s Word continually pushes believers toward growth, even when progress looks like patient endurance. Remaining stagnant is not an option for disciples who follow a living, advancing God. Moving forward includes obedience in small steps and courage in decisive moments. Leaning into this rhythm reshapes how delays are viewed—from detours to formation. [07:31]
• 2. God makes all things new Newness is not decorative language; it is God’s decisive work in Christ that redefines identity and future. Forgetting the former things involves releasing both shame and stale success to make room for God’s fresh work. The horizon of hope is not naïve optimism but anchored in God’s promise to dwell with His people. Renewal begins now and culminates in a world remade by His presence. [10:40]
• 3. 2026: Built up and edified Epokadomio signals intentional construction—on Christ the foundation, with discipleship as the framing. Spiritual maturity is not accidental; it is built through teaching, practice, correction, and community mission. Expect God to strengthen structure: convictions, habits, and holy resilience. Edification prepares a people who can carry His presence into new territory. [13:23]
• 4. Priesthood shared by all believers In Christ, the transfer of priesthood is not lineage-bound but grace-given, opening access to God for every son and daughter. This priesthood means ministry is not spectated but shared: intercession, witness, and service belong to the whole body. Life before God—at work, home, and church—becomes sacred ground. The mantle is received by faith and exercised in love. [18:19]
• 5. Build the house, build disciples A rising sanctuary mirrors a rising people; both require foundation, unity, and sacrificial investment. Physical expansion without spiritual formation is hollow; spiritual fervor without mission is disembodied. God’s aim is a dwelling place of living stones, a community prepared to welcome the lost. Building is the method; worship and witness are the purpose. [20:54]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:00] - Baptism Sunday and Dedications Announced
• [07:31] - Always Moving Forward with God
• [10:40] - Scriptures of Newness and Hope
• [13:23] - 2026: Epokadomio—Built Up and Edified
• [15:10] - New Sanctuary and Spiritual Formation
• [18:19] - 26 Equals Yahweh: The Name Revealed
• [20:54] - Priesthood Transferred to God’s People
• [22:30] - Prayer for Healing and Strength
• [23:58] - Worship and Send-Off into 2026

1. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, what two realities are contrasted—“old things” and “all things”—and what happens to each?
2. In Isaiah 43:18–19, what two instructions does God give and what two pictures does He use to describe the “new thing” He is doing?
3. In Numbers 20:26, what specific action shows the transfer of priesthood from Aaron to Eleazar, and what does that action mark?
4. According to the message, which divine Name is linked with the number 26, and how is that number drawn from the Hebrew letters? ([18:19])

1. If “old things have passed away” (2 Corinthians 5:17), what kinds of “old things” still try to shape a believer’s choices at the start of a new year, and why do they stick around?
2. God says, “Do not remember the former things” (Isaiah 43:18–19). Why might releasing even past successes be necessary in order to notice and receive God’s “new thing”?
3. The garment transfer in Numbers 20:26 marked authority and access. If, in Christ, access to God is open and priestly ministry is shared, what does that suggest about who carries ministry in a local church and how that should look week to week? ([20:54])
4. If the year’s direction is anchored in God’s own Name (linked with 26), how does that shift the motive for spiritual disciplines and “building” from self-improvement to worship and witness? ([18:19])

1. Where are you “in the waiting” right now? Identify one small act of obedience that would be real forward movement this week, even if the big breakthrough hasn’t come yet. ([07:31])
2. Name one “former thing” you sense God asking you to release—either a shame you’ve carried or a stale success you keep replaying. What practical step will you take to lay it down (a conversation, confession, journal entry, or tossing an old reminder)? ([10:40])
3. Looking at your spiritual foundation, which beam needs strengthening right now: daily Scripture, prayer, repentance, serving, generosity, or gospel conversations? Choose one and set a simple rhythm you will start this week (when, how long, with whom). ([13:23])
4. As a priest in Christ with open access to God, when and where will you meet Him daily this month? Be concrete: time, place, and what you’ll do in that 10–20 minutes. ([20:54])
5. “Build the house, build the people.” What part can you play in both? Name one tangible contribution to the sanctuary project (a skill, a gift, a prayer slot) and one step to build up a person (invite to group, share a meal, start a short Bible reading with someone). ([15:10])
6. Who will you bring with you to the unified January 4 gathering, and how will you prepare your heart so the “fire is stoked” rather than distracted? Make a simple plan tonight. ([15:10])