Pastor Jeremy Seaward - Building Altars

Nov 09, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Building Personal Altars: Intentional Pursuit of God

An altar is not something stumbled upon by accident; it is intentionally built through deliberate acts of seeking God, gathering the “stones” of our lives—both the beautiful and the broken—and offering them to Him. Just as God instructed His people in Exodus to gather earth and stones and build an altar, so too are we called to set aside time, energy, and focus to create sacred spaces in our hearts and lives where we meet with God. These personal altars are not about outward perfection or religious formality, but about honest, intentional pursuit and surrender, regardless of our circumstances. When we bring even the messy, unwanted parts of our lives to God, He promises to meet us there and make that place holy by His presence. [47:47]

Exodus 20:24-26 (ESV)
"An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it."

Reflection: What is one “stone” in your life—perhaps a frustration, disappointment, or area of weakness—that you can intentionally bring before God today as an offering, inviting Him to meet you in that place?

Day 2: Remembering God’s Faithfulness

Altars in Scripture were not only places of sacrifice but also places of remembrance, where God’s people would commemorate significant moments of His faithfulness and provision. By gathering stones and building altars, they created lasting reminders of how God had met them, delivered them, and provided for them in times of need. Returning to these altars, whether physical or in our hearts, helps us to recall and give thanks for God’s goodness, keeping gratitude alive and strengthening our faith for new seasons. In a world full of requests and needs, pausing to remember and honor what God has already done is a powerful act of worship and trust. [57:41]

Genesis 35:1, 6-7 (ESV)
"God said to Jacob, 'Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.' ... And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother."

Reflection: Take a moment to recall a specific time when God answered a prayer or showed up in your life—how can you “build an altar” of remembrance and gratitude for that today?

Day 3: The Altar as a Place of Encounter

The altar is a place of divine encounter—a meeting point where the natural and the supernatural intersect, and where God’s presence transforms ordinary moments into holy ground. It is not about religious ritual, but about pursuing God with a sincere heart, knowing that He promises to draw near to those who draw near to Him. Whether in a church service, at home, or in the midst of daily life, God invites us to come to Him, to call on His name, and to experience His presence, healing, and power in a fresh way. [01:01:19]

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

Reflection: Where can you intentionally set aside time and space today to seek God’s presence and expect a fresh encounter with Him?

Day 4: Surrender and Sacrifice: The Heart of Worship

True worship is not just about songs or outward acts, but about surrendering our hearts and lives to God as living sacrifices. The altar is where we lay down our desires, opinions, and even our most precious things, trusting God with everything. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a continual return to the altar, no matter how long we have walked with God. We never outgrow the need to surrender, to bring our brokenness, our offenses, and our struggles to Him, allowing His presence to transform us and set us apart. [01:08:01]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: What is one area of your life that you have been holding back from God? What would it look like to lay it down at the altar in surrender today?

Day 5: The State of the Altar Reflects the State of the Heart

Throughout Scripture, the condition of the altar was a mirror of the people’s relationship with God—when the altar was neglected or broken, it revealed a heart that had drifted from true pursuit and intimacy. God is not looking for empty rituals or outward displays, but for hearts that are humble, contrite, and genuinely seeking Him. Returning to the altar—whether for the first time or the hundredth—is an invitation to renewed relationship, healing, and transformation, as we offer ourselves to God and allow Him to restore and fill us with His peace and presence. [01:11:41]

Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV)
"For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

Reflection: Is there an area where your heart has grown distant or formal in your relationship with God? How can you return to the altar today with honesty and humility, inviting Him to renew your heart?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered around a central and ancient theme: building altars in our lives. In the Old Testament, altars were not just religious artifacts, but deeply personal places where people met with God, offered sacrifices, remembered His faithfulness, and encountered His presence. These altars were not ornate or crafted with human skill, but simple mounds of earth and stone—ordinary things, often the very obstacles and frustrations of daily life, repurposed as places of worship and surrender.

We explored how, even though we no longer build physical altars, the call to create spiritual altars remains. Each of us is invited to intentionally set aside time and space to meet with God, to bring our sacrifices—our worship, our surrender, our thanksgiving. The altar is not about impressing God with our efforts or making something beautiful out of our own strength. Rather, it is about bringing what we have, even the rough and unwanted parts of our lives, and allowing God’s presence to make it holy.

The altar is also a place of remembrance. Just as the Israelites would return to the stones they had piled up to recall God’s faithfulness, we too are called to remember and give thanks for what God has done. Too often, we move on from answered prayers without pausing to honor God for His work. Building an altar of remembrance keeps our hearts soft and grateful, and it marks the moments when God has met us, provided for us, or brought us through difficulty.

But the altar is not only about the past; it is a place of fresh encounter and new beginnings. We never outgrow our need for the altar. No matter how long we have walked with God, we are continually called back to surrender, worship, and dependence. The state of our personal altar often reflects the state of our hearts. When we neglect the altar—when we stop pursuing God personally—our relationship with Him grows cold and formal.

Today, we were invited to gather the “stones” of our lives—our frustrations, our needs, our gratitude, our longing—and build an altar before God. In that place, He promises to meet us, to bring peace, healing, and miracles. The altar is where heaven meets earth, where our ordinary is touched by the extraordinary presence of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Altars Are Built, Not Found Building an altar is an intentional act. We do not stumble upon deep encounters with God by accident; we must choose to gather the “stones” of our lives and set aside time and space to meet with Him. This requires effort, focus, and a willingness to bring even the messy or unwanted parts of our story before God. In doing so, we create a place for His presence to transform us. [64:55]
2. The Altar Is a Place of Remembrance Returning to the altar reminds us of God’s faithfulness in our lives. When we pause to remember and give thanks, we keep our hearts tender and our faith strong. The discipline of remembrance guards us against spiritual amnesia and cultivates a spirit of gratitude, anchoring us in the reality of God’s ongoing work. [57:41]
3. We Never Outgrow the Altar No matter how mature we become in our faith, we are always called back to surrender, worship, and dependence on God. The altar is not just for new believers or moments of crisis; it is a lifelong practice. Continually returning to the altar keeps our relationship with God vibrant and our hearts aligned with His purposes. [68:01]
4. God Meets Us in Our Ordinary and Brokenness The altar is not made special by our efforts, but by God’s presence. We bring our ordinary, our brokenness, and even our frustrations, and He meets us there. This is the heart of the gospel: God transforms what is common and flawed into something holy by His presence and grace. [67:23]
5. The State of the Altar Reflects the State of the Heart When our personal altar is neglected, it often signals a drift in our relationship with God. Formality and routine can replace genuine pursuit. Regularly building and tending our altar keeps our hearts close to God, ensuring that our faith is not just outward but deeply personal and alive. [71:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:22] - Christmas Choir Rehearsal Invitation
[38:57] - Marriage Seminar Announcement
[39:34] - GriefShare Holiday Seminar
[40:12] - Youth Conference Testimonies
[41:33] - Reflections on the Encounter Conference
[42:10] - Introduction of Guest Speakers
[43:27] - A Humorous Phone Story
[44:39] - Pastor Jeremy Seawward Begins
[47:07] - Building Altars: Introduction
[47:47] - The Meaning of Altars in Scripture
[54:36] - Personal vs. Formal Altars
[55:50] - The Altar: Sacrifice and Worship
[57:41] - The Altar: Remembrance and Thanksgiving
[61:19] - The Altar: Place of Encounter
[64:55] - Altars Are Built, Not Found
[68:01] - We Never Outgrow the Altar
[71:06] - The State of the Altar and Our Hearts
[73:01] - Invitation to Build an Altar
[81:06] - Prayer for Healing
[82:24] - Prayer for Miracles
[84:12] - Worship and Surrender at the Altar

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Building Altars in Our Lives

Bible Reading

Exodus 20:24-26 (ESV)
> "An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it."

Genesis 35:1, 6-7 (ESV)
> "God said to Jacob, 'Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.' ... And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother."

Observation Questions

According to Exodus 20:24-26, what materials were the Israelites told to use when building an altar, and what were they told not to do to those materials?
In Genesis 35, why did God tell Jacob to build an altar at Bethel? What was significant about that place for Jacob?
The sermon mentioned that altars in the Old Testament were often made from “ordinary things, often the very obstacles and frustrations of daily life.” What examples did the pastor give about the kinds of “stones” we might use to build our own spiritual altars? [[01:06:10]]
What did the pastor say is the difference between a formal altar (like in the temple) and a personal altar? [[54:36]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God instructed the Israelites not to use tools to shape the stones for the altar? What does this say about how God views our efforts versus our surrender? [[47:47]]
The pastor said, “Altars are built, not found.” What does it mean for someone to intentionally build a spiritual altar in their life? Why is this intentionality important? [[01:04:55]]
The sermon described the altar as a place of remembrance and thanksgiving. Why is it important for believers to regularly remember and give thanks for what God has done? What can happen if we forget? [[57:41]]
The pastor said, “We never outgrow the altar.” What does this mean for someone who has been a Christian for a long time? How might this challenge someone’s view of spiritual maturity? [[01:08:01]]

Application Questions

The pastor talked about gathering the “stones” of our lives—our frustrations, needs, gratitude, and longings—and bringing them to God. What are some “stones” in your life right now that you could bring to God as part of building your own altar? [[01:06:10]]
Is there a specific place or time in your daily or weekly routine where you could intentionally “build an altar” to meet with God? What would it look like for you to set aside that time and space? [[01:04:55]]
Think back to a time when God answered a prayer or showed up in your life. Did you take time to remember and give thanks, or did you move on quickly? How could you practice building an “altar of remembrance” this week? [[57:41]]
The sermon said that when we neglect our personal altar, our relationship with God can grow cold and formal. Are there signs in your life that your relationship with God has become more routine than personal? What could you do to rekindle that personal pursuit? [[01:11:06]]
The pastor mentioned that God meets us in our ordinary and even in our brokenness. Is there an area of your life that feels too messy or unworthy to bring to God? What would it look like to bring that part of your life to Him this week? [[01:07:23]]
The altar is a place of new beginnings and fresh encounters. Is there an area where you need a fresh start with God? What step could you take this week to invite Him into that area? [[01:13:01]]
The sermon ended with an invitation to “build an altar” and pursue God’s presence. What is one practical thing you can do this week to intentionally pursue God—whether it’s through worship, prayer, surrender, or thanksgiving? [[01:13:37]]

Sermon Clips

“We don't talk a lot about uh altars today. uh and and it's a very strong piece of, you know, Old Testament theology, but we don't have physical altars. So, I want to break down kind of what we're talking about, but I think we understand the concept because everyone has certain favorite places they go to for specific things.”

“Well, altars in scripture, uh, you know, are similar in in the sense that these are these are just places with a certain function, a very specific function. It's not necessarily, uh, always a geographic location, but it's the function of it.”

“In fact, after the exile, when Israel would return to the promised land after being conquered by foreign enemies and God would deliver them, you you read in scripture, the first thing they would rebuild was the altar. And in scripture, there's actually two kinds of altars.”

“What was different about Israelite altars and pagan religion altars in that day is that many other beliefs would have been thinking they need to give something to the gods to appease them and sort of like sustain the gods. But you see, our God doesn't need those sacrifices to survive. In fact, the people of God needed the sacrifice to survive.”

“Maybe you made a commitment in a sacrifice and it cost you something. You said, "God, I'm laying down my own desires and opinions, but right now I'm building an altar to you right where I am." That's the kind of altar we're talking about.”

“And a lot of times they would bring these stones together. Why? Because it would also last. And so they would they would build these stones to commemorate, God, you did something in my life. Sometimes they'd come through a really dark season and God was faithful and they build an altar to honor God.”

“Every time they walked past that mound of earth and stones, they would remember, oh man, I remember how God met me. I remember how God showed up in my life. I remember how God provided for my family.”

“It was a place of thanksgiving to the Lord. And I think I I think sometimes we've forgotten how to do this a little bit. We have a lot of prayer requests, but sometimes we need to stop and build an altar and say, "God, I want to remember what you did in my life. I want to honor you for what you did."”

“Sometimes in our generation, we've lost the significance of just coming and pursuing God at the altar of just coming and saying, "God, I just want to bring my life to you again. I want to make a place of encounter before you. I want this to be a place where I don't just get a cute sermonet and a couple of points. I want to touch your presence and I want your presence to touch my life."”

“You don't find altars. You build altars. Listen to what God said. You You gather the earth and the stones. You build an altar before the Lord. In other words, there are no accidental altars. There are only intentional altars. You gather the stones. You gather the earth. It takes the sweat. It takes time.”

“If you want an altar, you've got to build that altar yourself. And you can have the best worship team and the greatest pastors and whatever, but even sitting here, every single one of us has to make a decision. God, today I want to build a personal altar with you. Lord, today I want to come after you. I can't do it for you. You can't do it for me.”

“These are shepherds that they don't want the sheep to stumble. They don't want the sheep to hurt their hoods. And he goes, you take these things that usually you throw away that usually seem like wasted, that seem like that they're just frustrating and they're problematic and it's it's it's kind of in the way. They're obstacles.”

“Why don't you gather the obstacles? Why don't you gather those frustrating things? Why don't you gather the problems, the stuff we would usually complain about and just comment? Why don't you build an altar? And I think so many times there's things we're complaining about, we're frustrated about, we're tired of, we're putting up with.”

“He goes, "Don't use cutstones. Don't try to make it beautiful. Don't try to make this special or attractive because it's not going to be your effort that makes the altar special. It's going to be God's presence that makes the altar special." He goes, "You just gathered the dirt and the stones. I'll come down and I'll make that place special."”

“And God goes, "No, no, you don't have to try to make it special. Why don't you come and just bring what you have to me and my presence will come upon your life and make you special. My presence will come and and encounter you. My presence will come and set you apart." Isn't that the gospel? Come on. Isn't that the gospel?”

“And I got to tell you something today. All right? And it's it's not just because you know that there's a few whitehaired heads in the room, but mine is also pretty white. So, I'm with you. I'm with you. My philosophy has always been better gray hair than no hair. No offense, Pastor Josh. But can I can I tell you this? We never outgrow the altar.”

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