Restoring God’s House and Hearts: The True Glory

As we stand on the threshold of restoring a historic church building in DC, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of physical transformation—choosing colors, imagining new spaces, and dreaming of what’s to come. Yet, I’ve learned through years of home renovations that changing the exterior doesn’t automatically change what’s inside. The same is true for us as a church: we can create a beautiful building, but if we neglect the restoration of our hearts, we risk missing the very presence and peace of God that we long for.

God’s presence does not dwell in stone, wood, or paint, but in His people. This is the heartbeat of our “restore” season: as we restore God’s house, we pray that God would restore His people. The story of Haggai 2:9 reminds us that the glory of the present house will be greater than the former, not because of its grandeur, but because of God’s presence filling it. The Israelites, returning from exile, were discouraged by the new temple’s lack of splendor compared to Solomon’s. Yet God’s promise was not about the building’s appearance, but about His glory and peace dwelling among His people.

The true restoration God desires is deeper than walls and altars—it’s about reshaping hearts, realigning priorities, and restoring a people to Himself. The vision God gave me in Scotland—a heavy cloud of darkness over our city, pierced by the radiant glory of God rising both from above and within His people—reminds me that God’s glory is not just something we receive, but something we participate in. In Christ, the veil is torn, and God’s presence now dwells within us. We are the house of the Lord, each of us a temple of the Holy Spirit.

As we move forward, we must remember that restoring a building and restoring God’s people are inseparable. If we focus only on the structure and neglect the spiritual formation of our community, we risk missing the very thing that makes the house glorious: Christ revealed through His people. The promise of Haggai is not just glory, but peace—a peace that only Jesus, the Prince of Peace, can bring. This peace is not manufactured by our efforts, but received as we surrender our fears, worries, and idols to Him.

Generosity, then, becomes an act of resistance—a declaration that our hearts belong to Jesus, not to comfort or the patterns of this world. As we prepare for Commitment Sunday, let us allow God to shake up anything in us that hinders His glory, laying down our fears and misaligned priorities so that His presence might shine through us, both in our new building and in our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Presence Dwells in His People The true glory of any house of worship is not found in its architecture or beauty, but in the living presence of God within His people. We are each called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, carrying God’s presence wherever we go. This means our focus must always be on the restoration of our hearts, not just our surroundings. [03:34]
• 2. Restoration Begins with Realigned Priorities God’s call to rebuild is always about more than bricks and mortar; it’s about reshaping our hearts and realigning our lives to put Him first. The process of restoration exposes our idols and distractions, inviting us to repentance and deeper devotion. True transformation happens when we allow God to chisel away at our self-centeredness and make room for His glory. [06:39]
• 3. Christ Makes God’s Glory Accessible to All Through Jesus, the barrier between God and humanity is removed. No longer is God’s presence confined to a building or a select few; it is available to all who believe. This radical shift means that every follower of Christ becomes a vessel of God’s glory, empowered to bring His redemptive presence into the world. [10:44]
• 4. Generosity as Spiritual Resistance Giving is more than a financial transaction; it is a spiritual act that declares our allegiance to God over the idols of comfort and security. Each act of generosity is a way of standing firm against the enemy’s schemes, allowing God to shape our hearts and align our priorities with His kingdom. [29:39]
• 5. Peace Comes Through Surrender The peace God promises is not something we can manufacture through our own efforts or surroundings. It is a supernatural exchange that happens when we release our fears and anxieties to Him, trusting that He will fill us with His peace that surpasses understanding. This peace is the mark of God’s presence among His people. [18:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - The Excitement and Challenge of Restoration
• [01:40] - Renovation vs. Inner Transformation
• [02:18] - God’s Faithfulness in Our Journey
• [03:34] - The Heartbeat of Restore: God’s Presence
• [04:11] - Haggai’s Promise: Greater Glory
• [06:39] - Restoration Is About Hearts, Not Walls
• [07:22] - Vision of God’s Glory Over the City
• [09:18] - From Temple to People: New Testament Shift
• [12:02] - We Are the House of the Lord
• [13:26] - Restoring God’s House and God’s People
• [14:46] - Jesus in the Second Temple
• [16:45] - The Promise of Peace
• [22:08] - Testimony: Generosity and God’s Provision
• [28:22] - The Danger of Surface Restoration
• [29:39] - Generosity as an Act of Resistance
• [31:34] - The Shaking Before the Glory
• [32:51] - Invitation to Surrender and Prayer

Bible Reading

Haggai 2:9 (ESV) — > “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.”

Colossians 1:27 (ESV) — > “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) — > “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”

Observation Questions

1. In Haggai 2:9, what does God promise will be greater in the new temple compared to the old one? What else does He promise to give in that place?
2. According to the sermon, what was the main reason the Israelites were discouraged when rebuilding the temple? [04:11]
3. How does Colossians 1:27 describe the “mystery” that God has revealed to His people?
4. What does 1 Corinthians 6:19 say about our bodies and God’s presence?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says the true glory of God’s house isn’t about the building’s beauty, but about God’s presence among His people. Why do you think God cares more about people’s hearts than about physical spaces? [03:34]
2. The Israelites compared the new temple to Solomon’s and felt it didn’t measure up. What does this reveal about how we sometimes measure success or value in our own lives or church? [04:11]
3. The pastor shared a vision of God’s glory both coming down from above and rising up from within His people. What does this suggest about our role in experiencing and sharing God’s presence? [08:42]
4. The sermon describes generosity as “an act of resistance.” What does that mean, and how is giving connected to spiritual formation? [29:39]

Application Questions

1. The sermon warns that it’s possible to restore a beautiful building but miss the presence and peace of God if our hearts aren’t being restored. Are there areas in your life where you’ve focused on “external renovations” but neglected what’s happening inside? What would it look like to invite God to restore your heart? [02:55]
2. God’s presence now dwells in His people, not just in buildings. How does this truth change the way you think about church, worship, or your daily life? Is there a place where you need to remember you are carrying God’s presence? [12:02]
3. The process of restoration exposes our idols and distractions. What are some “idols” or misplaced priorities that God might be inviting you to lay down in this season? How can you practically realign your life to put God first? [06:39]
4. The sermon describes peace as something we receive when we surrender our fears and anxieties to Jesus. What is one fear or worry you need to release to God this week? How can you make space to receive His peace? [18:49]
5. Generosity is described as a way to declare that our hearts belong to Jesus, not to comfort or the patterns of this world. What is one step of generosity—financial or otherwise—that you feel God prompting you to take? What fears or hesitations come up for you? [29:39]
6. The pastor asked, “What does God need to shake up in you so that His glory can shine through you?” Is there something you sense God wants to “shake up” or change in your life right now? How can your small group support you in this? [31:34]
7. The vision for the church is to be a place where God’s peace and glory are experienced and shared with the city. What is one way you can participate in bringing God’s presence and peace to your neighborhood, workplace, or family this week? [20:11]