The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost - November 16, 2025 - 9:30 am

Nov 16, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: The Church Is Not the Building, But the People

When disaster strikes and beloved sanctuaries are lost, it is natural to grieve the loss of sacred spaces. Yet, in these moments, we are reminded that the true church is not the stone and wood, but the community of believers—living stones—gathered in Christ’s name. God’s presence is not confined to a single location; Christ dwells within us wherever we are, making us His temple and His body in the world. [32:03]

1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Think of a place you consider sacred—how might you experience God’s presence today outside of that space, among the people around you?

Day 2: Trusting God in Uncertain and Turbulent Times

Jesus does not promise His followers a life free from turmoil, but instead calls us to radical trust in Him, especially when facing uncertainty, persecution, or loss. Rather than obsessively preparing defenses or ignoring difficulties, we are invited to cultivate a deep relationship with God through prayer, trusting that Christ will provide the words and wisdom we need in every moment. [33:59]

Luke 21:12-15, 19 (ESV)
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict... By your endurance you will gain your lives.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel anxious about the future? How can you practice trusting God with that uncertainty today?

Day 3: Embracing Our Brokenness and Need for Forgiveness

Each of us, at times, opposes Christ—by what we have done and by what we have left undone. Recognizing our own imperfection and need for forgiveness is not a cause for shame, but an invitation to transformation. When we let go of our facades and accept God’s mercy, we open ourselves to new beginnings and deeper compassion for others. [38:34]

1 John 1:8-9 (ESV)
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reflection: Is there something you need to confess to God today—an action or inaction? How might receiving God’s forgiveness change your outlook or relationships?

Day 4: Letting Go of Control and Trusting God’s Plan

We often want to be the architects of our own lives, clinging to our plans and perspectives. Yet, God calls us to surrender control, to let old facades fall, and to trust that He is building something new and beautiful with our lives—even through our limitations and brokenness. In God’s hands, we become part of His new creation, free to be what we are meant to be. [39:58]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Reflection: What is one area where you are holding tightly to your own plans or image? What would it look like to let go and trust God to shape that part of your life?

Day 5: Bearing Witness Through Transformed Lives

Our testimony is not in eloquent defenses or perfect arguments, but in lives transformed by Christ’s love and grace. As we follow Jesus, even through uncertainty and change, our very being becomes a living testimony that no opponent can contradict. God calls us to be curious, to wonder, and to faithfully wait for how we will be used to bring about good in the world as part of Christ’s mystical body. [42:36]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: In what specific way can you let Christ’s light shine through your actions or words today, offering hope or encouragement to someone else?

Sermon Summary

As I reflect on the grandeur of sacred spaces from my childhood, like the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, I am reminded of how deeply we can become attached to the places where we encounter God. Yet, Jesus’ words in today’s gospel challenge us to imagine a day when even the most beloved temple will fall. This is not just a warning about physical destruction, but an invitation to recognize that the true dwelling place of God is not in stone and mortar, but within us—the living stones of the church. The story of a Texas parish whose building was destroyed by a tornado illustrates this truth: when the walls fell, the people discovered anew that Christ’s presence abides wherever his people gather, not in any one location.

Jesus goes on to speak of turbulent times—wars, persecutions, and upheavals. He does not offer false comfort or easy answers. Instead, he calls us to radical trust, telling us not to prepare our defenses in advance, but to rely on the wisdom and words he will provide in the moment. This is a call to cultivate a relationship with God so deep that, when the ground shifts beneath us, we are anchored not in our own plans, but in Christ’s faithfulness. Our tendency is either to ignore the gathering darkness or to overprepare, but Jesus invites us to a third way: prayerful trust that God will meet us in our need.

In our polarized world, it is easy to see ourselves as righteous and others as in need of redemption. Yet, as we reflected in our clergy group, Jesus died not just for his friends, but for his opponents—and at times, each of us stands in opposition to Christ. When we accept our own brokenness and the brokenness of others, the facades of self-righteousness crumble, making space for God to do something new. Isaiah’s vision of a new heaven and a new earth reminds us that God uses our limited, imperfect selves as building blocks for new creation, if only we will surrender our need to be the architect.

Letting go of what feels solid and secure is frightening, but we are held in the everlasting hands of God. When we allow ourselves to be shaken and awakened, we find ourselves following Jesus on the path of resurrection, becoming part of his living body in the world. No building, no defense, no plan is as enduring as the testimony of lives transformed by Christ. In this trust, we become agents of God’s transfiguring work in the world.

Key Takeaways

1. The Church Is Not the Building The true church is not defined by walls or architecture, but by the people who gather in Christ’s name. When physical structures fall, it is an opportunity to rediscover that Christ dwells within us, wherever we are. Our identity as the body of Christ is not tied to a place, but to our shared life in him. [32:03]
2. Radical Trust Over Self-Preparedness Jesus calls us to resist both denial and obsessive preparation in the face of uncertainty. Instead, he invites us to cultivate a deep trust through prayer, believing that God will provide what we need in the moment. This trust is not passive, but an active surrender to God’s wisdom and timing, freeing us from anxiety and self-reliance. [33:59]
3. Embracing Our Shared Brokenness We are all, at times, both friends and opponents of Christ. Recognizing our own need for forgiveness breaks down the facades of self-righteousness and opens us to transformation. When we accept our limitations and failures, we make space for God’s grace to work in us and through us, building something new from our brokenness. [36:31]
4. Surrendering Control to God’s New Creation Letting go of our need to be the architect of our lives allows God to use us as building materials for his new creation. Our limited perspective is not a flaw, but an invitation to trust God’s greater vision. In surrender, we find freedom and become part of God’s ongoing work of renewal in the world. [39:58]
5. Testimony Through Transformed Lives Our most powerful witness is not in well-prepared arguments, but in lives changed by Christ. As we follow Jesus, our living testimony becomes a force that no opponent can withstand. God promises to move through us, the mystical body of Christ, to transfigure the world for good.

** [42:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:31] - Childhood Memories of Sacred Spaces
[30:12] - Jesus’ Warning About the Temple
[31:29] - The Church Beyond Buildings
[32:40] - Jesus’ Apocalyptic Teaching
[33:22] - Trusting God in Uncertain Times
[35:12] - The Danger of Self-Righteousness
[36:31] - Our Shared Need for Forgiveness
[38:34] - Transformation Through Brokenness
[39:16] - God’s New Creation from Our Limits
[40:44] - Rilke’s Poem and Trusting God’s Hands
[41:57] - Letting Go of Defenses
[42:36] - Living Testimony and God’s Promise
[43:17] - Affirming Our Faith
[45:50] - Prayers for the Church and World
[48:29] - Confession and Forgiveness
[49:55] - Children’s Chapel Reflection
[51:14] - Community Announcements
[54:54] - Invitation to the Table

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 21:5-19 (ESV)
> And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”

Isaiah 65:17-18 (ESV)
> “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.”

Observation Questions

What did Jesus say would happen to the temple, and how did his listeners react to this prediction? ([30:12])
According to the sermon, what did the Texas parish discover after their church building was destroyed by a tornado? ([31:29])
In Luke 21, what does Jesus tell his followers to do (or not do) when facing persecution and uncertainty? ([33:22])
What is Isaiah’s vision for God’s people, as described in Isaiah 65:17-18? ([39:16])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus warned his followers not to rely on the temple or any physical building as the center of their faith? ([32:03])
The sermon mentions that Jesus calls us to “radical trust” instead of denial or over-preparation. What does this kind of trust look like in real life? ([33:59])
The preacher said, “We are all, at times, both friends and opponents of Christ.” What does it mean to be an “opponent” of Christ, even as a believer? ([36:31])
How does Isaiah’s promise of a “new heaven and a new earth” connect to the idea of letting go of control and allowing God to build something new from our brokenness? ([39:16])

Application Questions

Think about a place or tradition in your faith that feels especially sacred or important. How would you respond if it was taken away? What would it look like to find God’s presence outside of that place or tradition? ([30:12])
The Texas church realized “the church is us” after their building was destroyed. In what ways do you see the church as people rather than a building? How could you live this out more intentionally? ([31:29])
Jesus tells us not to prepare our defenses in advance, but to trust that he will give us the words and wisdom we need. When have you faced a situation where you had to rely on God in the moment? What happened? ([33:22])
The sermon warns against both ignoring problems and obsessively over-preparing for them. Which of these tendencies do you relate to more, and how might you practice “prayerful trust” instead? ([33:59])
The preacher said that recognizing our own brokenness helps us let go of self-righteousness. Is there an area in your life where you struggle to admit your need for forgiveness? How could being honest about your limitations open you up to God’s grace? ([36:31])
Isaiah’s vision is about God creating something new from what is broken. Is there a part of your life that feels like “rubble” right now? What would it look like to surrender that to God and trust him to build something new? ([39:16])
The sermon says our most powerful witness is a life transformed by Christ, not a well-prepared argument. Can you think of someone whose life has been changed by Jesus? How did their story impact you? How might your own story be a testimony to others? ([42:36])

Sermon Clips

“I grew up at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Pikipsy, New York, which is part of the Episcopal Dasis of New York. And our cathedral was the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. It was an hour and a half from where we lived, so we didn't go there often, maybe a dozen times during my growing up years. But each of those times were very memorable for me.”

“The sanctuary at St. John the Divine measures 601 ft long and soarses up 124 dizzying feet from floor to ceiling. It is just immense and its Gothic architecture is breathtaking. It was the Holy of Holies for me as a child.”

“I imagined the shock and the loss that I would feel if he told me that a day was coming when not one stone of that beautiful building would be left upon another. Maybe you have a holy of holies. Maybe it's this very building that we are in now. Or maybe it's another. What feelings are evoked for you when you imagine a day when it stands no more?”

“He told me that the once the shock and initial grief passed, his people began to speak words to each other that before the tragedy they had often spoken, but which now for the first time they really understood. They said to each other with heartfelt conviction, "The church was not the building, but rather the people gathered inside."”

“We are the living stones. And though we still grieved the loss of our building, we discovered that Christ dwelt in us wherever we were and not in one location or building.”

“After the prediction of the destruction of the temple, which can be metaphorically understood also to predict the crucifixion, Jesus goes on to speak about turbulent times and he does not sugarcoat any of it. This is apocalyptic language. He speaks of what he is foreseeing.”

“But even before all that, he says those who carry his message in his name will be detained and persecuted. In the face of all this, what is his advice to his followers? He tells them, he tells us, "Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance."”

“Instead, he advises his followers to tap into the source of all security, our relationship with God through him. And he promises, I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. And he promises that their endurance in the face of it all will save their souls.”

“Both back then and now, it is our human propensity to either ignore gathering darkness or to obsessively overprepare for it. Jesus recommends neither of those coping strategies. He recommends his recommended strategy is to cultivate through unceasing prayer radical trust in him.”

“Prayerforged trust so that when the days of reckoning come, we will be firmly anchored in a trusting relationship with Christ. His message is that we can trust that we will be provided what we need at the moment we need it. We will testify with wisdom not because we have mapped out our defense in advance but rather because we are following him.”

“He himself walked the path ahead of us and will offer his life in a way that will cover the brokenness and sin of our lives. He will redeem humanity.”

“It can be hard to step out of our position long enough to catch sight of the belovedness of those who hold a different view. We can fall prey to the temptation of thinking it is only those uninformed rascals on the other side who need redeeming.”

“That stopped us in our tracks for a few moments as we all took in the truth again that in our imperfection, in our brokenness, in our recklessness, we all oppose Christ at times. And we are also friends of Christ when his way has sway in our lives.”

“The moment that we accept this to be true about ourselves and every other human being is the moment at which great facades do fall and crumble. Not physical buildings but fantasies about who we are. And when our egos are broken open that way, there's an amazing opportunity for transformation to happen.”

“If in that moment we can abandon the ruins of our perceived rightness, our exceptionalism, then we can wake up to the reality that God is about to do a new thing. God is about to create a new heaven and a new earth in our vision as described in that breathtaking passage that we heard read from the prophet Isaiah this morning.”

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