A More Perfect Tabernacle

In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

We are the church

The Church is the one institution that exists for those outside it. - William Tyndale

The church is unlike, or should be unlike any other organization

It is the Bride of Christ

Cannot love Jesus and demean or hate His bride

It is not something I just go to but it is something I become

1 Peter 2:5 CSB

you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

So then if we are the church and are being the church , why do we build buildings?

Because I say again all through scripture God has designated a place where he interacts with His people

The perfection of the garden

The precise details of the tabernacle and temple

In all of them - the people were involved in maintaining, supporting, giving, and building

We are not talking about buildings

We are talking about the people and kids that will hear and grow in Jesus

We want to Build families, facilities, and a future.

Last two weeks we spoke about families, today I want to us to think about the spaces that we are praying will be filled with lives being transformed

This is what we are investing in

Turn to 1 Chronicles 29

Let’s pray

1 Chronicles 29:1–19 CSB

Then King David said to all the assembly, “My son Solomon—God has chosen him alone—is young and inexperienced. The task is great because the building will not be built for a human but for the Lord God. So to the best of my ability I’ve made provision for the house of my God: gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx, stones for mounting, antimony, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and a great quantity of marble. Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the holy house: 100 tons of gold (gold of Ophir) and 250 tons of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, the gold for the gold work and the silver for the silver, for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who will volunteer to consecrate himself to the Lord today?” Then the leaders of the households, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. For the service of God’s house they gave 185 tons of gold and 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver, 675 tons of bronze, and 4,000 tons of iron. Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the Lord’s house under the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly. Then David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly. David said, May you be blessed, Lord God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. For we are aliens and temporary residents in your presence as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this wealth that we’ve provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand; everything belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and that you are pleased with what is right. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to you. Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you. Give my son Solomon an undivided heart to keep and to carry out all your commands, your decrees, and your statutes, and to build the building for which I have made provision.

David had a desire to build the Temple for God, but God said it would be Solomon who would build it.

David never saw it built, but he knew 3 things that drove him to make the investment

1. God deserves our best

1 Chronicles 29:3 CSB

Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the house of my God over and above all that I’ve provided for the holy house:

When or where in your life has God short changed you or cut corners?

2. It is our Joy to give

1 Chronicles 29:9 CSB

Then the people rejoiced because of their leaders’ willingness to give, for they had given to the Lord wholeheartedly. King David also rejoiced greatly.

The most obvious lesson in Christ's teaching is that there is no happiness in having or getting anything, but only in giving. - Henry Drummond

There is joy in generosity

3. What we have, is His

1 Chronicles 29:14 CSB

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand.

It is all God’s

To be used as however or whenever He wants

Colossians 1:16 CSB

For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.

We are invite to join Him

The only investment that will last and is guaranteed a return is an investment in His kingdom

Build

This not about a building - it is about lives

It is not about Family Church - it is about the kingdom and us doing our part.

If the church were the goal, then sustaining that church would logically be the priority of the highest order. But if the Kingdom of God was the goal, then the Kingdom-building instrument would gladly self-sacrifice for the eternal prize. - Author: Jeff Christopherson

Next week we will make commitments as to how we will invest in the future of our church and mission to reach our community.

Today I ask you, what are you building that will make an eternal impact

Better yet what are you willing to invest that will make an eternal impact

God does not need us, but He does invite us to be a part of something huge.

Let’s pray