We Abide In Christ: God Desires a Home

This week's sermon explores affirming the church's identity as a spiritual home and a place of God's presence. This message invites us into a profound exploration of what it means to truly dwell with God, drawing a powerful distinction between merely constructing a 'house' and cultivating a 'home' for His presence. Beginning with the tent of meeting in Exodus 40, where God's glory descended upon the Israelites in the wilderness, we're reminded that God's presence transforms empty structures into sacred spaces. The sermon walks us through Scripture—from Solomon's temple in 1 Kings to the incarnation in John 1:14—showing how God has always desired to be intimately present with His people. The most striking insight comes from Isaiah 66, where God declares He looks favorably upon those who are humble, submissive in spirit, and tremble at His word. This isn't about religious performance or checking spiritual boxes; it's about a genuine relationship. The challenge confronts us directly: Have we turned our lives into an 'open house' where anything and anyone can influence us, or have we intentionally invited God's presence to make our hearts His home? The call is clear—we must move beyond participation ribbons and Sunday attendance to actual participation in faith, allowing God's word to remain in us as we remain in Him.