The privilege of gathering together as God’s people is a reminder that our identity is not found in a building or a weekly event, but in the living presence of God within us. Reflecting on my recent visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, I was struck by the reality that, while many still pray for the coming of the Messiah, we who are in Christ know that the wall of separation has been torn down. The Holy of Holies is no longer a distant, restricted place—God’s Spirit now dwells in us. This is not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice. The presence of God is not confined to a location; it is our new identity as His people.

Understanding that we are the temple of God changes everything. It means that wherever we go, we are on holy ground—not because of the place, but because the Holy God lives in us. This truth is not just theological information; it is deeply practical. It transforms our marriages, our parenting, our work, and even the way we interact with strangers. When we practice the presence of God, we begin to see ourselves not as consumers of spiritual goods, but as co-laborers and living stones, each with a role in God’s mission.

Our culture often views church as a place to have our needs met, but the biblical vision is so much richer. We are not customers or spectators; we are a spiritual family, a living temple, called to bring glory to God and to serve one another. This calling comes with both privilege and responsibility. We are set apart—made holy by Christ’s sacrifice—and called to live differently, to be in the world but not of it. Holiness is not just for pastors or priests; it is the calling of every believer. We are a royal priesthood, offering our lives as living sacrifices.

This journey of holiness is not about legalism or condemnation, but about responding to the loving conviction of the Spirit. Sometimes, God gently points out areas where we have compromised or grown numb to the world’s influence. In those moments, we are invited to remember the privilege of His presence and to realign our lives with His purposes. The same God who dwelled in the tabernacle and temple now dwells in us, empowering us to live as His holy people.

Chapters

[00:00 ] - Welcome

[01:00 ] - Summer Reflections and Family Updates

[04:00 ] - Encountering the Western Wall

[09:26 ] - The Wall of Separation and the Holy of Holies

[10:44 ] - God’s Presence Now Dwells in Us

[14:09 ] - Misconceptions About Church

[17:40 ] - EBC’s Heart: Discipleship Over Consumerism

[20:57 ] - Church: Not a Place, But an Identity

[23:37 ] - Church Is for God’s Glory, Not Ours

[25:30 ] - From Spectators to Co-Laborers

[27:32 ] - The Danger of a Consumer Mentality

[30:19 ] - The Aircraft Carrier Analogy

[33:15 ] - Biblical Metaphors: Temple, Bride, Body, Family

[34:26 ] - The Temple: God’s Presence and Our Unity

[36:15 ] - Holiness in a Culture of Compromise

[39:57 ] - The Story of Separation and God’s Pursuit

[43:28 ] - The Tabernacle: God Dwelling Among Sinners

[45:14 ] - The Temple’s Pattern and Its Fulfillment in Christ

[46:52 ] - Jesus, the Final Sacrifice and the Torn Veil

[49:11 ] - The Urgency of Personal Faith

[50:15 ] - Living as God’s Temple

[53:10 ] - The Cloud of God’s Presence and Our Mental Health

[55:18 ] - The Call to Holiness and Responsibility

[57:08 ] - You Are Not Your Own: Living Sacrifices

[59:21 ] - Honest Confession and the Spirit’s Conviction

[01:03:56 ] - Responding to Conviction Without Condemnation

[01:04:51 ] - Invitation to Prayer and Closing Worship