Here's my special message.
Well, hello, Stark Methodist family.
Unfortunately, we had to call off church today. With the winter storm moving through and the potential for icy conditions, we wanted to be extra careful and make the safest decision for everyone.
Even though we couldn’t gather in person, I did want to share a word with you this morning. And I hope you’ll stick around until the end, because I also want to share a song with you—one that I wrote and will play for you on my guitar today.
This is not the sermon I planned to preach this Sunday. Lord willing, I’ll share that message next week when we’re back together at Stark Methodist. But all week long, another word has been stirring in my heart, and I believe this is what God wanted me to share today.
It’s a word about the holy temple—the dwelling place of God.
I want to read to you from the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14. These words may sound familiar, especially if you’ve heard them recently during the Christmas season:
“So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
This verse speaks of the incarnation—Jesus leaving the glory of heaven, taking on flesh, and living among us as one of us. But there’s something we often miss in this passage.
When John says that Jesus “lived among us,” the Greek word he uses actually means “tabernacled.” In other words, Jesus pitched his tent among us.
That’s a powerful image.
If you remember the story of the Exodus in the Old Testament, before Israel ever had a temple, they had a tabernacle. As they wandered through the wilderness living in tents, God instructed them to build a holy tent—a tabernacle—so that He could dwell among His people. God wanted to be with them.
Later, when Israel was settled in the Promised Land, they built the temple in Jerusalem—a sacred place where God’s presence dwelled in a special way among the people.
Now, make no mistake—God has always been everywhere. He is not confined to buildings, temples, or church walls. But because people are sinful, and God is holy, God graciously provided a way for His people to draw near to Him—through the tabernacle, the temple, and the rituals that made fellowship possible.
Without that holiness, God’s glory would overwhelm sinful humanity.
But then something changed.
In the New Testament, Jesus came and tabernacled among us. God didn’t just dwell in a tent anymore—He took on flesh.
And then Jesus did something even more astounding: He gave His life on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, our sins are fully forgiven. For all who repent, turn from sin, and trust in Jesus Christ, the barrier between God and humanity is removed.
Hebrews 4:16 tells us that now we can come boldly before the throne of God—without fear—because there is no longer any sin separating us from Him.
That brings us to another powerful moment in John’s Gospel.
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover, He went to the temple—the most sacred place in all of Israel. Millions had traveled there over the years to worship God.
And what did Jesus do?
He cleansed the temple.
Merchants and money changers had turned God’s house into a place of exploitation. People were being cheated, excluded, and burdened just to worship. Jesus made a whip, drove them out, and overturned their tables.
The religious leaders were furious.
John 2:18-22
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
“What right do you have to do these things? Show us a sign to prove your authority.”
Jesus replied,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
They scoffed—“It took 46 years to build this temple!”
But John tells us Jesus wasn’t talking about the building. He was talking about His body.
What temple could ever compare to the living, breathing body of Jesus Christ? The temple existed to worship God—and Jesus is God. Even the most sacred building could not compare to Him.
Now think about our own church.
The building at Stark Methodist is a holy and meaningful place to us. So many memories. So many moments where we felt close to God. It’s hard not being there today.
But that building is not the church.
It exists to point us to God—to shelter us, gather us, and help us worship. We don’t worship the building; we worship the living God.
Here’s the good news: in Christ, we have become the temple.
When we trust Jesus as Lord and receive His forgiveness, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us.
Remember Pentecost in Acts chapter 2? The believers were gathered, praying, waiting. Then came the sound of a mighty rushing wind. Tongues of fire appeared over their heads. Smoke filled the room.
Just like the pillar of fire and cloud in the Exodus—but this time, God’s presence wasn’t over a tent or a temple.
It was over people.
We are now the tabernacles of God.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, His Spirit lives in you. You carry God’s presence wherever you go—to your home, your workplace, your community. We are the church on the move.
That truth has been burning in my heart all week.
So I wrote a song, and I want to share it with you now. But before I do, let’s pray together.
Prayer
Lord God, I thank You for these wonderful people of Stark Methodist and for everyone reading this right now.
If there is anyone who has not yet received Christ as Lord and Savior, I pray that today would be the day they turn from sin, trust in Jesus, and choose to follow Him. And when they do, Your Holy Spirit will dwell within them, making them a holy tabernacle—empowered to live for You and carry Your presence into the world.
Remind us, Lord, that we are the church. Not a building, but a people—called, redeemed, and sent.
Thank You for gathering us today, even though we’re scattered. Keep us safe, warm, and rooted in Your grace.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.
To listen to the song on YouTube, click this link - https://youtu.be/DJxvTOCs9go?si=kULkqdTJakcydav0&t=792
