Building Out the Blueprint
Not a Temple Made by Hands
When Paul stood in Athens and observed their shrines and temples, he pointed out a core truth:
“The God who made the world and everything in it… does not live in temples made by man.” (Acts 17:24, ESV)
This was as true then as it is now. God is not impressed by structures or religious routines. He is after a house made of living stones—you and me, joined together as His spiritual household. And He has already laid out the design for what that house should look like.
We’re not building something for ourselves. We’re building a dwelling place for God.
Before we talk about how to build the Church, we have to talk about what we're building on.
The foundation matters.
At Antioch, we believe without apology that the Bible is the trustworthy, authoritative blueprint for:
How we live
How we build the Church
How we walk in unity and maturity
Scripture is not a suggestion. It’s not optional. It is the rock under our feet in a world full of shifting sand—cultural relativism, self-made spirituality, religious confusion, and more.
In Acts 2, we see the early Church standing on the apostles' teaching from the very first day. They didn’t guess their way into health—they followed God’s revealed pattern.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…” (Acts 2:42)
The Holy Spirit came first at Pentecost, but He didn’t come to replace the Word. He came to empower believers to live by it. Spirit and truth are two sides of the same sword (Ephesians 6:17). We need both.
From Salvation to Construction
When the Holy Spirit was poured out and Peter preached the gospel, 3,000 people were saved and baptized in one day (Acts 2:41). That’s 3,000 individuals God welcomed into His family!
And immediately, the Church started to take shape:
They were devoted to the Word.
They broke bread and prayed together.
They shared possessions and met needs.
They worshiped daily and gathered regularly.
“All who believed were together and had all things in common…” (Acts 2:44)
More than a weekly meeting, the Church was a spiritual house being constructed in real time. And it grew—not because of personality, performance, or programs, but because they were obeying the blueprint.
We often forget how personal this gets.
In Ephesians 2:22, Paul says:
“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
You’re not a spectator. You’re a stone. When you say yes to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you.
But something powerful happens when we come together.
It’s not just my anointing or your gift—it’s all of us joined, aligned, and built into a place where God rests.
But building something together is messy. It takes humility. It takes sacrifice. And it takes every person doing their part.
You’ve Been Assigned Something
Romans 12 tells us that every believer has an assignment of faith. That means you have a unique gift and a measure of grace—something God has given you not just for your benefit, but for the building up of the whole house.
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” (Romans 12:6)
Paul lists seven core gifts:
Prophecy
Service
Teaching
Encouragement
Generosity
Leadership
Mercy
These are not just job roles in a church—they’re spiritual deposits, placed in believers by God Himself. You may be gifted to lead. Or you may be wired to serve behind the scenes. You might love hospitality, organization, encouragement, or teaching.
You don’t have to copy anyone else. You have to use what God has given you.
And when we all bring our gift to the table, something amazing happens: the Church becomes a place where God dwells.
Building Is Hard—but Worth It
Putting pieces together takes work. Anyone who’s ever moved, built a home, or assembled furniture knows this. But once it’s built, joy lives there.
Spiritual construction works the same way. It’s not easy. It takes time, patience, and real commitment. But the result is a house that God calls home. A place where His presence rests. A place where others walk in and encounter the living God—not just through a sermon, but through a people who are joined together in love and purpose.
So here’s the invitation:
Find your team. Use your gift. Build with us.
Reflection Questions
What spiritual gifts or strengths has God placed in you—and are you using them in your church community?
Are you fully submitted to both the Spirit and the Word? Which side do you tend to neglect?
Is there anything stopping you from plugging into a local church and helping build what God is doing?