The House We Are Building | The Kitchen
We believe God is building something far greater than what our eyes can see. In this series, Build the House, we’re stepping into His vision of a people who worship, encourage one another, and carry His presence into the world.
The Church We’re Becoming
Living Stones, Being Built
As we’ve worked with architects and designers on blueprints and outlets, I’ve been struck with this truth: we’re not just building a house, we’re becoming one.
1 Peter 2 reminds us:
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…”
That’s what God is doing in us. He’s shaping us into a spiritual house, a people who exalt Him, encourage one another, and scatter into the city full of His presence.
Why We Gather
So why do we make the effort to gather every Sunday? Why do we worship, pray, and hear His Word together?
Because this is how we’re built up to last.
We don’t just want short bursts of passion for Jesus—we want to finish the race well.
There’s an African proverb that says:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
We gather to go far. We gather because life is hard, windy, and full of challenges. But when our roots are knit together—like the great sequoias whose intertwined roots allow them to withstand storms—we stand strong.
The Soil of Our Lives
In Mark 4, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. The seed—God’s Word—is always good. But the fruit depends on the soil.
The soil of our lives matters. Who we surround ourselves with matters. Some people pour gasoline on weeds; others tend the soil of faith. Being in the right soil—community rooted in Jesus—determines whether we’ll wither or thrive.
At Antioch, we believe language builds the house. One of our key words is belong. We want everyone to find a place where they belong in good soil, so that roots grow deep and fruit lasts.
Belonging Together
Acts 2:42–47 gives us a snapshot of the early church: they devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, prayer, breaking bread, meeting needs, and worshipping together. And the Lord added to their number daily.
That’s why lifegroups, serve teams, and gatherings matter here. Not to fill your calendar, but so you can belong to a people who will strengthen you, encourage you, and walk with you when the storms of life come.
A Word for the Lonely
Maybe you’ve felt lonely—even while surrounded by people. I believe Jesus wants to overwhelm loneliness with His presence. He is Emmanuel, God with us. And He places us in family, so that we never walk alone.
If you want to go fast, you can go alone. But if you want to go far, you’ve got to go together.