A Royal Priesthood Reprise: Built to Shine
Our Church’s Calling as God’s Temple and Priesthood
Introduction: A Small Church in a Big Story
Our church, a humble gathering of about 20 souls—mostly elderly saints, a few in their 40s, and 2-5 children when they join us—may feel small in a world of chaos. Since the 2020 pandemic, we’ve seen our numbers dwindle, our pews quieter than before. Yet, God’s Word paints a different picture: we are His holy temple, His royal priesthood, chosen to shine His truth in a searching world. Through our sermon series—Equipping the Saints, A Holy Temple, A Royal Priesthood, Unio Mystica, Why are we losing them?, Genesis 1-11, and 7 Threats in Our Times—and Dr. Del Tackett’s The Truth Project, we’ve uncovered our identity and mission. As Ephesians 2:19-22 declares, we are “a holy temple in the Lord,” built on Christ, the cornerstone. As 1 Peter 2:9 proclaims, we are “a royal priesthood,” called to declare God’s praises. This blog explores our calling to stand firm, proclaim truth, and invite others to join us, trusting God to grow His church.
God’s Design: A Temple and Priesthood in a Broken World
Our Genesis 1-11 series taught that God created the world with purpose and order, designing humanity to reflect His image (Genesis 1:26-28). The Truth Project’s Tour 7 (Sociology, April 2025) shows this order extends to His people, reflecting the Trinity’s unity in community and family (Ephesians 5:22-33). Ephesians 2:19-22 calls us a “holy temple,” with each member—our elderly saints, our 40-somethings, our children—as living stones (1 Peter 2:4-5). Our A Holy Temple series emphasized that we are God’s dwelling place, where His Spirit resides.
Yet, the world challenges this design. In our 7 Threats in Our Times series (July 2023), we explored dangers like The Rise of the Scoffer and Depraved Mind (Threat 1), where culture rejects God’s truth for a “depraved mind” (Romans 1:28). This fuels skepticism, pulling youth away, as we wrestled with in Why are we losing them? The Attack Upon the Biblical Family (Threat 7) erodes God’s design for relationships (Genesis 2:18), while The Rise of a Demonic Worldview (Threat 5) spreads lies, echoing Satan’s deception in Genesis 3:1-5. The Truth Project’s Tour 4 (March 2025) counters these with God’s trustworthy attributes—His holiness and love.
The Loss of the Noble Male and Rise of Malevolent Compassion (Threat 3) distorts gender roles, replacing strength with misguided nurture. The Rise of Homo Deus (Threat 2) exalts human pride, claiming we are gods. Yet, our Unio Mystica series (John 15:5) reminds us that true strength comes from union with Christ, not self-deification. As a royal priesthood, we’re called to proclaim God’s truth, countering these threats with His Word. The Truth Project’s Tour 6 (History, March 2025) teaches that history is God’s story (Isaiah 46:9-11), and we, like Israel with memorial stones (Joshua 4), remember and share His works.
Equipped to Stand: God’s Provision Against the Storm
How does a small church stand against these threats? Our Equipping the Saints series showed that God provides all we need. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 declares, “You yourselves are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in your midst… God’s temple is sacred.” His Word anchors us, as Genesis 1-11 grounds us in creation’s truth against The Rise of a Demonic Worldview. His Spirit empowers us, as Unio Mystica taught through Galatians 2:20: “Christ lives in me.” His community strengthens us, as The Truth Project’s Tour 7 shows the church as God’s design for fellowship.
The 7 Threats highlight the urgency. The Consolidation of Massive Earthly Power (Threat 4) warns of human systems overstepping God’s authority (Romans 13), as we saw with King Uzziah (June 2025). The Truth Project’s Tour 9 (The State) calls us to uphold God’s law, as our A Royal Priesthood series emphasized. America Addicted and Soft, Dependent and Lost (Threat 6) describes a weak culture, but 2 Chronicles 7:14 urges us to pray and repent: “If my people… humble themselves and pray… I will hear from heaven.”
Our elderly saints, your prayers and wisdom are like Anna’s in Luke 2, proclaiming God’s truth. Those in your 40s, you’re like Timothy, carrying the torch. Our children, though few, are like David, bold for God. Our faithfulness to study Scripture, pray together, and trust God can counter cultural weakness, and God will grow our numbers. We are equipped to stand, even after 2020’s losses, by leaning on God’s Word, Spirit, and each other.
Inviting Others: Growing God’s Family
As God’s temple and priesthood, we’re called to invite others. The Truth Project’s Tour 12 (Community & Involvement) urges us to care as God cares. In a post-2020 world, our town faces America Addicted and Soft’s despair and The Attack Upon the Biblical Family’s brokenness. Families, neighbors, and coworkers seek hope. Our Why are we losing them? series showed that youth need a community grounded in truth. The Truth Project’s Tour 7 sees the church as that community, where all ages belong.
Even 20 people can make a difference. Elderly saints, share a testimony with a neighbor or invite them to a hymn sing. Those in your 40s, ask a coworker or friend with kids to a church event. Children, invite classmates to an activity. Let’s plan to reach out and welcome families. Commit to praying for five new families to join us this year. Write down one person to invite this week.
Our invitations can counter cultural isolation. The Truth Project’s Tour 10 on the American Experiment shows how Christian virtue built America through small acts. Our invitations can spark revival, countering the 7 Threats by showing God’s love.
Conclusion: Trusting God to Build His Church
Our church may be small, but God’s plan is big. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” The 7 Threats—scoffers, pride, broken families—rage, but our Bible studies and The Truth Project equip us to shine. As God’s holy temple and royal priesthood, we stand firm, proclaim truth, and invite others.
After 2020, we could feel weary, but God is mighty. Let’s pray for new members, invite boldly, and love deeply. Join us for worship or our Family Fun Day, and let’s grow God’s family together.
Visit us to experience God’s love and join our mission to shine His light!
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A Royal Priesthood Reprise
A Small Church with a Mighty Calling
In a world of chaos, our small church of about 20 faithful souls—mostly seasoned saints, a few in their 40s, and our precious few children—stands as God’s holy temple and royal priesthood. Since the trials of 2020, we’ve felt the sting of dwindling numbers, but God sees us as His chosen dwelling place, shining His light. Our sermon series, from Genesis 1-11 to The Truth Project and 7 Threats in Our Times, reveal our calling: to live as God’s temple, proclaim His truth, and invite others into His family.
Ephesians 2:19-22 calls us a “holy temple,” built on Christ, the cornerstone. Each of us—whether 80 or 8—is a living stone, reflecting God’s order against the storms of our day. Dr. Del Tackett’s 7 Threats—scoffers rejecting truth, attacks on biblical families, and a culture addicted and soft—threaten to pull people, especially youth, from faith. Yet, The Truth Project reminds us that God’s design for community (Tour 7) and history (Tour 6) anchors us. As a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), we’re called to declare His praises, countering lies with truth.
God equips us through His Word, Spirit, and church community. Our Unio Mystica series taught that union with Christ (John 15:5) empowers us to stand firm, even as a small church. The 7 Threats warn of human pride and earthly power, but our Equipping the Saints series shows God’s provision for resilience. We can resist cultural drift by living as His temple, loving one another, and sharing His hope.
Now, we’re called to grow. After 2020, our town needs the hope we carry. Let’s invite neighbors to a church event, pray for three new families to join us, and share testimonies of God’s work. A small church can grow by simply inviting others.
Let’s trust God, the Architect, to build His house (Psalm 127:1). As His priesthood, let’s pray, invite, and love boldly. Join us this week—pray for one person to invite, and let’s open our doors. Together, we’ll shine God’s light, growing His family for His glory.
Join us for worship to experience God’s love!