1. What God Has Always Wanted A Church To Be
Haggai 1:1-9
So here is something we don’t think about often
Our homes will never really work right until God’s house works right
And here’s the background

2. In The Bible, God’s House was an irreplaceable part of
being part of God’s family P
Even god has a home for his family – heaven
Wanted one to be on earth
Jewish people – to not be at the temple was not to be part of his people
Why when the temple was destroyed –
It was the ultimate sign of being far from God

3. Pic – my family growing up

4. Pic – my house Here’s my family growing up Here’s our house today
When I think about my family
My home is a big part
Part of my identity and purpose was that home
God made families to have a home

5. God’s people were created
to be His “priests” of His Home
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Exodus 19:5-6
1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

6. Priests Were Supposed To Be Hosts In God’s House
Family host people in the father’s house
You come over, or invited – its not one of Pastor Brandon who hosts you
It’s one of my family
That’s how God feels about his house
He wants his family to host people – called them priests
Welcome them in and . .

7. They were supposed to host all the nations / every type of person
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. ”
Isaiah 2:2
Why? Because he created them – he created you – you belong in his home
God’s wants every type of person in his house
Said it again and again
Not just in the house – part of the family –family live at his home
Jesus told a story about a master hosting a party
“invite them in for every street corner and alley way – “That my house might be full”

8. “And foreigners [outsiders] who join themselves to the Lord and love the name of the LORD these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Isaiah 56:6-7
And here is why

9. could be taught and experienced through His family (of priests).
God’s House was the place where the unseen God could somehow be seen and understood by a world blinded by sin & pain
His love and promises
could be taught and experienced
through His family (of priests).
How can people connect with and understand an invisible God
God to his visible house
Because that’s what family does – I don’t asl my neighbor / I don’t pay someone / the family does it

10. (stress, success, suffering)
Haggai 1:1-10
The temple that was destroyed years ago has not been rebuilt because God’s people are busy with their own lives
(stress, success, suffering)
Instead of hosts in his house
Forgot about his house
Forgot about who they were

11. God’s Message In Haggai 1
Nothing else works in your life when you don’t remember who you are and where you should be
When life isn’t working out and your community is stuck, look to see if your priorities & prayers are out of order and then
return to your calling and God’s House.

12. “Look at what’s happening to you
“Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down wood, and build My House, so that I will take pleasure in it and will be glorified as I should be"
[Haggai 1:7-8, NLT]
What the church needs
What it should build
What it should care about

13. PRAYING FOR WHAT THE CHURCH Needs, Builds, & Should Love
“Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down wood, and build My House, so that I will take pleasure in it and will be glorified as I should be"

14. People in prayer & in His presence outside of church services
What The Church Needs
People in prayer & in His presence outside of church services
“Now go up into the hills,
bring down wood”
Hills were considered places to pray and receive answers from God

15. Because of Jesus & our family, we can go and get what we need from God any time
His Word (The Bible Project)
Prayer (14 Days Of Prayer)
His People (Small Groups)
Acts 2:42 (daily + homes + Temple)

16. PRAY that we stop thinking:
“I have to wait to ‘get fed’ or healed by God on Sundays”
[ We’re family, not customers ]
We can enter any time we want
Families feed their kids everyday
When do that with church – hangry people that only think about themselves
{who’s the hangriest in your family]
Biggest problem – haven’t eaten
“oh you go first”
Get out of my way

17. “This, then, is how you should pray:
Luke 12:32 (NIV)
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Matthew 6:9 (NIV)
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father who is in Heaven . . .”
Why are we waiting until Sunday to be fed
Ever go to a meal with someone who is starving
You don’t think of anyone else
What are you doing at church
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence [any time], so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need

18. Worship services that God
What The Church Builds
Worship services that God
takes pleasure in
“build the house, that
I will take pleasure in it”
Not about us having pleasure in the house
It’s God
And nothing pleases God more than his house would be filled (luke 14)
That it would be a house of all nations
That people would stream in
Two types of people in his house – his family
And those who aren’t his family yet

19. “Was it leanord sweet who said everyday he asks himself
“What did I do today that was worth Jesus dying for?”
“What service did we have today that was worth Jesus dying for?”

20. “Sundays are about what pleases me”
PRAY that we stop thinking:
“Sundays are about
what pleases me”
Church is supposed to be a bridge and not a barrier for the lost
But we come and usually think about what pleases us –this is what we have
If we got fed everyday – we could come to sundays for others
We could be what God’s house should be
A place for others to know him

21. Jesus is for everyone (see all people here)
Church is where people should see and understand what they have been blinded to:
Jesus is for everyone (see all people here)
Nothing is impossible or too late for God
He’s the missing creator of their lives
They’re supposed to be part of His family
Rachel – interning at mental health

22. Hosting people who don’t know Him yet
What Our Church Should Love
Hosting people who
don’t know Him yet
“that I may be glorified, says the LORD”
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE MADE TO DO

23. This is what we were made to do!
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Rachel – interning at mental health

24. “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
Luke 14:23 (NIV84)
Rachel – interning at mental health

25. “Sundays are a break from the real world”
PRAY that we stop thinking:
“Sundays are a break
from the real world”
[ We need to be hosts not guests ]
Not a break but a bridge – for the world to come to us
Us – family, fed, filled with faith
Are we going to get fed – yes
Are we going to get refreshed – yes (being doing that all week)
Sundays are game time
Time to see God’s plan for his house fulfilled
What about me - go up to the
Will come if you invite them

26. Priests (Hosts): You get fed but your focus is the guests
An ordinary meal becomes a great joy
Priests exist to change people’s eternities

27. THIS WEDNESDAY, 7P
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Mt. 9:35f)
Next Sunday – you’ve wanted anyone ever to know why the gospel is good news
And see an example of it they will never forget
Host them
Based on stats from 2013, “82% of the unchurched are likely to attend church if a friend, co-worker, neighbor or family member invites them.” This is from Tom Rainer, who wrote a book back in 2013.

28. Change me to be family (not a customer)
Know God today – become part of his family
Not just by being in this house – room for you to stay / here too
Don’t be a friend – have a father! Unconditional love and authority in your life
His authority will make you safe
He is your creator – he loves you
You’re is lost child -

29. Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for THE CROSS
Change me to be family
(not a customer)
Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for THE CROSS
Lord if I’ve been thinking about me
Lord what will please me is what will please you
You died so people could come to this house and meet you, know, get healed by you

30. Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for the lost
Change me to be family
(not a customer)
Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for the lost
Grow me to be a host not a guest on Sunday mornings
Make me a host
I want invite them
Help them understand the amazing meal thye can have –be fed and not hungry again