2026-07-26 Renew Together 2 - Building Homes

Renew Together – Week 2. The theme Arotahi has given us is “Building Homes.” Everyone longs for a home. When you have your own home, you feel you belong, don’t you? Arotahi is inviting us to give generously to help build homes for people in need. That's a beautiful expression of God's love. But our deepest longing is not simply for a place to live. A person can own a house and still feel homeless. Our deepest longing is for a place where we truly belong forever. Today, as we look at John 14:1–4, I'd like us to think about building a home where Jesus lives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

1. Jesus prepares a home for us (John 14:1–4)

Before going to the cross, Jesus comforted His troubled disciples and said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled...Have you ever noticed something unusual in this passage? Jesus says, "In my Father's house are many rooms." It sounds like the rooms are already there. The Greek word for "rooms" is monē, meaning a dwelling place or abiding place. Yet Jesus also says, "I am going there to prepare a place for you." If the rooms already exist, why is Jesus still preparing? In the first century, before a wedding, the bridegroom would leave his bride and return to his father’s house. He wasn’t building the whole house from scratch. He was preparing everything for married life, so that his bride could come and live with him. Jesus is using that picture.

The Father's house already had room. The problem wasn’t a lack of space. The problem was our sin. We were not yet fit to enter God's holy house because of our sin. Through His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus prepared the way for us. He removed the barrier between sinful people and a holy God and opened a new and living way into God's presence, His dwelling place, His house.

2. Jesus wants to make our hearts His home (John 14:23)

Later in the same chapter Jesus says: "My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23) Did you notice that? In John 14:2, Jesus speaks about many dwelling places in the Father's house. In John 14:23, the Father and the Son come to make their dwelling with Believers. John uses the same Greek word, monē, for "dwelling" in both verses. In John's Gospel, home is not primarily a location but a relationship. Where God dwells with His people, there is home. God's purpose is not only that one day we die and go to heaven to be with Him. His purpose is that today He comes to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit, making our hearts His home, so that we begin living on earth as citizens of heaven. I still remember 20 years ago, I heard a preacher ask: "If your heart had one hundred rooms, how many rooms have you truly allowed Jesus to occupy?" Before we came to Christ, every room already had a master.

One room was ruled by self. Whenever self was offended, we got hurt and became angry, defensive, or proud. “How dare you treat me like this?” Another room was ruled by money. “If I lose my job or my money, I’ll lose security.” Another room was ruled by people's approval." If people don’t agree with me, I have no value." Another room was ruled by fear. Another room was ruled by bitterness. "You owe me, I won’t forgive you until you make this right first…” These masters shaped the way we think and live and left us wounded and in bondage.

After Jesus comes to dwell in us, He first touches us with His love. Then He gradually knocks on the door of each room of our hearts, asking, "May I have this room too?" Coz He doesn't want to leave us enslaved by things that rob us of His peace and joy. As we truly repent and surrender, He cleanses each room and fills it with His truth. Room by room, as we yield to Him, selfishness gives way to love. Pride becomes humility. Fear becomes peace. Bitterness becomes forgiveness. Lies are replaced by His truth. That is what it means to build a home where Jesus lives, not just inviting Him in while self is still King, but allowing Him to reign as King in every room of our hearts until our lives reflect the character of our true Owner.

3. Jesus wants our homes to become places of salvation (Luke 19:1–10)

Luke 19 shows us what happens when Jesus truly lives in someone's heart. Luke introduces Zacchaeus as "a chief tax collector and was wealthy (v.2)." His house was probably large and comfortable, filled with possessions. Yet his heart was empty. When Jesus passed by, Zacchaeus climbed a tree just to see Him. Then Jesus stopped, looked up and called him by name: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5) Jesus knows each of us by name. The moment Zacchaeus realised Jesus wanted to dwell with him, everything changed. His love for money became generosity. He said, “Half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody, I will pay back four times the amount."  That’s what true repentance looks like, not just with our words, but with actions of faith. Then Jesus declared, "Today salvation has come to this house." Notice, Jesus didn't say, "Today, you’re saved." He said, "Salvation has come to this house." When Zacchaeus’ love changed from money to Jesus, the whole atmosphere of his home changed. His home became a place where God's grace, peace, and presence were experienced by his family members. The same is true today.

Do you want to see salvation come to your house? Do you long for your family, your children, your spouse, your parents, or your friends to encounter Jesus? Then we must first ask ourselves: What do I love more than Jesus? Is it money? Comfort? Success? Reputation? My own plans? My own desires? Zacchaeus' house changed because his greatest love changed from money to Jesus.

Throughout the New Testament, many churches began in ordinary homes. Homes became places of prayer, worship, Bible study, fellowship, and hospitality. They became places where strangers became family and where people found hope in Christ. 21 years ago, Jesus called me by name, just as He called Zacchaeus. As my husband and I obeyed His leading, we gave away many of our possessions. Our home became a place where the lost found a family, the sick were prayed for and healed, the broken relationships were restored, and people encountered Jesus. Earlier this year, Li and Shannon also opened their home to host a Thursday night small group, and God has already begun using it to bless others.

Now, as we prepare to plant a new church in the Halswell, Hornby, and Wigram corridor, please pray that God would provide the right place, so that more lost souls may find a home where Jesus dwells. And perhaps God is also calling us to simply open our homes during the week, to welcome others in for a cup of tea, a meal, a small group, and prayer. Your home may become the very place where someone first encounters the love of Jesus. Jesus is not only preparing a home for us after we die. He wants our hearts to become His home today, and our homes to become His dwelling places where others can find Him. Today, Arotahi is inviting us to give and help build homes for people in need. This is a beautiful expression of God’s love. But God is also inviting us to build spiritual homes, homes where His presence dwells, where disciples are made, and where His Kingdom grows.

Jesus said this to Zaccaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house." What greater joy could there be than seeing your home become a place where heaven touches earth, and where people find Jesus? Imagine standing before the Lord one day and hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your Master's joy." Then someone comes to you and says, "Thank you for opening your home, inviting me for a meal, and praying with me. It was there that I first encountered Jesus."

What a beautiful legacy that would be – that through your home, many would hear Jesus say, "Today salvation has come to this house."

Prayer:

Yes, Lord, I sought You, and You heard me and answered me. That is why I trust You. How faithful You are! You never lie, and You never fail to keep Your promises.

Lord Jesus, thank You for going to the cross to prepare a place for us. Because of Your death and resurrection, we have the hope of an eternal home with You.

But today, You are knocking on the doors of the rooms of our hearts because You want to fully dwell in us. You want to replace our worries with Your peace, our fears with Your love, our bitterness with Your forgiveness, and our pride with Your humility.

Brothers and sisters, let us come honestly before our heavenly Father. Jesus is knocking on the doors of the rooms of your heart, asking, "Will you let Me be King here?"

If your answer is yes, you can pray after me: "Yes, Lord Jesus, I want You to be King over every room of my heart. Holy Spirit, search me. Is there anything I love more than You—money, comfort, success, reputation, my own plans, or my own desires? I confess that holding on to these cannot give me peace; they only bring bondage and pain. Your Word says, 'Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.' I desire Your freedom, not bondage.

Today I lay everything down before You. I receive Your forgiveness and the grace to forgive myself and those I’ve judged or become bitter toward. In the name of Jesus, I renounce every idol and break every attachment that has given me false security but left my heart restless.

Today, I surrender every room of my heart to Your reign. Lord, help me to love Your truth and meditate on it day and night, so that I may recognise every lie and have every room of my heart filled with Your truth, Your peace, and Your presence.

Lord, make my home a place where Your presence dwells, so that my family, friends, neighbours, and all who enter may encounter Your love, peace, and salvation. Use my home to build Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1, What does it mean to you that Jesus is preparing an eternal home for you? How does this give you hope in the midst of life's troubles?

2, If your heart had one hundred rooms, are there any rooms you have not fully surrendered to Jesus? What might He be inviting you to give to Him today?

3, Is there anything you love or trust more than Jesus—such as money, comfort, success, approval, or your own plans? How is God calling you to put Him first?

4, What would it look like for your home to become a place where people experience God's love, peace, and salvation? Is there one practical step you could take this week?

5, As Arotahi invites us to build homes for people in need, how might God also be calling you to build a spiritual home where others can encounter Jesus through your praying, giving, serving, or hospitality?