“Building Beyond Buildings” ~ Hebrews 10: 11-14, 19-25 & Mark 13: 1-8
November 17, 2024 ~ Northwood United ~ Rev. G. Scott Turnbrook
How many of you can speak sign language? You may not know all the signs; however, you know this sign. (Scott goes through hand gestures for ‘this is the church, this is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people’) Today’s scriptures that Ian read for us, invite us to think about what it means to truly build something that lasts: to ‘build beyond our buildings’. Both the book of Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark draw our attention to what God is building—something far beyond the physical, something eternal in Christ. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is with his disciples, looking at Jerusalem’s magnificent temple, the physical presence of God. They’re in awe of its size and beauty. But Jesus warns them that even this magnificent building, which seemed so solid, will one day come crashing down…stone after stone. The second text, an anonymous letter to the Hebrews reminds us of what Jesus has done for us: the way He’s broken down every barrier between us and God—and established a stable foundation, a spiritual place of connection that nothing can destroy. We have these two powerful readings and contextually, we here at Northwood, are busily ‘building the church’. We are amidst building upgrades with heating/ cooling, flooring and other considerations at play. So, I would like for us to ponder these two passages and our present course of ‘being the church’ as we consider how we are called to ‘build beyond buildings’.
(sign) So, what does it mean for us to build the church in Christ’s image, continually remodeling and renewing it? We talked a lot on Remembrance Sunday about sacrifice. In the first section of Hebrews that Ian read, (see v.10:11-14) the author speaks powerfully about Jesus’ sacrifice. The letter reminds us that Christ's sacrifice was a once-and-for-all act. Unlike the priests who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus finished this requirement. Jesus’ final words in John’s gospel as he hung on the cross were: “it is finished” and we are assured that the work is truly completed! We no longer need to build our faith on rituals alone; instead, we build upon the solid, established work of Christ. Building upon this, I think, calls us to a thinking beyond buildings. Pondering ‘building beyond buildings’. The spiritual question is: are we relying on Christ as our foundation? Or do we still lean too heavily on the further building of religious rituals, or appearances, or structures? Building beyond buildings means ensuring that Jesus is the true cornerstone of our faith, and all of the church is an expression of it. In fact, Jesus’ sacrifice of giving it all away, calls us to reflect on what we’re holding onto—what rituals, or traditions, or expectations might be more about preserving the old rather than embracing the new life Christ offers. If we are to model our church in Christ’s image, then our foundation must be the gospel—the good news of grace, and freedom, and redemption of all.
In the second portion of Hebrews that we heard (see v.10:19-25), we are invited to draw near to God with sincere hearts, holding firmly to the hope we profess. It’s here that the author gives us a new blueprint for building beyond buildings. It is how the church might be a living community. Imagine that! The author writes: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together but encouraging one another.” This is a reminder of what we already knew deep down. While we need a place to gather, the church was never meant to be limited to walls or physical spaces. The church was always about people. Church is about a living, breathing community that supports one another, holds each other accountable, and stirs one other towards love and good works. The author of Hebrews is telling us that church is something we do, NOT something we look at! We are ‘church’. We are a community that we actively create and nurture. If we’re to remodel the church in Christ’s image, we need to ask ourselves, how are we investing in each other? Are we as committed to the people as we are to the place? Are we gathering in ways that genuinely encourage one another to grow in faith, love, and action? Building beyond buildings calls us to put the same, if not more, energy into building relationships as we do into maintaining facilities. It’s about investing in lives, lifting each other up, and spurring one other toward good works that reveal Christ’s love to the world.
Shifting to the text in Mark, we see these considerations, yet from a different perspective. We see the disciples looking at the temple in awe. You might relate to this as you were in awe of a church you have visited. Or even perhaps here at Northwood. We do find a sense of ‘awe’ as we behold sacred space. Yet while the disciples are in awe over the temple, Jesus predicts its destruction, saying, “Not one stone will be left here upon another.” Can you imagine how horrible these words must have been to hear. You mention to one of our Board members how much you love your church; how beautiful it looks. And they coldly respond: “Not one stone will be left!” These words must have shaken the disciples, for they thought they were looking at something that would last forever. Were Jesus’ words insensitive or were they a reminder that all those physical structures and institutions, even those we hold dear and sacred, are temporary. As much as we don’t like it, change is part of life and faith, and sometimes that change means letting go of things we thought were essential.
Today’s church is no stranger to change. Many churches are continually finding new ways to adapt. And adapt we did! Remember Covid? Churches adapted. Northwood adapted: meeting online, starting small groups outside the church walls, or focusing on outreach through times of shut-down and maintenance. It’s uncomfortable to see familiar things pass away, but Jesus reminds us that faith is not in what we can see. Our faith is in Him, and He is eternal. ‘Building beyond buildings’ means trusting that God is leading us through change. It means holding loosely to our traditions and structures, so we’re also ready to embrace the new things God is doing. Jesus warns us that there will be hardships: wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes”. But, he also says, “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” Something new is coming. “a birth”. New hope, the promise of new life, the pangs of birth are afoot! As the church, we must be willing to follow where God leads, even if it means stepping outside our comfort zones, letting go of old ways, and embracing the new.
I think in all of this, to ‘build beyond buildings’ means to live in a way that reflects Christ’s image. Hebrews tells us that Jesus’ sacrifice has “perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Can we take that in for a moment…YOU are being shaped into His image. This means that your actions, your words, and your lives are the true “building” of the church. You are the church even more than the walls of this building! The question becomes raised: ‘if the walls of our church were gone tomorrow, would people still see Christ in us?’ This is the ultimate question of ‘building beyond buildings’. We can have the most beautiful sanctuary, but if people do not see Jesus in our words and actions, we’re missing the point and wasting our time. We can remodel the church by truly being the church—a people who embody Christ’s love, hope, and grace in all we do. As we reflect His image, we become a spiritual house that draws others in, regardless of physical walls or buildings.
In closing, please know that I am delighted in all the physical improvements we are making at the church. The Board and my personnel committee knew the concerns that I share with others about how we would get through the winter with a failed heating system! And the initiatives we have underway will allow this community to be a comfortable and safe place to gather. My intent this morning, amidst the enthusiasm that comes with rebuilding, is to ground it all in ‘why we build’ and ‘why we do what we do’. We live in a world that’s changing rapidly, and where the future of physical churches continues to look different. Yet, our calling, throughout, remains the same: to ‘build beyond buildings’. And we are reminded that the way of Jesus is our foundation; He is the cornerstone of our faith. We, as the church are a living, growing community, never a static structure. And as much as we do this all, we’re reminded that faith is not in what is seen but in what is eternal. (sign language of the church) Let us be the church God is calling us to be—rooted in Christ, devoted to one another, and ready to embrace all of God’s creation with the love of Christ.
Amen.