How a real church is built
1. Revelation from the Father
We begin with the revelation step—a crucial truth in the Christian life. Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them” (John 6:44). God the Father initiates the process by revealing the identity of Jesus as His Son to the heart of the seeker.
This revelation is personal and spiritual, not just intellectual. It’s similar to Peter’s confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus replied, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:16–17).
That revelation creates the foundation of faith.
Key Insight: Salvation begins with God.
The Father's revelation is the essential starting point. This is not just an intellectual recognition of Jesus, but a spiritual unveiling. It is grace-initiated, not man-initiated. As Jesus said to Peter, "flesh and blood did not reveal this." This revelation establishes the foundation of faith—a faith that sees Jesus as He truly is: the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
Application: Seekers should be encouraged not just to understand doctrines but to pursue God’s revelation—to ask, seek, and knock, trusting that the Father draws.
2. Jesus Anoints with the Holy Spirit
Following this revelation, Jesus recognizes the faith born in the disciple, and He responds by anointing them with the Holy Spirit.
This echoes Jesus as the baptizer in the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). The anointing you speak of is the Spirit’s work of teaching, confirming, and empowering the believer.
“But the anointing you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But... his anointing teaches you about everything...” (1 John 2:27).
Through the anointing, the person comes to deeply know the character, reputation, and power behind the name of Jesus—not just as doctrine but as lived truth.
Key Insight: Jesus responds to faith with empowerment.
Once the heart believes, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33), enabling believers not only to understand, but to live the truth. The anointing teaches, confirms, convicts, and empowers. It creates experiential knowledge—not just learning about Jesus, but walking with Him.
Application: Teach believers to recognize the indwelling presence of the Spirit—to lean on Him for truth, direction, and power.
3. Faith in the Name and the Power of Jesus
The believer’s faith deepens—not only in who Jesus is (Son and Lord), but in what His name accomplishes:
“There is no other name under heaven... by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The “name” represents Jesus’ authority, mission, and character. In Hebrew thought, a name is not just a label, but a revelation of essence.
Through this, the believer acts in Jesus’ name—praying, serving, gathering others, and building the body.
Key Insight: The name of Jesus is the believer’s authority.
Faith matures into action. The believer understands not only who Jesus is, but what His name carries: authority, salvation, healing, and mission. The Hebrew idea of “name” (שֵׁם shem) includes identity and reputation. So acting in Jesus’ name is acting in alignment with His character and mission.
Application: Encourage believers to pray boldly, serve fearlessly, and declare truth confidently—knowing that the name of Jesus carries divine backing.
4. Building the Temple Together
A key truth of the New Testament: that believers are not just individually saved, but joined together into a living Temple:
“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood...” (1 Peter 2:5).
The Spirit-anointed disciples are drawn together in unity, and the Spirit blesses these gatherings in Jesus’ name.
This is where the church (ekklesia—the called-out assembly) becomes visible.
Key Insight: We are saved into a body, not just as individuals.
The Church is more than a meeting—it’s a spiritual structure, built of people indwelt by the Spirit. The living stones (believers) are fitted together by the Spirit to form a holy place where God dwells. This is the visible expression of Christ’s body on earth.
Application: Foster unity, mutual submission, and shared purpose. Emphasize that the fullness of Christ is only revealed together, not in isolation.
5. A Family for God
The result is a true family—not just an organization, but a relational body built by love and spiritual reality:
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God...” (1 John 3:1).
This family glorifies both the Son and the Father, as Jesus Himself prayed: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).
Key Insight: The end goal is a family that glorifies the Father.
The Church is not a project, event, or building—it’s a family born of love. This family reveals the Father’s heart and glorifies the Son. It lives in the Spirit, walks in love, and exists for the Father’s pleasure and purpose.
Application: Disciple people into relational depth, not just religious activity. The church must reflect the Father’s love in real, sacrificial, joyful ways.
In Summary:
This process shows how the true church is not built by human effort alone, but by divine revelation, spiritual anointing, and unity in the name of Jesus Christ. Through this, a family is formed for the Father, and Jesus is glorified as Lord and Son, and the Spirit actively builds and binds the body.
This five-part progression reveals God’s blueprint for the Church:
Initiated by the Father (revelation),
Empowered by the Son (anointing),
Expressed in faithful action (name of Jesus),
United as a spiritual temple (body life),
And fulfilled as a family for the Father (love and glory).
Key Thought:
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
