Introducing the theme of building the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit within the broader Holy Spirit series. This foundation provides a framework for understanding the following sessions on healing, deliverance, and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
1. Jesus is the true temple
In John 2:19, Jesus was being confronted by the religious leaders when he said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” They were thinking about the physical temple, but Jesus was referring to his body — the resurrected body to come (John 2:21)
Herod the Great built a magnificent temple complex for political reasons, but it was marked by segregation: between Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and free, and even designated spaces for lepers and Nazirites. By the first century, the religious system had evolved into something very different from what God intended. From the beginning, God’s desire was to dwell among his people and for his people to have close personal relationship with him.
Jesus’ reference to the destruction and raising of his body points to something greater than a physical building. Jesus, as the eternal high priest, was creating a spiritual temple by offering himself.
Discuss:
- Why did Jesus’ listeners misunderstand Him?
- What changes when God’s presence is understood through Jesus rather than a building?
- Can religious traditions ever distract us from genuine worship?
2. Jesus completed the sacrifice for sin
Hebrews 10:12
“Our high priest, Jesus, offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time”.
Hebrews 10:14
“By one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”
The word “perfect” carries the sense of being finished and complete — this sacrifice was done once for all. Unlike the second temple system, where the high priest had to enter once a year through repeated sacrifices, Jesus’ sacrifice does not need to be repeated. Hebrews 10:18 says that when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. The good news is that the triune God has done it all for us.
Jesus, the Son of God, offered the perfect sacrifice. As the eternal high priest, he brought that sacrifice into the very presence of God the Father. Because of this, God is building not a physical temple, but a spiritual temple.
Key thought: Salvation rests on what Jesus has accomplished—not on our own righteousness.
Discuss:
- What does “good for all time” tell us about Jesus’ work?
- Why might we still try to earn God’s forgiveness?
- How should Christ’s completed sacrifice affect guilt and shame?
3. We can confidently approach God
Hebrews 10:19
“We can boldly enter heaven’s most holy place because of the blood of Jesus.”
By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the most holy place. This points to the curtain in the second temple that separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies, which was torn in two at the crucifixion of Jesus.
Through Christ, the eternal high priest, we now have a new and life-giving way into God’s presence. We do not have to keep performing sacrifices year after year or day after day to make our consciences clean. Jesus has made the way once for all.
Hebrews 10:22 invites us to go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts, fully trusting him. Our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. God is inviting us, as the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit, to come into his very presence.
This is possible not because of what we have done, but because of God’s love and the perfect atonement accomplished through the Son of God. We cannot add anything to Christ’s finished work. God is after our hearts, and when our hearts are given over to Christ, he is able to fulfil his purposes in building his spiritual temple.
Discuss:
- What might prevent someone from approaching God confidently?
- What does it mean to come with a sincere and trusting heart?
- Where do you presently need God’s forgiveness, cleansing or reassurance?
4. Together, believers are God’s temple
In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul says, “Did you realise that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” The language is plural: all of us together are the singular temple of God. We have become the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:17)
Communion reminds us again of the wonderful Saviour we have and of the work of the triune God in bringing about salvation. Human beings often want to do something to gain approval and acceptance, but the good news of Jesus Christ is that we no longer need to earn what God has freely given.
Discuss:
- Why is the plural “you” and singular “temple” significant?
- How should this truth influence the way Christians treat one another?
- What attitudes or behaviours could damage the unity and holiness of the church?
- How can your group make more room for the Holy Spirit’s work?
5. We are living stones, not spectators
In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter says, “You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.” The Holy Spirit needs living stones to build this spiritual temple. These are not dead stones, and they are not rolling stones. A rolling stone is unsettled and keeps searching for the perfect place.
This is an invitation from God to be fully involved in his spiritual temple — to be a living stone, not a rolling stone. Rather than simply observing or searching elsewhere, believers are invited to participate in the life of the local church, serving and being fitted into the spiritual temple God is building.
God has already played his part by offering salvation through Jesus Christ and sanctifying this holy temple through the precious blood of Jesus so that the Holy Spirit can dwell within us. Now we are called to respond by participating in the mission of God.
Discuss:
- What distinguishes a “living stone” from a spectator?
- Where are you already contributing to the church?
- What gift, experience or opportunity could God use through you?
- What practical step could help you become more involved?
6. Every believer belongs to a royal priesthood
1 Peter 2:9
“You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.”
In the Old Testament, the priestly line came from Levi and from Aaron as the high priest. But Jesus came from the tribe of Judah and, through himself, created a new and perfect priesthood once for all.
Through Jesus Christ, all believers are invited to be royal priests. We are not merely spectators or observers. As living stones, we are part of a living, dynamic spiritual temple, able to influence and impact the world through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
As priests, we enter God’s presence and offer sacrifices of praise. We may sometimes feel dry, tired, unqualified, or not good enough, but our qualification is not based on our own works. We are qualified because of the precious blood of Jesus, sacrificed once for all.
The appropriate response is to come before God with sincere hearts, to receive the grace offered through Christ, and to actively participate in the life and mission of the church as living stones and royal priests.
Discuss:
- How does being chosen by God shape your identity?
- What does being a “royal priest” mean in everyday life?
- How does this challenge the belief that some Christians are more spiritual than others?
- Who could you personally pray for or minister to this week?
Closing response
Inviting you to complete one sentence:
- Because Jesus’ sacrifice is complete, I can…
- As part of God’s spiritual temple, I will…
- As a royal priest, I will pray for…
Close by thanking Jesus for His completed work and asking the Holy Spirit to build the group into a holy, united and active spiritual community.