The Church that God Builds

Simon Lawrenson — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0100

Series: Empowered

Preacher: Simon Lawrenson

Sunday Morning

Date: 18th October 2026

Passages:

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What is the church really? In this sermon on Acts 2 and Matthew 16:18, we see how Jesus keeps His promise, "I will build My church", when the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost.

"The Church God Builds" is the first message in our series on the Holy Spirit at Calvary Chapel Southampton. Working verse by verse through Matthew 16, Acts 1 and Acts 2, we ask why so many people in Britain see church as a building, an institution or a Sunday service. Scripture shows us something far more alive: a Spirit-formed people built by Jesus on Himself.

In this message: • What Jesus meant by "on this rock I will build My church" (Matthew 16:18) • Why the disciples had to wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) • What happened at Pentecost: the wind, the fire and the tongues (Acts 2:1–13) • Peter's sermon and the gospel at the heart of the church (Acts 2:14–41) • The four marks of a Spirit-filled church: the Word, fellowship, communion and prayer (Acts 2:42–47) • How to move from attending church to belonging to it

Central idea: We don't build the church for God. God builds His church, by His Spirit, on His Son, and He builds it out of us.

Scripture: Matthew 16:13–18; Acts 1; Acts 2

Calvary Chapel: Empowered

The Church that God Builds