Sermon Recap
When we look back over these past several years, one truth rises above every other—God has been faithful. From the very beginning, when the Lord began to shift our hearts toward becoming a “house of prayer,” He was already laying the foundation for who we would become. There were moments of uncertainty, moments that stretched our faith, and seasons where the vision seemed bigger than our ability to carry it—but through it all, God’s hand never left us. He faithfully provided the resources, the people, and the direction we needed. Even when we didn’t fully understand the “why” behind what He was doing, we could always trust the “Who.”
God’s faithfulness isn’t just seen in the big moments; it’s revealed in the daily grace that sustains His people. Just as Jesus entered the temple expecting to find a people devoted to His presence, He has continually drawn us back to that same expectation—to be a people marked by intimacy with Him. Time and again, He has reminded us that His presence is the prize, and prayer is the pathway. We have seen lives changed, hearts awakened, and families restored, not because of our human strength or human strategy, but because He has been faithful to meet us whenever we make room for Him.
As we celebrate God’s faithfulness we do so with hearts full of gratitude and awe. The story of The Woods Church is not a story of human achievement—it’s the story of a Faithful King who has never stopped pursuing His people. His faithfulness has carried us through every transition, every challenge, and every victory. And if He has been this faithful in the past, we can be confident He will be just as faithful in the days to come. Our responsibility remains the same: to keep His house a place of prayer, intimacy, and encounter—because the faithfulness of our King deserves nothing less.
Key Scripture
Matthew 21:12-15 (look up and read)
Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."
Lamentations 3:22–23 "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Psalm 33:4 "For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does."
Psalm 36:5 "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."
Psalm 100:5 "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Discussion Questions
1. When Jesus entered the temple, He expected to find a house of prayer but instead found a place of business. What do you think Jesus would expect to find if He walked into our church—or into the temple of our own hearts—today?
2. Jesus’ passion for His Father’s house revealed His desire for intimacy and right relationship with His people. How can we, both personally and as a church, make sure that prayer and intimacy with God remain at the center of everything we do?
3. Over the past several years, The Woods Church has experienced God’s faithfulness in shaping us into a house of prayer. Where have you personally seen God’s faithfulness at work in your life or in our church family? How has that strengthened your faith?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for being a faithful King who never gives up on Your people. Teach us to make Your house—and our hearts—a true house of prayer, where Your presence is honored above all else. May our lives reflect Your faithfulness as we walk in deeper intimacy and obedience to You.
Life Application
1. Keep your heart a “house of prayer.” Just as Jesus desired His Father’s house to be centered on relationship and intimacy, we are called to guard our lives from distraction and busyness, making space daily to meet with Him through prayer and worship.
2. Remember and rely on God’s faithfulness. When challenges come, look back on how God has led, provided, and sustained you—because the same faithful King who guided you before will continue to do so in every season ahead.
Don’t Forget!
Additional Resources
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