Building Spirit and Truth Churches
Are you being shaped by God’s Word—or by what you want to hear?
Speaker: Pastor Lee Cummings
Date: March 29, 2026
Church isn’t about our preferences—it’s about what God desires. In this message, Pastor Lee Cummings explains what it means to be a “Spirit and Truth” church: rooted in the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit, not a watered‑down gospel.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: The Father Is Seeking
Reading: John 4:19–26
Devotional: Jesus revealed a profound truth to the Samaritan woman: God is actively searching for worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. This isn't about location or tradition—it's about authenticity. The Father has preferences when it comes to church, and what He desires most is a genuine encounter rooted in His Spirit and aligned with His Word. Today, consider how you approach worship. Are you bringing both your heart's passion and your mind's commitment to truth? God isn't looking for performance or mere intellectual assent. He's seeking those who will engage Him with Spirit-empowered authenticity and Word-anchored integrity. You are what the Father is searching for.
Day 2: Your Advantage
Reading: John 16:5–15
Devotional: Jesus made an astonishing statement: it's better for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit could come. Think about that—having the Spirit is more advantageous than walking physically with Jesus. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you. You possess power that the disciples didn't have during Jesus' earthly ministry. Yet how often do we live self-sufficiently, ignoring this incredible advantage? In this present evil age, battling darkness and navigating spiritual warfare, we need every advantage available. Don't settle for religious routine when supernatural empowerment is your inheritance. The Holy Spirit isn't weird—He's wonderful. Today, ask Him to fill you afresh and manifest His presence in your circumstances.
Day 3: Anchored in Truth
Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1–5
Devotional: Paul's charge to Timothy echoes urgently in our generation: preach the Word in season and out of season. We live in an era of unprecedented biblical access yet shocking biblical illiteracy. With countless voices on social media and YouTube, it's easy to accumulate teachers who tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear. The Word reproves, rebukes, and exhorts—it doesn't always comfort our preferences. Are you discipled more by podcasts and posts than by Scripture? The Bible is your plumb line for truth in a world of myths and conspiracies. Commit today to prioritizing God's Word over cultural commentary. His truth alone transforms lives and prepares us for eternity.
Day 4: Both Pedals on the Bike
Reading: Acts 6:1–7; 1 Corinthians 14:1
Devotional: The apostles devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word—both Spirit and truth working together. These aren't opposing forces on a spectrum; they're complementary realities like pedals on a bicycle. One drives the other forward. Some churches emphasize experience without doctrine, producing emotional highs disconnected from a biblical foundation. Others emphasize doctrine without encounter, producing dry, intellectualistic powerlessness. God wants both. The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture and never contradicts it. Scripture points us toward genuine Spirit encounters. Don't choose sides in a false dichotomy. Eagerly desire spiritual gifts while anchoring yourself in sound teaching. Pursue the presence and power while measuring everything by God's Word.
Day 5: Creating Throne Space
Reading: Psalm 22:3; Matthew 21:12–13
Devotional: When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, He went straight to the temple and overturned tables. The crowds welcomed Him, but the house needed correction. It's possible to be in church, welcome God, yet have things present that don't align with His desires. Jesus said His Father's house should be a house of prayer. When we gather as living stones, creating environments of genuine worship in spirit and truth, we build a throne for King Jesus. When He steps into that atmosphere, miracles happen—bodies heal, bondages break, hearts mend. What tables need overturning in your life? What preferences or practices need realignment? Create throne space today through authentic worship and obedience to His Word.