Exodus 36:8-38 walks step by step through the actual construction of the tabernacle — the curtains, the clasps, the acacia boards, the silver sockets, the veil. Pastor Bobby Lugo takes up the question most readers ask at this point: why does the Holy Spirit give us all these details? His answer is that behind the construction stands the architect, and the architect is God. Israel did not invent a house for God; God gave the pattern in Exodus 26 and supplied the materials, the craftsmen and the skill to carry it out.

From there the sermon follows what he calls God's building project through the whole Bible. The materials grow more precious the nearer one comes to God's presence, and the veil with its woven cherubim says two things at once: God wants to dwell with his people, and sinners cannot casually walk in. John 1:14 says the Word tabernacled among us, Jesus points to the temple of his body in John 2, and at the cross in Matthew 27 the veil is torn from top to bottom.

The last stretch brings it to the church. Through the Spirit, God's people are now his dwelling place, living stones being fitted together, which means each believer is still under construction. Pastor Bobby Lugo closes with Philippians 1:6 and Revelation 21:3, urging patience and grace toward one another until the day God dwells with his people forever.

In this sermon

• Exodus 36 picks up the tabernacle construction interrupted by the golden calf
• The tabernacle is the most remarkable structure ever built because God designed it
• Israel builds exactly according to the pattern God gave in Exodus 26, not their imagination
• God supplied the pattern, the materials, the craftsmen and Bezalel's skill
• Bronze, silver and gold grow more precious the nearer one comes to God's presence
• Cherubim woven into the curtains mark God's presence, as in the garden in Genesis
• The veil declares both that God wants to dwell with his people and that he is holy
• John 1:14 says the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us
• In John 2 Jesus speaks of the temple of his body, which the disciples understood only after the resurrection
• The torn veil at the cross and the church as living stones, a building still in progress

Chapters
0:00 Where Exodus has brought us
2:40 Hearst Castle and a fascination with building
6:39 God is the architect of the tabernacle
9:15 God's building project in three stages
11:23 Reading Exodus 36:8-38
16:32 Built by revelation, not imagination
19:26 God supplied the materials, skill and pattern
21:38 Cherubim, metals and drawing near with reverence
25:31 The veil: God is holy, sinners cannot enter
28:07 John 1 and the Word tabernacled among us
33:31 Destroy this temple and I will raise it
38:17 The veil torn at the cross
44:21 The church as God's dwelling place
48:19 Living stones and unfinished works
59:39 Revelation 21 and closing prayer

Scripture: Exodus 36:8-38 · Exodus 26 · Deuteronomy 8 · Genesis · John 1:1 · John 1:14 · John 2:16-22 · Matthew 27:50-51 · Hebrews 10:19-22 · Ephesians 2:19-22 · Philippians 1:6 · 1 Corinthians 6:19 · 1 Peter 2:5 · Revelation 21:3

About Mercy and Grace Church
Mercy and Grace is an expository preaching church in National City, California, committed to preaching Christ, and him crucified, by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. Each week Pastor Bobby Lugo and our teaching elders walk verse by verse through God's Word.

Join us in person — Sundays at 12:00 PM, 1200 E. 8th Street, National City, CA 91950.
Website: mercyandgracechurch.com
Email: ncmercyandgrace@gmail.com