Stanza 1 // Christ’s Church is built on the rock of faith, calling all “distressed souls” to receive “life everlasting [and] rest” in our Lord. Even when buildings collapse, membership declines, or congregations close - these things do not make the Church!

Stanza 2 // It may sound strange to sing words telling us God does not dwell in “God’s house, but this is the crumbling, insufficient nature of the temples we build in this world. Instead, this hymn rejoices that God chooses to “abide with us in love” and “make our bodies his temples.” This is a great promise from God - wherever we are in life, God promises to make his home with us.

Stanza 3 // If we wonder what it means to be “temples of God” this stanza tells us God dwells in our hearts, and grants us “life and salvation.”

Stanza 4 // The start of this stanza can sound like God blesses adults and “the children.” But the Spirit’s work [to give faith to those dead in sin] assures us of the promise God gives: We are His beloved children - His Church - and belong to His kingdom, regardless of what we endure in this life.

Stanza 5 // As long as “Church bells are ringing” we ask God to bring others to “hear God’s Word” by which faith is given. This means we hear Jesus’ speak a promise of comfort, even as the world around us crumbles - we know the voice of Christ and will see His face.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 652 -  Built on a Rock - ᴋɪʀᴋᴇɴ ᴅᴇɴ ᴇʀ ᴇᴛ ɢᴀᴍᴍᴇʟᴛ ʜᴜꜱ
• ELW 420 - By All Your Saints - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʟʏɴɴ
• ELW 645 - Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴍɪɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴀʙʙᴇʏ
• ELW 654 - The Church’s One Foundation - ᴀᴜʀᴇʟɪᴀ
• ELW 812 - Faith of Our Fathers - ꜱᴛ. ᴄᴀᴛʜᴇʀɪɴᴇ