The Well Church Keller Sermons

A smell can take us somewhere.

A particular fragrance can bring back a person, a place, or a moment we haven't thought about in years. In Exodus 30, God uses this connection between smell and memory to remind Israel of his presence.

God instructed Israel to create an altar of incense, and the incense was to be burned continually. Its fragrance would fill the sanctuary and spread throughout the surrounding camp. The priest would smell like it, the air would smell like it, and eventually the people would smell like it.

The fragrance became a reminder of God's presence and faithfulness—a reminder that the God who had delivered them before was still with them.

But there's a question for us in this passage:

What do you smell like?

What we spend our time around eventually shapes us. The more time we spend in the presence of God, the more we should begin to carry the aroma of his presence into the world around us.

So take some time to consider two questions:

What do I smell like?

What do I need to do to smell more like you?

This week, make space to sit with those questions and listen for what God may be bringing to your attention.

Scripture

Exodus 30:1–10, 34–38
Psalm 16:11
2 Corinthians 2:14–15
Hebrews 13:8

In Exodus 29, God gives Moses detailed instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons for the priesthood. At first glance, the chapter can feel distant from our lives—but underneath all the sacrifices, rituals, and instructions is a profound truth:

God desires to dwell with His people.

In this message, we trace that theme throughout Scripture—from Eden to the tabernacle, from the temple to Jesus, and ultimately to the Holy Spirit dwelling within God's people.

If the Holy Spirit lives in us, then God's presence doesn't disappear when we leave church. He is present in our workplaces, our homes, our relationships, our meetings, and all the ordinary moments of our lives.

The question is not simply whether God's presence is with us. The question is whether we are living like it.

Scripture

Exodus 29; John 14:15–17; Romans 15:15–16; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Revelation 21:1–4

Reflection

How does God's presence change things this week?

What if your calling isn't primarily about what you do, but about who you are becoming in Christ?

In Exodus 28, God calls Aaron to serve as a priest before giving him the garments and responsibilities associated with that calling. His clothing didn't create his calling—it expressed it.

In this message, Corey reminds us that we are called before we are clothed. Our first response to God's calling isn't to rush into action, but to draw near to Him. From there, the Holy Spirit equips each of us in unique ways—not for our own benefit, but so that our lives can build up the people around us and help others encounter more of Jesus.

The burdens we carry may even give us clues about the people and situations God has uniquely designed us to serve.

Key Scriptures: Exodus 28; Ephesians 4:1, 7, 11–13

Reflection: What burden has God called you to carry?

Take a few moments this week to sit in God's presence and ask Him to show you how He has uniquely equipped you and where He may be calling you to serve.

#TheWellChurch #Exodus28 #Calling #Ephesians4

In Exodus 28, we get a detailed look at the clothing and calling of Israel's priests. The garments were designed "for glory and for beauty," but beneath all the details is a bigger picture: the priest was called to serve and to represent God's presence among His people.

The priest dressed like a prince, but he acted like a servant.

More importantly, the priest's garments resembled the tabernacle—the place where God's presence dwelled. This gives us a picture of sanctification: the more time we spend in God's presence, the more we become like Him.

Moses experienced this transformation when he came down from the mountain after meeting with God. And through Jesus, we now have something the Old Testament people could only anticipate: direct access to the presence of God.

We don't have to stay outside.

Through Jesus, we are called a royal priesthood, invited to live in God's presence and represent Him in the world.

In this message, we explore what it means to spend more time in God's presence so that we can increasingly resemble Him.

Scripture: Exodus 28; Matthew 5:16; Mark 10:45; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 10:19; 1 Peter 2:5, 9.

Questions to consider:

Am I representing the priesthood?

When I spend time in God's presence, do I leave looking and acting differently?

How can I be in God's presence more so that I can resemble Him more?

We spend a lot of time thinking about how we look on the outside. But what if God is far more concerned with what's happening on the inside?

In Exodus 26, God gives Moses detailed instructions for the construction of the tabernacle. And there's a fascinating contrast: the inside is beautiful, detailed, and extraordinary, while the outside is simple and ordinary.

That contrast teaches us something about the heart of God.

The world often focuses on what is visible—our appearance, accomplishments, possessions, reputation, and status. But God consistently draws our attention beneath the surface. He cares about the heart.

Paul describes us as “jars of clay” carrying an extraordinary treasure. The container may be ordinary, but what God places inside is invaluable.

So the question isn't simply, “How do I look?”

The better question is:

Where have I allowed my hype to overshadow my heart?

In this message, we explore Exodus 26, the contrast between empire and God's kingdom, the meaning of Paul's “jars of clay,” and the importance of silence and reflection as we allow God to reveal what is happening within us.

Scripture: Exodus 26; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 51:10; Matthew 11:30

Big Idea: Don't let your hype overshadow your heart.

Take a few minutes this week to become quiet and ask God where your external life has begun to overshadow your internal life. Then listen for where He leads you.

What does God want to talk about when we finally get the opportunity to sit down with him?

In Exodus 25, Moses ascends Mount Sinai and waits for God to speak. When God finally does, he begins giving Moses detailed instructions about the sanctuary—the place where God will dwell among his people.

What might initially seem like a conversation about furniture is actually a profound revelation of God's desire: God wants to dwell with his people.

The sanctuary points back to Eden, where humanity once dwelled with God, and forward to Jesus, through whom God makes his dwelling place in us. The people of God are no longer simply people who gather around God's presence—we become his sanctuary.

That raises an important question:

If I am God's sanctuary, what preparations does God need to make in me?

This message explores God's desire to dwell with us even in the wilderness, the importance of following God's design rather than our own, the connection between Shema and obedience, and the invitation to slow down and listen for God's voice.

Key Scriptures

Exodus 25:8–9
God commands Israel to make a sanctuary so that he may dwell among them.

Leviticus 26:11–12
“I will put my dwelling place among you…”

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

1 Corinthians 3:16
“You yourselves are God's sanctuary…”

1 Corinthians 6:19
Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 2:5
We are being built into a spiritual house.

Key Themes

God's presence in the wilderness

The tabernacle and the Garden of Eden

God's design versus our design

Shema: hearing and obeying God

Giving as an expression of love

The plunder of Egypt and God's redemptive purposes

Jesus making us God's dwelling place

The practice of silence and listening

Reflection Question

If I am God's sanctuary, what preparations does God need to make in me?

Rather than immediately telling God what needs to change, take time to listen.

Prayer

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary—pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.

What happens when the honeymoon is over?

In Exodus 24, Israel enters into covenant with God through a ceremony filled with familiar covenant imagery: promises, an altar, blood, and a meal. The people who were once required to keep their distance from God are brought near and ultimately eat and drink in his presence.

This passage points forward to Jesus and the new covenant. Instead of repeatedly bringing sacrifices, Jesus gives himself once and for all. Instead of remaining at a distance, we are invited to approach God with confidence.

The message closes with a question worth considering:

What do you need to put beneath the feet of Jesus?

Whatever has your attention—your work, finances, relationships, fears, ambitions, or failures—is ultimately beneath his feet.

Scripture

Exodus 24

Hebrews 4:16

John 1:18

Matthew 26:28

Key Themes

Covenant and faithfulness

God is King and we are not

Moving from distance to intimacy with God

The blood of the covenant

Jesus and the new covenant

Communion and the table

Surrendering what is beneath the feet of Jesus

Reflection Question

What is it that you need to surrender at the feet of Jesus?

Jesus paid it all. All to him we owe.

The laws of Exodus can seem confusing, harsh, or even outdated. But beneath every command is the heart of a covenant God who deeply treasures His people.

In this episode, we continue our Clash of Kingdoms series by exploring Exodus 22. Rather than seeing God's commands as restrictive rules, we discover them as invitations into a life of worship, compassion, and holiness.

Together we'll explore:

Why covenant is different from a contract

What it means to be God's treasured possession (segulah)

How true worship reflects God while idolatry replaces Him

God's concern for the vulnerable and marginalized

Why holiness is about carrying God's name well

The freedom found through confession and grace

No matter your past or your struggles, God invites you to stop carrying your sin alone and trust the One who already calls you His treasure.

Key Scripture

Exodus 19:4-6

Exodus 22:18-31

Romans 12:1

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

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When most people reach the laws in Exodus, they're tempted to skip ahead. But hidden within these ancient commands is a beautiful picture of God's heart.

This week we explore Exodus 22 and discover that God's law wasn't primarily about punishment—it was about restoration. While Pharaoh's kingdom dehumanized people, God's Kingdom restores dignity, values every life, and teaches His people how to love their neighbors.

Even more importantly, these laws point us toward Jesus, who didn't simply command humanity to love one another—He became human Himself.

In this episode:

Why God's laws emphasized restoration over retribution

What Exodus teaches us about justice and human dignity

How fear fuels our tendency to dehumanize others

The contrast between the Kingdom of Empire and the Kingdom of Shalom

Why Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's heart for humanity

Scripture: Exodus 22:1–17; 1 Corinthians 9:8–10

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