Sermon preached at Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church (Sioux Falls, SD) by Pr. Benjamin Tomczak.

But again, since God had Solomon build a temple later, it’s not that the house itself is sinful. Christians gather around God’s Word in a place and when they gather they do things. Those are rituals. We have buildings and synods and we make plans – or at least try. And we try to do it according to God’s will as drawn from God’s Word. So, when God tells David “No” about building him a house, it’s because he has that other thing in mind. Something greater than a house for God: the house of David that will produce the Messiah. God wants to establish that first before any brick and mortar building that can get in the way, before any other ministry plan comes this ministry plan: Jesus Christ!