Becoming a Spiritual Builder: More Than Just a Stone

What does it mean to be a spiritual builder in God’s Kingdom? This past Sunday, in a powerful message you can watch here, Pastor Mandy Elliott challenged us with this very question, drawing a sharp contrast between being a builder and being a boulder. 

Many of us can feel like boulders in our faith journey: static, immovable, and perhaps useful as a feature, but not actively involved in construction. We feel stuck or disqualified. But God is calling every believer to trade the mindset of a boulder for the blueprint of a builder, to actively participate in creating a legacy that will last for eternity.

This calling involves a beautiful paradox. As believers, we are both the materials and the craftsmen. God sees us as His precious materials, as the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:5, 

“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…”. 

Yet, we are also the builders. We are called to pick up the tools of faith, read God’s perfect blueprint for our lives—what we at Rhema call The Pattern—and build accordingly.

The Spiritual Builder vs. The Spiritual Boulder

To fully grasp our calling, we must understand the difference between these two roles.

• A Boulder: By definition, a boulder is simply a large, unmovable rock. Spiritually, this represents a passive faith—one that is present but not productive. It’s a faith that exists but doesn’t actively engage in the work of the Kingdom.
• A Builder: The purpose of a builder is to actively “oversee, coordinate, and execute the construction, repair, and renovation of buildings and other structures”. A spiritual builder, therefore, is a believer who intentionally partners with God. They use His word as a blueprint to construct a life of faith – and help build up the lives of others.

A boulder just is; a builder does. This distinction shapes the legacy we leave behind.

Building a Legacy, Not Just an Inheritance

Ps Mandy drew a vital distinction between two words we often use interchangeably: inheritance and legacy.

• Inheritance is what you receive from those who leave it for you when they die. It’s about what is left to you.
• Legacy, however, is what you build in others. It is the “bedrock upon which you have built upon — your belief and faith — Christ who lives on through you”.

A spiritual builder is consumed with building a lasting legacy of faith that points people to Jesus.

The Blueprint for a Spiritual Builder: Lessons from Nehemiah

Perhaps the greatest biblical example of a spiritual builder is Nehemiah. He saw the broken-down walls of Jerusalem and was moved to act. His story gives us a blueprint for our own building assignments. When the enemy saw the work beginning, they resorted to mockery and intimidation, shouting in Nehemiah 4:2, 

“What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves?… Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”.

This is the enemy’s strategy: to make you feel like a “burnt stone,” disqualified and useless. But Nehemiah’s response is our blueprint. He prayed, and then he acted. He armed the builders, instructing them to work with a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. 

This is a powerful picture of the Christian life. We are called to build, but we must also be prepared to stand firm and fight for God’s purpose in our lives. Don’t ever believe you are ill-equipped. God always provides the tools you need, and you are more than able when you trust in Him.

Nehemiah declared to the people in Nehemiah 4:20, “…Our God will fight for us”.

The Surprising Wage of a Spiritual Builder

In the world’s system, your pay is based on your experience and the hours you work. But God’s Kingdom operates differently. Ps Mandy powerfully illustrated this with the parable of the labourers in Matthew 20:1-16. In the story, a landowner hires workers throughout the day—some in the early morning, and some with only one hour left to work. Yet, when evening came, he paid them all the same wage.

The influence of this parable is profound. It shows that our value in God’s eyes is not based on our performance or seniority. As Ps Mandy explained, God’s “daily rate” is the same for everyone: “the same fullness of God’s love. Equal Grace”. 

Whether you came to Christ fifty years ago or five minutes ago, you are “fully equal in Christ. Equally valued. Equally favored”. This is confirmed in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Your Invitation to be a Spiritual Builder at the Building Site

So, the question comes back to us: will we be a builder or a boulder? Will we allow the enemy’s accusations to make us feel like a burnt stone, or will we pick up our tools and get to work? Being a spiritual builder isn’t a solo project. It’s about locking arms with fellow believers, encouraging one another, and constructing a community of faith together.

This is the heart behind our small groups, where we do life together and build each other up. If you’re not yet connected, this is your invitation to the building site. Let’s choose today to be active participants in building a legacy that will echo into eternity.

A Prayer For You

Father God,

 Thank you that you are the Master Builder and that you have called us to build with you. 

Forgive us for the times we’ve seen ourselves as useless “burnt stones.” 

Today, we pick up our tools and our weapons. Help us to build our lives on the bedrock of Your word and to build up the lives of those around us. 

Fill us with Your Spirit, change the song in our hearts to one of praise, and use us to be spiritual builders who construct a legacy that lasts for eternity.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.